Superpowers (Edexcel A Level Geography): Flashcards
Exam code: 9GE0
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Define superpower.
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Cards in this collection (39)
Define superpower.
A superpower is a nation able to project influence globally and remain dominant in economic, military, political and cultural power.
What is meant by a uni-polar, bi-polar and multi-polar world?
A uni-polar world has one superpower, a bi-polar world has two, and a multi-polar world has several competing superpowers.
The USA is sometimes called a or because it is dominant in all aspects of power.
The USA is sometimes called a hyperpower or hegemon because it is dominant in all aspects of power.
Name the four BRIC emerging superpowers.
The BRIC emerging superpowers are Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Regional powers such as in Africa or in Europe mainly influence nearby countries.
Regional powers such as South Africa in Africa or France in Europe mainly influence nearby countries.
List four key factors affecting whether a country becomes a superpower.
Key factors include resources, economic strength, military strength, political power, demographic factors and cultural influence.
Define Mackinder's Heartland Theory.
A theory arguing that whoever controls the resource-rich Heartland of Eurasia can gain global dominance, highlighting the geo-locational importance of central Asia and Eastern Europe.
True or False?
Geo-locational importance has increased with modern technology and transport.
False.
Geo-locational importance has declined as advances in technology and transport reduce the strategic advantage of controlling specific locations.
Define hard power.
Hard power is the use of military or economic pressure, such as force, threats, trade deals or sanctions, to force other countries to act in certain ways.
Define soft power.
Soft power is the use of political and cultural influence to persuade other countries, making a nation’s values, policies and lifestyle attractive.
True or False?
Smart power combines both hard and soft power.
True.
Smart power uses a mix of hard power tools (military, economic) and soft power tools (diplomacy, culture) for effective foreign policy.
Sanctions on Russia and military action in Iraq are examples of power on the spectrum of power.
Sanctions on Russia and military action in Iraq are examples of hard power on the spectrum of power.
Hard power aims to countries, whereas soft power aims to them.
Hard power aims to force countries, whereas soft power aims to persuade them.
Define imperialism.
Imperialism is a system where a powerful state exerts political, economic and/or cultural control over other territories, often enforced by military power.
Why was the British Empire so powerful in the early 20th century?
It had a large military and navy, powerful businesses, global trade routes, and ruled about 25% of land and 458 million people.
Imperial power in the early 20th century was mainly maintained through power using large armies and navies.
Imperial power in the early 20th century was mainly maintained through hard power using large armies and navies.
As other nations and after , European colonial influence declined.
As other nations industrialised and after World War II, European colonial influence declined.
How did global power change after World War II?
The UK declined as a superpower and a bi-polar world emerged dominated by the USA and USSR, leading to the Cold War.
Name the two main military alliances in the Cold War.
The USA led NATO, while the USSR led the Warsaw Pact as opposing military alliances.
What was the Marshall Plan?
A programme of American economic aid to help rebuild Europe after World War II and strengthen capitalist allies.
True or False?
Neo-colonialism uses mainly military force to control ex-colonies.
False.
Neo-colonialism relies on indirect economic and political mechanisms, such as tied aid, uneven trade, and FDI, rather than direct military rule.
Define tied aid.
Tied aid is financial help given on condition that the recipient spends it on goods or services from the donor country.
During the Cold War, the world was divided between and ideologies.
During the Cold War, the world was divided between communist and capitalist ideologies.
Why is China not yet a full superpower?
Its military reach is limited, GDP is below the USA, many citizens live in poverty, and there are issues of censorship and human rights.
True or False?
A uni-polar world is always easy to maintain.
False.
A uni-polar world can be relatively stable, but it is hard to maintain because one power must sustain global dominance.
Define uni-polar world.
A uni-polar world is a pattern of power where one dominant state holds most global influence and leadership.
In a world, like 1919–1939, lack of a dominant power increases the of conflict.
In a multi-polar world, like 1919–1939, lack of a dominant power increases the risk of conflict.
Define BRIC countries.
The BRIC countries are four major emerging powers: Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Why is China seen as the USA\'s main rival superpower?
Because China combines rapid economic growth, huge population and increasing military and technological power, challenging US global dominance.
The is the largest trading bloc and key member of the G20.
The EU is the largest trading bloc and key member of the G20.
Emerging Asian G20 powers include , Japan and South Korea.
Emerging Asian G20 powers include Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.
Give one economic strength and one weakness of India.
Strength: 5th largest economy, attracting TNCs and FDI. Weakness: large numbers still live in poverty.
Brazil produces over of South America\'s GDP and has large natural resources.
Brazil produces over 50% of South America\'s GDP and has large natural resources.
True or False?
Russia\'s military is modern and free from corruption.
False.
Russia has widespread corruption and ageing weapons and vehicles, despite having one of the largest military forces and being a nuclear power.
Why must superpowers lead on global environmental governance?
Because tackling climate change requires powerful states to drive international agreements, especially through UN COP climate conferences like COP27.
Define World Systems Theory.
A theory dividing the world into core, semi-periphery and periphery, highlighting unequal trade and power between developed, emerging and developing countries.
What are the five stages in Rostow\'s modernisation theory?
Traditional society, pre-conditions for take-off, take-off, drive to maturity, high mass consumption.
Dependency theory is a critique which links poverty to an unequal relationship between and countries.
Dependency theory links poverty to an unequal relationship between developed and developing countries.
True or False?
Dependency theory argues TNCs and the WTO now control the global system.
True.
Critics note that TNCs and the World Trade Organisation increasingly shape global trade and power, reducing direct control by individual developed states.
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