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Summary - Unit 4 - Human Systems and Geopolitics (9GEO-02) - Superpowers
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Topic 7 – Superpowers:7.1: Geopolitical power stems from a range of human and physical characteristics of superpowers
Superpower: a country with significant global influence and ability to project influence
o E.g., USA
Emerging power: a country that is growing and gaining influence globally
o E.g., China, Brazil, India, Russia
Regional power: a superpower within a distinct region / geographical area
o E.g., UK + Germany + France = Europe
o E.g. Saudi Arabia + Iran = middle east
o E.g. South Africa + Nigeria = Africa
Hyperpower: globally dominant superpower
Hard power: influencing other countries via
Soft power: the power of persuasion + cohesion
Multipolar: increasing poles of power + spread across the world
Superpower characteristics:
Economic: Large GDP, high % of international trade, currency used as reserve currency.
A large GDP creates influence as a potential market and as the home of TNCs which
create FDI.
Underpins the other 5 characteristics
E.g., The USA has the world's largest total GDP - $18.5 trillion
Political: The ability to influence the policies of other countries through the dominance of
negotiations. (Both bilaterally and through international organisations.)
Many international organisations do not equally weight members.
Voting power may be determined by economic contribution, historical role in
founding of organisation (UN), population etc...
Often due to dominance in other characteristics.
E.g., large economy gives it power in trade talks, military power can make
countries a threat - giving them political power
Military: Military power with a global reach means they can be used to achieve geopolitical goals
Global influence through blue water (ocean going) navy and drone, missile and satellite
technology
Indicators of power: army size, defence spending, nuclear weapons, inter-continental
ballistic missiles (ICBMs), size of blue water navy, being a major arms exporter, presence
on/leading international military organisations.
Dependent on demographic power: the number of military personnel that can be
deployed
Dependent on economic power: budget determines investment in military technology,
which increases power
E.g., Russia has the most active nuclear warheads (1790)
E.g., The USA is in second place with 1750
Cultural: The ability to influence the beliefs, values, ideology and way of life in other
countries.
, Achieved through:
the dominance of media (films, radio, television, internet, education)
TNCs or migrants introducing cultural products (food, clothing, music,
religion)
imposition of viewpoint in international agreements
Indicators: global spread of music, fashion, food, language, religion
E.g., The USA has the highest percentage of the world's 20 largest TNCs - 27%.
Demographic: A large population -> a large diaspora and workers at TNCs
Assists economic power through a large market and economies of scale (so more
profit).
Means army can be larger.
E.g., China has the largest population - 1382 million
Resources: Control of access to physical resources: energy, minerals
Provides inputs for economic growth
Means they can be exported at a high price -> economic power
o e.g. OPEC and oil
May be internally located, or accessed through reliable source countries through
transport pathways.
Essential for military power
Superpower status:
Political stability
Access to natural resources
Cultural influence
Strong military
Access to nuclear energy
Strong economy
Access to technology and infrastructure
Global connection
Advantageous geostrategy (e.g. ocean)
Example: China Soft power in Africa
Dependency theory of development
Neo-colonialism
Mandarin schools, infrastructure projects, restaurants present in Kenya
Kenyan works experiencing neo-liberalism
China sees potential in Africa (using soft power, to improve likability in Africa)
Superhigh way in Kenya build by China (fast and cheap building, time reduced from 2hrs to 40mins)
Nairobi has new mall built by China = biggest mall in Africa
Soft power needs to be softer
To win African hearts and minds hey need to understand the African way of life = communication is
missing (increase propaganda and portrays fake positive image)
Government to government relation doesn’t involve local population opinions
o It is said a person who knows more Chinese is more beneficial than a top degree and has more
of an advantage
o Segregation between group settings (master vs servants)
, Halford Mackinder’s Heartland Theory:
Explores the change in balance of power
The further away from the heartland a country was, the less influence it would have on the “inner
crescent”
It persuades the USA, UK, and other European countries that Russia needed to be 'contained', i.e.
prevented from spreading outward by taking over new areas close by.
It reinforced the idea that control of physical resources (land, mineral wealth) was important.
Heartland theory + 21st century global shift:
o Shift east to reflect the growing importance of China
o The centre of gravity has been pulled toward the industrialising superpowers through history
o Modern military technology (inter-continental ballistic missiles, drones, aircraft carriers, strike
aircraft) can hit deep inside another country's territory - size is no longer a protection.
o Physical resources are traded internationally; there is much less need to have them
domestically.
o War and conflict are generally seen as abnormal, whereas in the past they were accepted ways
of gaining power
7.2: Patterns of power change over time and can be uni-, bi- or mutli-polar
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