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Superpowers Notes
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In-depth notes for the Edexcel Geography A-level topic Superpowers. Includes case studies and theory notes.
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SuperpowersEQ1: What are superpowers and how have they changed over time
7.1 Geopolitical power stems from a range of human and physical of characteristics of
superpowers
What is a superpower?
- ‘Capacity to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, sometimes
in more than one region of the globe at a time’
Causality – Exploring the causes that allow some countries to claim superpower status, but
not others
Hyperpower – An unchallenged superpower that is dominant in all aspects of power
(political, economic, cultural, military); examples include the USA from 1990 to 2012 and
Britain from 1850 to 1910
Blue water navy – One which can deploy into the open ocean, i.e. with large ocean-going
ships. Many smaller nations only have green water navy, designed to patrol littoral waters
close to shore
Pillars of superpower status
- If a country has pillars of power, it should be able to project its power globally
- Physical size and geographical position
o Larger countries usually have greater resources and influence
o E.g. Russia is the world’s largest country. It covers a vast area and both Europe
and Asia. However, Russia’s relationships with its neighbours are complex
because there are 14 of them all with political differences. As a result, Russia
exerts its influence in different ways.
- Economic power
o Represents the ‘base’
o A large and powerful economy gives nations wealth to build and maintain a
powerful military, exploit natural resources and develop human resources
through education
o The world’s ten largest economies by percentage of global GDP influence much
of the overall global economy (USA, China, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Brazil,
Italy, Russia, India)
They earn 65% of global GDP
They control investment} targeted in these ten countries because
companies investing in these nations are more likely to make bigger
profits
Have the world’s most powerful currencies} currencies are seen as safe
Determine economic policies
- Demographic factors
o Population size can be key to economic success as it provides sufficient labour to
generate economic growth
o E.g. China and India both use their large populations as a source of cheap labour
o A large population also spurs economic growth as it provides a market
o However, a large population is not critical to power, Singapore has a major
influence over Southeast Asia’s economy through attracting investment.
- Political factors
o As a result of the high number of trade partnerships and capital transfers, few
individual countries hold much influence in their own right
o Most have decided that influence can be achieved by linking up with like-minded
countries
o The role of international organisations is clear
Until recently, the G8 group held the biggest influence
, As the global shift has moved power towards Asia, the G20 group has
become increasingly significant in decision making
- Military strength
o Has a large influence in determining power
o Most countries use military force to protect themselves against challengers, so a
measure of a countries power is its military
o Military size can be not as significant as spending on national defence budget
and technology
o Many countries regard membership of the Un Security Council as the ultimate
status in military power
Five permanent members: China, Russia, USA, UK, France
Its job is to approve military intervention however only when it is justified
in particular conflicts
Permanent membership is based on countries that were considered victors
in WW2
- Cultural influence
o Media has a huge influence on the people
o Every winning political party since 1979 (UK General Elections) has been
promoted by The Sun
o Increased globalisation has led to a global culture, spread via multi-media TNCs
such as Disney, News Corporation (American), or Sony (Japanese)
o These TNCs dominate global culture by deciding what films people can watch,
which radio stations they can listen to and what music is recorded and played
- Access to natural resources
o Certain resources are essential to economic development
o Iron ore is the basis of the steel industry, while energy sources such as oil, gas
and coal are used in electricity production or industrial processing
o The possession of natural material does not in itself guarantee development
o Many countries’ natural resources are owned by TNCs, meaning little value is
gained by their use in manufacturing
Ideology – A set of beliefs, values and opinions held by the majority of people in a society.
These determine what is considered normal or acceptable behaviour. Superpowers project
their ideology on others. In the case of the USA this includes ‘Western Values’ of free speech,
individual liberty, free-market economics and consumerism
Geo-strategic policies – Policies that attempt to meet the global and regional policy aims of
a country by combining diplomacy with the movement and positioning of military assets
Hard Power Vs Soft Power
Hard Power: Economic Power: Soft Power:
Military presence and force
a
Aid and trade Culture and ideology
The spectrum of power
, - Military action and - Economic or - The cultural
conquest, or the development aid from attractiveness of some
threat of it one nation to another nations, making it
- The creation of - Signing favourable more likely that other
alliances, both trade agreements ton will follow their lead
economic and military, increase economic ties - The values of some
to marginalise some nations being seen as
nations appealing
- The use of economic - The moral authority of
sanctions to damage a a nation’s foreign
nation’s economy policy
Why do mechanisms of power change over time? – Mackinder’s ‘heartland’
- Geo-strategic location theory} argued
that whoever controlled Europe and Asia
(the world’s biggest landmass) would
control the world
- He identified a heartland, called the
‘world island’, from Eastern Europe
into Russia, at the centre of which was
a ‘pivot’
- Believed that three things determined
power in this region:
o Whoever ruled the most strategic
part of Europe ruled the heartland
o Whoever ruled the heartland would
command the
world island
o Whoever controlled the world island controlled the world
- The further away from the heartland a country was, the less influence it would have
- According to Mackinder’s theory, Russia should be the world’s global power, as its
location and resources give it advantages
- However, Mackinder also believed that Russia has two natural disadvantages
o Its many borders mean that it can be attacked from many directions
o Because much of its coast is frozen in winter, it has few year round ports
- Thought that the heartland could shift geographically – especially as a result of sea
power
- Believed that Britain’s 19th century industrialization had shifted the centre of power
westwards
- Using sea power, he believed that the UK could dominate everywhere from Western
Europe to the Pacific, as well as the Eurasian land mass and potentially the world
- Received much criticism, and some would argue that its application to today’s
landscape is questionable
7.2 Patterns of power change over time
Colonialism – where an external nation takes direct control of a territory, often by force
Acculturation – A process of cultural change that takes place when two different cultures
meet and interact; it includes the transfer of a dominant culture’s ideas on to a subordinate
culture
Types of polarity
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