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Summary A level Edexcel superpowers geography notes

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In depth comprehensive summary of the superpowers module for Pearson Edexcel Geography

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  • July 29, 2024
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Superpowers
EQ1: Geopolitical power stems from a range of human and physical
characteristics of superpowers.
7.1 The power of Superpowers
Superpower – a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in
the world and be a dominant global force.
Hyperpower – un unchallenged lone superpower that is dominant in all
aspects of power.
Emerging superpower – these are nations whose economic, military and
political power is already large but continues to grow e.g. BRICS (Brazil,
Russia, India and China).
Regional power – these powers are smaller and can influence other
countries at a continental scale.
There are four pillars of power:
 Military power
 Political power
 Cultural power
 Resources.
All of these are underpinned by economic power:
 Economy is the prerequisite of power.
 A large and powerful economy gives nations wealth to build and
maintain a powerful military.
Political power:
 The ability to influence others through diplomacy to ‘get your own
way’ is important.
 Exercised through international organisations such as the UN and
World Trade Organization.
Military power is used in two ways:
1. Threat of military action as a bargaining chip.
2. Military force can be used to achieve geopolitical goals.
Blue water navy – ore which can deploy into the ocean. Smaller nations
only have a green water navy designed to patrol littoral waters.
Cultural power:
 This includes how appealing a nation’s way of life, values and
ideology are to others.
 This is often exercised through media, TNCs or migrants introducing
cultural procedures or through the imposition of viewpoints in
international agreements.
Ideology – asset of beliefs, values and opinions held by the majority of
people in a society. These determine what is considered normal
behaviours.

,Resources:
 Can be in the form of physical resources or human.
 Human includes the level of education and skills in a nation.
 Physical resources can be exported at a high price leading to
economic power.
The Superpower Index uses quantitative data based on superpower
characteristics to compare and contrast a countries status. Each member
is ranked to reflect their greater importance as a measure of power.
The European Union is considered a superpower but as the 28 states do
not always work coherently the blocs economic size is not reflected in
global influence.
How do superpowers exert their influence?:
 Hard power using military and economic influence to force a country
to act in a particular way.
 Soft power more subtle persuasion of countries to act in a particular
way, on the basis that the persuader is respected.


Hard power e.g. military force soft
power e.g. cultural attractiveness


Hard Power Soft Power
Strengths Weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses
 Show of  Causes  Sense of  Hard for
strength. suffering. morality governme
 Fast  Causes  Makes nts to
acting. resentment them control.
 Increases leading to more  Soft power
influence extremism. attractive. may not
overall.  Encourage influence
s others. others.


Mackinder’s Heartland Theory – 1904:
 Classified a region of Europe as ‘The Heartland’ stretching from
Russia to China.
 The idea that power came from controlling vast land areas was
important.
 Mackinder produced an influential geo-strategic location theory.
 Mackinder described areas surrounded by mountain or desert with
major rivers good areas.
How has this been influential?:
 After WWI to limit Germany’s expansion with the Treaty of Versailles.
 Post WWII NATO allies attempted to contain the Soviet Union.

,  Reinforced the idea that control of physical resources was important.
How has this changed over time?
 Modern military techniques and technology can hit deep inside
another country’s territory – size is no longer a protectant.
 Physical resources are trade internationally.
 War and conflict are seen as abnormal.
7.2 Changing Patterns and Polarity
Geopolitics can exhibit different type of polarity:
a unipolar world is dominated by one superpower.
a bipolar world is one where two superpowers with opposing ideologies
compete for power.
a multi – polar world is one where many superpowers compete for power
in different regions.


Colony – where one country occupies another country for its own use.
 They were established to gain economic, geographical and political
power.
 This causes violence, oppression and acculturalism.
 The era of colonialism was 1870-1014.
 Key products included tobacco and spices.
Colonial control – direct control exerted over territories conquered by
mainland European Powers. They were ruled by force with little power or
influence.
Successes of Colonial power Negatives of colonial power.
 Railway lines built used to  Farmers and producers left
transport goods quickly. with little profit and wages.
 English language spread  Discriminating policies
allowed commonwealth segregated British migrants
countries to participate in from natives.
business.
 Education was improved.


The importance of the Navy and Military:
 the British empire was founded on exploration and sea power.
 Rules a quarter of the worlds land and a third of the world’s
population.
 Based largely on hard power.
 Navy dominated the seas 1700-1930s.
 Provided a link between the home country and overseas colonies.
Modernism:
 The world can be improved by human intervention and
achievement.

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