A 2 GCE Geography Unit 3 Geographical Superpowers

A 2 GCE Geography Unit 3 Geographical Superpowers

Superpower Geographies 1. Superpower Geographies a) defining superpowers b) influencing power b) changing patterns of power c) theories explaining the growth of superpowers Learning Objectives: • To know what a superpower is • To know the changing order of superpowers since 1945 • To be able to suggest and justify criteria for becoming a superpower • To know how to use ICT for investigating geographical statistics

Background • Power – both economic and political – is not evenly distributed • Some nations and people have a disproportionate influence over decision making (may be regional or global) • Other nations and people have very limited influence • Some nations gain power over time, whilst others lose it • By consequence, the geography of power has changed over time and continues to change

superpower What is a superpower? A super power is a nation which is able to project its power and influence anywhere in the world. It is a dominant global force. Short Task: In pairs, use the cards you have been given to decide which countries are superpowers.

The word superpower was first used after the second world war to refer to the USA, the British Empire and the USSR. Alice Lyman Miller (Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School), defines a superpower as "a country that has the capacity to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, and sometimes, in more than one region of the globe at a time, and so may plausibly attain the status of global hegemon. " Hegemony = leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others

superpower former superpower True superpowers are rare because they demand such huge resources. However, as you may have guessed the global superpowers have changed over time. emerging superpower Task 1 : Sort your chosen superpowers into three groups. Task 2: Timeline of Superpowers Write down the key dates in the timeline of global superpowers, you must include the names of the superpowers during each period. • 1850 – 1945 _____________ • 1945 – 1990 _____________ • 1990 – Present ____________ • Emerging 21 st Century Superpowers _________________

• Rising superpowers The economic rise of the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) brings economic benefits to many, but also potential economic costs to the ‘older’ superpowers (the USA and the EU), as well as having environmental and resource implications. In an increasingly globalised and inter-dependent world, it is possible that tensions will emerge as power continues to shift.

We now need to know what the criteria are for becoming a superpower and be able to explain these. Criteria for being a successful student. 1) Attendance 2) Punctuality 3) Attitude 4) Homework Superpowers are so interesting! I can’t put this book down! How would you explain each of these criteria?

Criteria for being a successful 80’s pop star. 1) 2) What criteria would define a successful 80’s pop star? How would you explain this criteria?

So what does a country need in order to become a global superpower? How does a country become a superpower? Your ideas in two minutes Compare ideas with person next to you Compare ideas with rest of class

In the opinion of Kim Richard Nossal of Queen's University, "generally this term was used to signify a political community that occupied a continentalsized landmass, had a sizable population (relative at least to other major powers); a superordinate economic capacity, including ample indigenous supplies of food and natural resources; enjoyed a high degree of nondependence on international intercourse; and, most importantly, had a welldeveloped nuclear capacity (eventually normally defined as second-strike capability). "

What criteria defines a superpower? population size resources Criteria for defining a superpower military strength Economic strength TASK: In pairs choose one of the criteria and discuss your ideas as to how it could define a superpower. Can you think of any examples that you already know?

Who are the superpowers? • • Superpowers are countries, or grouping of countries, with global influence and power They have economic, cultural, military and geo-political influence Economic wealth (see graph) is only one aspect of superpower status One way to group the world's most powerful is:

Task using p 138 -143 OXFORD and the slides coming up. 1) Investigate the following criteria which could create superpowers: Physical size and geographic position, resources, Population size, Economic power and influence, military force and dominant belief systems. Create a table to show Criteria Explanation of Benefits Drawbacks? Examples

SIZE How might size be included in the criteria for a superpower? Each territory’s size on the map is drawn according to its land area

Size • Countries with a large land area are important because they: – Tend to have greater natural resources – Extend influence over a larger number of neighbours Russia has a very large land area with enormous volumes of natural resources. Further, it has 14 neighbours over whom it is able to extend varying degrees of influence

POPULATION Why might population be included in the criteria for a superpower? A map showing the proportion of worldwide population relative to territory size

Population • Countries with a large population are seen as important because: – Economic growth cannot be sustained without sufficient number of workers e. g. UK – Cheap workers can help to promote economic growth e. g. China and India – Larger populations encourage economic growth through markets e. g. EU – However, some countries have managed to promote significant economic growth without a large population e. g. Singapore

RESOURCES Why is access to resources a criteria for superpower? A map showing the proportion of worldwide fuel imports relative to territory size

Resources • Countries with resources necessary for economic development should hold significant power e. g. Russia – gas; Middle East – oil • However, countries with significant resources are not necessarily powerful because: – Exporting raw materials adds little value e. g. Australia – iron ore – TNCs control large volumes of resources e. g. BP - Nigeria

MILITARY INDICATORS Why is military strength a criteria for superpower? A map showing the proportion of armed forces personnel relative to territory size

Military Indicators • Countries with a large military may be viewed to be more powerful e. g. India • However, the type of weapons owned is also representative of power i. e. Countries in possession of nuclear weapons: USA, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, (Israel)

The geography of power • • • In terms of superpower status, size is not everything Some ‘demographic superpowers’ have relatively little economic power Military spending (see table) is one form of power, as it allows superpowers such as the USA to have global military reach The USA is a highly influential power in economic, military, geopolitical and cultural terms Only the EU comes close to the influence of the USA, but the EU is a federation of 27 nation states who do not always agree 2008/09 data Total Population (millions) Total military spending ($ billions) China 1, 334 84 India 1, 174 30 EU 500 280 USA 308 607 Indonesia 231 4 Brazil 192 15 Pakistan 168 4 Bangladesh 162 1 Nigeria 154 1 Russia 141 59 Japan 127 46 Mexico 107 4 Gulf States 40 40

ECONOMIC INDICATORS Why is economic strength a criteria for superpower? Territory size shows proportion of worldwide GDP to be produced there in 2015

Economic Indicators • Countries with the largest economies have a significant influence over global economies • In 2010, the world’s 10 largest economies were: 1 USA 2 China 3 Japan 4 India 5 Germany 6 Russia 7 Brazil 8 UK 9 France 10 Italy (based on GDP ppp) • Between these countries they: – – Earn around 2/3 of world GDP Control investment Use the world’s most powerful currencies ($, € and £) Determine economic policies which affect the globe • In addition, the G 20 group (countries with the 19 largest economies plus the EU) influence the global economy and control aid to LEDCs

Religion

Religion • Religion varies in influence across the world • The influence of European (predominantly Christian) colonisation can be seen in North and South America, southern Africa and Australasia • Islam is the main religion in northern Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia • Religious leaders can influence politics through their beliefs (e. g. contraception, abortion)

Belief Systems • Religion is not the only form of belief system • Capitalism has a huge, and ever growing, influence on the world (particularly since the collapse of the USSR in 1991) • Capitalism is the system by which land, labour and capital are owned privately and are used to generate profit • Whilst not everyone agrees with capitalism, it’s influence reaches most of the world, aided by globalisation

Global Influence • All of the factors considered above are variable. By consequence, the influence countries have on surrounding nations and, more broadly, the world, can change. • Therefore, countries which may once have been considered Superpowers may no longer have such influence, whilst other countries are gaining in power

Task 1 : Rank this criteria used to define superpowers in order of importance RELIGION S SIZE P POPULATION R RESOURCES MILITARY M STRENGTH E ECONOMIC STRENGTH Task 2 : Justify your choice.

http: //www. youtube. com/wat ch? v=nv 9 Nw. KAjmt 0 • Obama victory speech from 16. 55