A2 GCE GeographyUnit 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

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.

superpower

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

emerging superpower

True superpowers are rare because they demand such huge resources. However, as you may have guessed the global superpowers have changed over time.

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 21st 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.

Superpowers are so interesting! I

can’t put this book down!

Criteria for being a successful student.

1) Attendance

2) Punctuality

3) Attitude

4) HomeworkHow would you explain each of these criteria?

We now need to know what the criteria are for becoming a superpower and be able to explain these.

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?

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 continental-sized 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 non-dependence on international intercourse; and, most importantly, had a well-developed nuclear capacity (eventually normally defined as second-strike capability)."

What criteria defines a superpower?

Criteria for defininga superpower

size

population resources

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

Each territory’s size on the map is drawn according to its land area

SIZE How might size be included in the criteria for a superpower?

Size

• Countries with a large land area are important because they:– Tend to have greater natural resources– Extend influence over a larger number of

neighboursRussia 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

A map showing the proportion of worldwide population relative to territory size

POPULATION Why might population be included in the criteria for a superpower?

Population

• Countries with a large population are seen as important because:– Economic growth cannot be sustained without sufficient

number of workerse.g. UK

– Cheap workers can help to promote economic growthe.g. China and India

– Larger populations encourage economic growth through marketse.g. EU

– However, some countries have managed to promote significant economic growth without a large populatione.g. Singapore

A map showing the proportion of worldwide fuel imports relative to territory size

RESOURCES Why is access to resources a criteria for superpower?

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

A map showing the proportion of armed forces personnel relative to territory size

MILITARY INDICATORS

Why is military strength a criteria for superpower?

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

Territory size shows proportion of worldwide GDP to be produced there in 2015

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Why is economic strength a criteria for superpower?

Economic Indicators• Countries with the largest economies have a significant

influence over global economies• In 2010, the world’s 10 largest economies were:

1USA 2China 3Japan 4India5Germany 6Russia 7Brazil 8UK

9France 10Italy (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 G20 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

Comparing Indicators – Who is a Superpower?

1. Use the internet to research data on the countries below and complete the table, leaving the final column blank for now.

Choose one additional country for the bottom row.

Suggested links:

http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Country Land area (km²)

Number of countries bordering

Population (millions)

GDP per capita ($US)

Military personnel (000s)

Nuclear state (Y/N)

Natural gas reserves (cu. Ft.)

Oil reserves (barrels)

RANK

USA Russia China Brazil UK France Germany Japan India

2. Using the data that you have collected, now rank the countries from 1 to 10, including the additional country that you chose, where 1 is the country with the greatest influence, and 10 the country with the least.

3. Justify the rankings that you have allocated each country below:

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Comparing Indicators – Who is a Superpower?

1. Use the internet to research data on the countries below and complete the table, leaving the final column blank for now.

Choose one additional country for the bottom row.

Suggested links:

http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Country Land area (km²)

Number of countries bordering

Population (millions)

GDP per capita ($US)

Military personnel (000s)

Nuclear state (Y/N)

Natural gas reserves (cu. Ft.)

Oil reserves (barrels)

RANK

USA Russia China Brazil UK France Germany Japan India

2. Using the data that you have collected, now rank the countries from 1 to 10, including the additional country that you chose, where 1 is the country with the greatest influence, and 10 the country with the least.

3. Justify the rankings that you have allocated each country below:

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 1 : Rank this criteria used to define superpowers in order of importance

P

Task 2 : Justify your choice.

RRELIGION

S

POPULATION

R

M

E

SIZE

RESOURCES

MILITARY STRENGTH

ECONOMIC STRENGTH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv9NwKAjmt0

• Obama victory speech from 16.55