Lesson1 definingsuperpowers

A2 GCE GeographyUnit 4

Super Power Geographieshttp://current.com/search.htm?s=on&v=on&r=off&context=&context_id=&context_type=&q=superpower 4 relevant clips for criteria

Superpower Geographies

Lesson 1 defining superpowers What factors are influencing power? b)

Learning Objectives:

• To know what a superpower is

• To know how Superpowers have changed over time

• To be able to suggest and justify criteria for becoming a SP and maintaining status

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 superpower is a nation which is able to project its influence anywhere in the world. It is a dominant global force.

Former superpower- countries that used to have power and influence over other places in the world. Have in the past been a dominant global force

Emerging Superpower- a country that may become a dominant global force in the future

Current superpower

former superpower

Potential 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.

Starter Task:

In pairs, use the cards you have been given to decide which countries are superpowers.

Sort your chosen superpowers into three groups

Criteria for being a successful student.

1) Attendance

2) Punctuality

3) Attitude

4) Homework

Criteria for being a successful football team.

1)

2)

3)

What criteria would you choose to define the

necessary characteristics of a a successful

football team?

How would you explain this criteria?

What criteria defines a superpower?

Criteria for defininga superpower

Size/ land area

population

Natural resources

military strength- army size/ no. of bases 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?

Energy potential

languageInteraction with other nations

WHAT IS NEEDED TO BECOME A WHAT IS NEEDED TO BECOME A SUPERPOWER?SUPERPOWER?

COMMON INGREDIENTS

NEEDED

Geographical influence

Large land/ sea areaEnough resources to be self sustaining if necessary.

Large population.No. of neighbours

Military influence

Large ability to project power over the world.

Large land, sea and air army which can be easily deployed.Possession of nuclear power advantageous.

Economic influence

Large national economy (high GDP)

High economic growth.Large number of companies (TNC’s)Economic self suffiency

Cultural influence

.Strong cultural influence over other nations.

Media controlLanguage dominance

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 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. Although Russia is so big, it’s neighbours are all very different

With size comes position- also important for example, the problems in the Arctic are predominantly controlled by Canada and Russia

Russia is the largest country and Canada second largest in world by area. But Russia has 14 neighbours and Canada only 1

But the UK dominated early superpower days and is in comparison a country with little geographical influence in terms of size!

A map showing the proportion of worldwide population

relative to territory size

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

China

India

USA

Indonesia

Brazil

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Nigeria

Russia

Japan

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- growth due to tax and tariff free state

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 powere.g. Russia – gas; it can and has cut off supplies before

Middle East – oil- control the price of barrels through OPEC (do either have power outside energy)

• However, countries with significant resources are not necessarily powerful because:– Exporting raw materials adds little value

e.g. Australia – iron ore it makes nothing from it as it is all exported

– Today TNC’s control large volumes of resources- limits power for state/ gov especially under capitalist regimee.g. BP – control much of Nigeria’s oil reserves

China has variety of natural mineral deposits and energy producing natural landscapes, but so does Congo DR and Brazil-

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

powerfule.g. India and China

Structure of the military- e.g. china have more control over their military

• However, the type of weapons owned is also representative of poweri.e. Countries in possession of nuclear weapons: USA, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, (Israel- thought but not proven)- are seen to be more powerful.

In fact the 1st 5 France, USA, UK, China and Russia are the permanent members of the UN security council- who decide military policy across the world

USA has many military bases across the globe

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 2007, the world’s 12 largest economies were:

USA China IndiaJapanCanada Brazil UK FranceSpain Germany Italy Russia

• 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 LDCs

• Cultural Indicators

Religion

Religion

1) Religion varies in influence across the world2) The influence of European (predominantly Christian)

colonisation can be seen in North and South America, southern Africa and Australia

3) Islam is the main religion in northern Africa, the Middle East and many parts of central and south east Asia- also increasing influence in the ‘west’

4) Religious leaders can influence politics through their beliefs (e.g. contraception, abortion)

5) Different Religions have different outlooks on life, e.g. war attitudes

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

Language and culture

• English has most speakers worldwide- so countries having English as their official language – power over media, literature and media (TV, Music lyrics)

• Spread by increasing Globalisation

Other cultural influences

• Global capitalism is promoted by media, especially global new

networks, ie. CNN

• While the media alone does not make the USA a superpower, it does

help it to maintain the USA’s position by using its influence

politically.

– Fox TV has been a strong supporter of the Iraq war and the ‘war on terror’

in the USA

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

Task 2 : Justify your choice.

RELIGION

POPULATION SIZE/ AREA

RESOURCES

ECONOMIC STRENGTH

MILITARY STRENGTH

LANGUAGE AND

CULTURE

ENERGY PRODUCTION POTENTIAL

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 the four main ways that superpowers exercise their power

• To be able to give specific examples of exercised power

© Geography Department, London Academy

Economic Power

© Geography Department, London Academy

Wealth allows superpowers to export their power around the world, buy resources and influence trade patterns.

Also can ‘buy’ other nations

Gives power in international organisations

© Geography Department, London Academy

Source:

Forbes, 2008

The world’s top ten richest companies.

Where do you think these companies originate?

Five of the the top 10 richest companies are from the USA.

776 of the top 2000 are from the USA.

The USA has the world’s most powerful military machine and this is geographically widespread.

(p103 in your book shows military bases)

45% of all world spending on military is by the U.S.A.

•Nuclear Weapons

•Army Personnel

•Satellite Technology

•Spies

© Geography Department, London Academy

Military Power

Cultural Power

Individual Task:

Read through the article by Timothy Garton Ash

What is cultural power?

What examples of cultural power are illustrated in the article?

What other examples of cultural power can you think of?

Add notes to your grid

Geographical Power

This is the sphere of influence a superpower has. It relates to how many countries it borders, etc

What geographical power is identified in these images?

Criteria for defining a superpower

Military PowerEconomic PowerCultural PowerGeographical Power

How do each of these powers affect each other?

Which of these is the most important? Why?Think!Japan holds the world’s THIRD largest economy and almost half of the world’s top 100 companies are Japanese. What reason could you think of which might explain why Japan is not a “superpower”?

• Have we oversimplified?• Are there different types of Superpower-

have we oversimplified!

Is there a Power Spectrum

• Emerging superpowers have growing influence.

• Emerging powers are further away from superpower

status.

– Have powerful cards, such as energy resources, but not a full deck of

cards.

• Regional powers play an important economic and political role

on their continent.

Exam Question

Giving examples, explain how superpowers can exert their influence/ power (10)