7.1A - Defining Characteristics of Superpowers
Superpowers, emerging and regional powers can be defined using contrasting characteristics (economic, political, military, cultural, demographic and access to natural resources.)
Basic Definitions
- A superpower is a country with the ability to project its dominating power and influence anywhere in the world.
- E.g. USA
- Emerging superpowers are countries with a large role in one of more superpower characteristics, and with growing influence.
- E.g. China, Brazil, India, Russia
- Regional powers can project dominating power and influence over other countries within the continent or region.
- E.g. UK, Germany, France in Europe
- Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Middle East
- South Africa and Nigeria in Africa
Superpower Characteristics
There are 6 superpower characteristics! (Economic, Political, Military, Cultural, Demographic, Natural Resources), used to define which type of power a country is.
1) Economic
1) Economic
- Large GDP, high % of international trade, currency used as reserve currency.
- A large GDP creates influence as a potential market and as the home of TNCs which create FDI.
- Underpins the other 5 characteristics
- The USA has the world's largest total GDP - $18.5 trillion
- The ability to influence the policies of other countries through the dominance of negotiations. (Both bilaterally and through international organisations.)
- Many international organisations do not equally weight members.
- Voting power may be determined by economic contribution, historical role in founding of organisation (UN), population etc...
- Often due to dominance in other characteristics.
- E.g. large economy gives it power in trade talks, military power can make countries a threat - giving them political power
- Military power with a global reach means they can be used to achieve geopolitical goals
- Global influence through blue water (ocean going) navy and drone, missile and satellite technology
- Indicators of power: army size, defence spending, nuclear weapons, inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), size of blue water navy, being a major arms exporter, presence on/leading international military organisations.
- Dependent on demographic power: the number of military personnel that can be deployed
- Dependent on economic power: budget determines investment in military technology, which increases power
- Russia has the most active nuclear warheads (1790)
- The USA is in second place with 1750
- The ability to influence the beliefs, values, ideology and way of life in other countries.
- Achieved through:
- the dominance of media (films, radio, television, internet, education)
- TNCs or migrants introducing cultural products (food, clothing, music, religion)
- imposition of viewpoint in international agreements
- Indicators: global spread of music, fashion, food, language, religion
- The USA has the highest percentage of the world's 20 largest TNCs - 27%.
- A large population -> a large diaspora and workers at TNCs
- Assists economic power through a large market and economies of scale (so more profit).
- Means army can be larger.
- China has the largest population - 1382 million
- Control of access to physical resources: energy, minerals
- Provides inputs for economic growth
- Means they can be exported at a high price -> economic power
- e.g. OPEC and oil
- May be internally located, or accessed through reliable source countries through transport pathways.
- Essential for military power
Extra
- A 'hyperpower' is a word for the one, globally dominating superpower.
- 1850-1910: Britain was the hyperpower
- 1990-2010: USA the hyperpower