Past Superpowers | Existing Superpowers | Emerging Superpowers |
Russia/ USSR
British Empire USA Roman Empire |
USA- hegemon (ruling state)
Germany EU |
BRICS
South Korea Mexico United Arab Emirates
|
Measures of Power
- Oil rich, manufacturing base, IT services, infrastructure, export processing zones, employment structure, tourism, global service hub, political maturity, political influence and innovative technology.
- Different countries display some of these characteristics and types of power.
Factors that Lead to Superpower Status
- Demographic ‘power’- market size and pool of skilled labour.
- Cultural power is a result of globalisation, shown by the USA.
- Political influence in international relations at the IMF, UN, WTO, G8 etc.
- Economic wealth and power, possibly a result of trade and the wealth this brings- related to trade blocs or TNCs.
- Power can also be seen as stemming from research and development, new technology, patents and royalties. Also, having resources other people want.
- Military power- naval and nuclear give a country a global reach.
Neo Colonialism
- Where a country controls other country overseas related to dependency theory.
- The core indirectly controls peripheral regions, although they are supposedly independent.
Ghana
- Gained independence from British rule in 1957, but have they got true freedom?
- GNP increased from $5.7 billion to $14.9.
- Still depends on decisions made by the world’s most wealthy nations.
- The best paid and managerial jobs were held by the British.
- Ghana’s crops and minerals were exported to British in a raw state, so Britain. processed them and added the value.