Superpower Geographies Essay

Submitted By maria-sophia17
Words: 4661
Pages: 19
Open Document
(4) Superpower Geographies
4.1 Superpower Geographies
4.1.1 What is a superpower?
Superpowers are countries with disproportionate power and influence so that they have more than the rest of the world and thus are the biggest decision makers. Superpowers are usually large countries in terms of population and physical extent. Physical size may provide a natural resource base that the superpower can thus exploit and draw on to develop their power and influence further. These countries have global influence with the world as their backyards, and other countries treat them with respect in the face of such power. Currently, there is only one true superpower – the USA.
The table below highlights the USA in comparison with the rest of the world in 2008 (since grown):

The USA
Rest of the World
USA as a % of the world
Population
305 million
6.5 billion
4.6%
GDP
$13.8 trillion
$40.8 trillion
25%
Military spending
$711 billion
$759 billion
48%
Number of the world’s 2000 largest TNCs
598
1,402
30%
Carbon dioxide emissions
6 billion tonnes
27 billion tonnes
22%

“a superpower must be able to conduct a global strategy… to command vast economic potential and influence and present a universal ideology” (Professor Paul Dukes, University of Aberdeen)
The definition emphasises:
The global nature of superpower status
The economic power of superpowers
The political and cultural viewpoint or vision/ideology that a superpower projects on the world
Superpowers have economic, cultural and military power resulting in global political influence. Other types of powers may not be as influential and do not dictate decisions:
1. Emerging superpowers – these have a growing influence, e.g. China. China has a growing economy and military power but less cultural influence than the americanisation and westernisation influence of the USA. The EU has considerable power, but EU decisions and policies are often compromises because they must be the collective view of 27 member states
2. Emerging powers – these are further away from superpower status. They include a re-emerging Russia, India, arguably Brazil, and the Persian Gulf States. These have powerful resources such as energy, but not an entire set of influential factors required
3. Regional powers –these play an important role in economic and political processes on their continent –e.g. south Africa and Japan
4.1.2 Maintaining power
International influence has to be maintained. Superpowers do this using different mechanisms, some of which are hard (overt) and some of which are soft (more subtle).
Superpowers use hard power mechanisms because these are the most obvious and threatening. The USA has an enormous military reach around the world giving it more military power than any other nation. Its military are present on every continent except Antarctica (but the USA has kept a permanently manned scientific base at the south pole since 1957 and in 2003 opened a new $150million base, reinforcing it’s superpower credentials). The NATO military alliance provides the USA with allies in North America (Canada), Europe and the Middle East. NATO was important during the Cold War period when the USSR was considered the USA’s superpower enemy over the possession of nuclear firearms.

4.1.3 Changing Geographies
The geography of superpowers changes over time as old superpowers decline and new ones emerge. The number of superpowers in existence at any one time can also change:
A uni-polar world is one dominated by one superpower
Bi-polar world is one where two opposing superpowers exist
Multi-polar world is one with three or more superpowers
Timescale
Superpower (s)
Comment
1800-1918
British Empire
The UK is the dominant global power, at one point controlling around 25% of the land area of the world
1918-1945
Transition Period
Increasing power in the USA and Russia, the rise of Nazi-Germany and the maintenance of the power of the British empire; arguably a multi-polar period
1945-1990
USA and USSR
Show More

Related Documents: Superpower Geographies Essay

Course Syllabus Essay

Summer, 2012 GEOGRAPHY BEHIND THE HEADLINES: Geographical Foundations to Current Issues Instructor: Dr. Victor Konrad, Loeb B343; 613 520 2600 extension 2563 (office hours only); victor_konrad@carleton.ca Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 16:30-17:30 or by appointment Lecture Class: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18:05-20:55/ 6:05-8:55 pm in 409 SA Prerequisite: Second year standing or permission Course Description: Geography matters in the events…

Words 1396 - Pages 6

Essay about Heart: United States and north America

is the fourth-largest in total area, the fifth largest in the contiguous area and third in population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries.[12] The geography and climate of the U.S. is also extremely diverse, with deserts, plains, forests, and mountains that are home to a wide variety of wildlife. Paleo-indians migrated from Asia to what is now the United States mainland around 12,000 years ago. European…

Words 622 - Pages 3

ch 8 KI 4 2013 complete 1 Essay

Political Geography: Key Issue 4 Where are States Distributed Rubenstein, pp. 286-295 The Cold War (1940’s-1990’s) 1. Who were the two main superpowers during the Cold War? United States (NATO) “First World” Soviet Union (Warsaw Pact) “Second World” Neutral: “Third World” 2. How has the nature of both alliances and warfare changed since the end of the Cold War? Warfare is less often conventional and more often state vs organization or internal within state Alliances are more often economic…

Words 408 - Pages 2

Mississippi River Research Paper

The Mississippi River, spanning over 2,300 miles from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, is an emblem of resilience, fertility, and historical significance. Its meandering path defines the physical geography of the nation, serving as the nerves and arteries of the United States transportation system. For hundreds of years, the people of America have survived and prospered because of the river. This research paper delves into the role of the Mississippi River as a linchpin of American commerce and as…

Words 1904 - Pages 8

Guns Germs And Steel Thesis

differences in physical geography of different civilizations, such as the east-west…

Words 1235 - Pages 5

James W. Loewen's Lies My Teacher Told Me

States faces complex issues and great dangers in the new century. Yet, Americans have met such challenges before." This paragraph then went on to discuss an example of how the American people rallied together and overcame all odds to become the "superpower" that we are today. This wildly optimistic view of our country today simply isn't beneficial to students. The chapter briefly discussed some of the more recent problems that the country is facing, but quickly went on to insinuate that all will be…

Words 995 - Pages 4

Rise Of Islam In Iran Research Paper

The Rise of Islam in Iran During the reign of the Sasanian Empire, Iran was taken over by the Muslim conquest of Persia, also known as Iran, from 642 to 651. The rise of Islam in Iran was fast paced, because of the significant military and political weakness in Persia. The most popular sect of Islam in Iran was the Shi’a Muslim, which today Iran is the center point of the Shi’ite faith. The Shi’ite sect of Islam would have remained unknown and politically insignificant, if the Arabs hadn’t invaded…

Words 1513 - Pages 7

Geography lesson 1 Essay

Lesson One Homework 1. Discuss the problems that “geographic illiteracy” can present to a country such as the United States in the Twenty-First Century. Give examples of the need for geographic knowledge in diverse areas such as international politics, domestic politics, economics, and popular culture. Geographic Illiteracy by definition is not having geographic knowledge. For example, not being to point out where the United States is on the map or where the Pacific Ocean is located. Geographic…

Words 1171 - Pages 5

Energy: Peak Oil and Energy Insecurity Essay

Energy security Overview ENERGY SECURITY Why is energy security a problem for the world? Energy supply, demand and security Investigate the different types of energy, classification and their impacts. What is the distribution of energy resources? What are the trends in global energy and demand? Why is energy security rising? The impacts of energy insecurity What are the developments in energy infrastructure? What are the tensions, costs and conflicts of energy insecurity…

Words 5511 - Pages 23

Great Britain's Two-Chamber System Analysis

Important Things with is that the United States is a federal state while Great Britain is a unitary state, who constitute the executive power and how they are selected. In the parliamentary solution arising from government legislature. The two-chamber system and how they work in practice may be important to point out. Who is the head of state etc. DIFFERENCES USA: Federal State UK: Device State USA: Checks and balances - the three joints in power distributions have specific roles in terms of mutual…

Words 1437 - Pages 6