Geography A-Level: Superpowers Revision, Question Plans Exam With Complete Solutions 2024

Explain the characteristics of superpowers / emerging / regional powers? (4) - correct answer-Superpower: Nation with the ability to project influence globally. These nations have prominent roles in decision making and are often a force for global change. Can project its dominating power anywhere in the world. E.g. USA. Characteristics of superpowers include: - 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. -Politically these nations have the ability to influence the policies of other countries through the dominance of negotiations (both bilaterally and through international organisations). - Military power with a global reach that can be used to achieve geopolitical goals. Global influence through blue water navies, drone missiles and satellite technology increasing the threat posed by superpowers to possible attacker nations. The USA has the highest percentage of the world's 20 largest TNCS (27% - linking to cultural influence). Emerging powers: These are countries with prominent roles in regions of increasing geographic size and with growing influence. Examples include the BRICs. They often have one or more superpower characteristics and hence the capacity to become a superpower within the 21st century. Regional powers: Can project dominating power and influence over countries within the continent or region. Their influence is currently continental and examples include the UK, Germany and France in Europe as well as South Africa and Nigeria in Africa. They may have the highest GDP or political engagement within their region and are often also the most globalised, westward facing with indicators of the global spread of music, fashion, food, language and religion. Explain the difference between colonialism and neocolonialism (4) - correct answer-- Colonialism is the direct interference into another nation. It involves the direct take over of governmental control and authority as well as the extension of a colonising nation's territory and the take over of the colonised nation's judicial system. The British Empire is a prime example of colonialism (active from the early 1600s to the years following the end of WW2 in which British colonies began to run themselves independently by the late 1960s). Much of this gain of independence stemmed from the war debt experience by Britain post WW2 and hence the inability to continue to fund colonised rule overseas. Britain ruled a quarter of the world's land and a third of the world's population during its peak. - Neocolonialism is the indirect control often achieved through loans and debt. These are structural interferences that subtly form control. Debt-aid relationships may enable neo-colonial control as developing countries owe money for past loans to developed countries but their poverty places them in a position of further dependence upon foreign aid. The use of economic or political pressures to control another nation. China has been accused of being neocolonialist in Africa since its emerging power in 2000. The area south of Bagamoyo is a historic seaport town of eastern Tanzania, Africa. If Chinese plans go ahead as planned it will be transformed into the largest port in Africa as the Tanzanian government says it is in the final stages of talks with state-run China Merchants Holdings International. The lagoon will be dredged to allow access to the vast cargo ships that will queue many miles out to sea. There is a sense here of China's 'involvement and help' to Africa, however, there is an underlying sense of China intending to create dependencies upon their own economy and China profits off of the power and income Explain how the British maintained power during the imperial era (4) - correct answer-The period from 1500 to 1950 was an imperial era for the British Empire (one dominated by empires). Colonisation built empires that directly controlled territories and the development of such empires relied on: - Large and advanced armed forces to conquer territory and then control it. - Powerful navies to transport soldiers and equipment to areas of potential conquest, and then protect sea-routes from possible attackers and enemies. Empires were maintained directly by force. Attempts by the conquered people to rebel against colonial power were brutally suppressed. The spread of British culture and religion (Christianity) meant the empire was largely maintained by an integration and acceptance of colonial power culture and life. The building of infrastructure such as transport systems and the improvements to education for all colonial states created a dependence upon colonisers that maintained power. Railway lines were built throughout colonised nations used to transport goods and people quickly between places. Explain how the USA maintained power during the cold war era (4) - correct answer-The USA sought allies among other countries as part of the USA-led 'west'. Military alliances such as NATO joined allies of the USA to cooperate military powers. NATO acted as a group of nations which supported one another within the Cold War period; policy dictates that if one member gets attacked then other allied members must assist in helping protect the member nation. The Marshall Plan was another method of power maintenance as the US led programme provided aid to Western Europe following the devastation of WW2. It was enacted in 1948 and provided more than $15B to help finance rebuilding efforts on the continent. Subsequently, this acted as persuasion and indirect expectation of capitalist support as help receiving nations were somewhat obliged to repay in the form of acting as allies. Acted to prevent the expansion of communism. Explain how the USSR maintained power during the cold war era (4) - correct answer-The USSR colonised nations in Eastern Europe such as Poland and Hungary - directly imposing communist control. These countries were of strategic importance to the USS