1. Homework
You each have a Super Power Profile to complete. They focus on a super power, in particular the reasons for their rise and fall.
You must also investigate the following theories.
Modernisation Theory
Dependency Theory
World Systems Theory
(PS: I have read the Wikipedia entries on all 3. I will recognise them if you repeat them. Find wider sources of information!)

2. The British Empire- Esma 2
The British Empire- Esma 2. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – Helen 3. United States of America - Georgia
Key Dates
Countries Influenced
Key Power Influences/Reason for rise to Super Power Status ( KEY SECTION)
Key Events
Reason for Collapse (KEY SECTION)
A key technological development that helped advance the Super Power. ( TECHNOLOGICAL FIX LINK)
Be sure to include links/references to 2-3 sources per Super Power Profile.

3. Homework Links

4. Aim: How do countries become super powers?
5 mins
Aim: How do countries become super powers?
Learning outcomes:
Grades A/A*: I will explain how a country gains power and influence and maintains this and I will know who the ‘BRICS’ are and there key features.
Grades B/C: I will describe how a country gains power and influence and maintains this and I will know who the ‘BRICS’ are.
Mini-starter: What factors do we need to consider when judging whether a country is a superpower?

5. 5 mins
Starter: What factors do we need to consider when judging whether a country is a superpower?
Let’s refresh the aspects or factors that make a country a ‘Superpower’.
Superpowers are defined by land size, population, military and economic indicators and cultural influence. Some of these may be more important than others in different cases.
Remember we also said that Superpower status isn't permanent that some superpowers status is declining whilst others are rising super powers.

6. 5 mins

7. To know the four main ways that superpowers exercise their power
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

8. SUPER POWER INFLUENCE How do superpowers exercise their power?
Direct/Hard Power: The term hard power describes a nation or political body’s ability to use economic incentives or military strength to influence other actors’ behaviors. Power is linked with the possession of certain tangible resources, including population, territory, natural resources, economic and military strength, among others. Hard power is defined by the use of such resources to spur the behaviour of other entities
SUPER POWER INFLUENCE
How do superpowers exercise their power?
We have 4 categories.
Economic
Military
Cultural
Geographical
Indirect/Soft power: Is a term used in international relations theory to describe the ability of a political body, such as a state, to indirectly influence the behaviour or interests of other political bodies through cultural or ideological means. Popular culture and media is regularly identified as a source of soft power, as is the spread of a national language, or a particular set of normative structures; a nation with a large amount of soft power may inspire others to acculturate, avoiding the need for expensive hard power expenditures.

9. Economic Power
Wealth allows superpowers to export their power around the world, buy resources and influence trade patterns.
Can be used as DIRECT or INDIRECT influence. How?
© Geography Department, London Academy

10. Direct or Indirect? Military Power
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
Direct or Indirect?
© Geography Department, London Academy

11. Cultural Power Direct or Indirect?
What is cultural power? What examples of cultural power can you think of?
Direct or Indirect?

12. Geographical Power This is the sphere of influence a superpower has.
What geographical power is identified in these images?

13. Criteria for defining a superpower Military Power Economic Power Cultural Power Geographical Power How do each of these powers affect each other? Which of these is the most important? Why?
Think! Japan holds the world’s second 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”?

14. Economic
How do these influences interact with and have an impact on each other? Draw arrows from one to the other, annotated to detail the connections.
Military
Cultural
Positive media representations of military personnel and interventions creates public atmosphere less resistant to military conflict.
Geographical

15. Giving examples, explain how superpowers can exert their influence.
Question
Giving examples, explain how superpowers can exert their influence.

16. 5 mins
Who are the BRICs?
Fast-growing developing economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The acronym was first coined and prominently used by Goldman Sachs in 2001.
By 2050 the combined economies of the BRICs could eclipse the combined economies of the current richest countries of the world.
Currently account for more than a quarter of the world's land area and more than 40% of the world's population.
The "four BRIC countries have been seeking to form a 'political club' or 'alliance'", and thereby converting "their growing economic power into greater geopolitical clout“. They want a ‘multipolar’ order.
The 2011 BRICS summit took place in Sanya on the island of Hainan, China, on 14 April This was the third BRICS summit since (A/A* grades research the outcomes of the BRIC summits for study session work)

17. The BRICs and emerging powers
5 mins
The BRICs and emerging powers
The BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are the emerging super powers.
Mexico and the Gulf States could lay claim to be in this group also.
This group of countries is very different, with perhaps only China capable of challenging the USA in the near future.
China
Communist one-party state which has become the ‘workshop of the world’; rapid economic growth based on manufacturing and trade; significant military and demographic power.
Russia
Russia is what is left of the USSR; it has a huge nuclear weapons arsenal, and vast oil and gas reserves making it globally important. It has an ageing, unhealthy population and weak economy.
India
A huge, and very youthful, population give India enormous potential for growth. It has some world class industry such as IT, but very poor infrastructure and 100s millions of very poor people.
Brazil
Increasingly influential in Latin America, with a strong, diversified economy and growing middle class. It tends to punch below its weight internationally. It is sometimes referred to as an ‘agricultural superpower’.
Mexico
An influential country with strong ties to the USA; Mexico’s economy is often shaky and it has problems with crime and corruption.
Gulf States
Increasingly important in terms of remaining global oil and gas reserves; has attempted to diversify and become a hub between Europe and Asia, with some success.

18. What the BRICs have going for them?
5 mins
What the BRICs have going for them?
Large populations, underdeveloped economies and governments that appeared willing to embrace global markets and some elements of globalisation.
The BRICs already have a bigger share of world trade than the US. China, probably the world’s biggest goods exporter last year, has been supplemented by India’s software and back-office exports, Russia’s oil and gas and the domination of a number of agricultural commodity markets by Brazil’s super-competitive farmers.
The BRICs contributed about half of global growth between 2000 and 2008.
Source: Financial Times

19. The BRICs are emerging superpowers?
10 mins
The BRICs are emerging superpowers?
Think about:
Demographics
Land
Trade, growth, industries
Resources
Economy
Military capacity including nuclear
Cultural achievements
Space Race
International meetings (UN security council, Summits, G8, G20…)
Conclude: yes they are because… however….
Or no they are not . . .

20. How has the USA gained and maintained it’s superpower status?
5 mins
How has the USA gained and maintained it’s superpower status?
Military spending and bases, international decision making institutions, cultural hegemony, Tied Aid, TNCs.
Aftermath of WWII: no wrecked infrastructure, increase in wartime economic production, large scale air campaign in the Pacific.
Support for newly independent colonies: didn’t want them to be influenced by communism especially in South East Asia.
Growth of military strength came through these – Monroe 1923, Truman 1947, Nixon 1969 and Reagan 1980s.

21. 5 mins
US Military Strength

22. The Mint countries: Next economic giants?
5 mins
The Mint countries: Next economic giants?
The term was coined by economist Jim O'Neill, who has now identified the "Mint" countries - Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey - as emerging economic giants.
See Firefly article for why?

23. Plenary: How do countries become superpowers?
5 mins
Plenary: How do countries become superpowers?
Did you get:
Demographically – population, labour force, ideas
Geographically – physical size
Military – bases, alliances, nuclear power
Economically – GDP
Resources - power
Belief Systems – religion affects policies
Culturally – media, cultural hegemony
Geo-politically – decision making, neo colonialism