9.1.4
Superpowers - Culture, Demography & Resources
Superpowers - Cultural Influence
Superpowers - Cultural Influence
With globalisation increasingly leading to a global culture, cultural influence is a key characteristic of being a superpower in the 21st century.
TNCs
TNCs
- For example, Disney promotes a global culture with American traits through its films and TV shows.
- Film studios like MGM make films like 'The Hobbit' and 'Hot Tub Time Machine' spreading US culture globally.
- Netflix is also spreading US culture internationally.
- Global media TNCs influence global culture by deciding which films people watch.
Superpowers - Demographic Characteristics
Superpowers - Demographic Characteristics
For some countries, their demographics have helped them to achieve superpower status.
China - large population
China - large population
- For some countries, their demographics have helped them to achieve superpower status.
- China used its large population (1.4 billion) to become the ‘work shop of the world’. It was able to provide TNCs with low labour costs and use this to grow its manufacturing sector.
- As China becomes a more wealthy power, its large population is now offering TNCs a large consumer market and so increasing economic growth further.
- The USA is another example of a large population being potentially advantageous (326 million people in 2017).
Singapore - small population
Singapore - small population
- However, there are plenty of examples where countries have risen to become superpowers or regional powers without a large population.
- Singapore is an example of this. It is a regional power with major influence in South Asia yet it has a population of only 5.6 million. This suggests that demographics are not the only thing that matters.
Superpowers - Access to Natural Resources
Superpowers - Access to Natural Resources
Historically this has been an important element of superpower status because natural resources are essential to economic development.
The UK
The UK
- For example, the UK’s supply of coal was key to kick-starting the industrial revolution.
- However, simply having resources do not mean economic development.
The USA
The USA
- The USA was very rich in Iron and Steel, which were very important in its development in the late 1800s.
- John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil was so powerful from 1870-1911 that it had to be broken up.
- Andrew Carnegie's Carnegie Steel Company had a huge amount of power in the steel industry.
Africa
Africa
- However, much of Africa has huge resource reserves but these have caused conflict and hindered development further.
- Corruption can mean that the gains do not accrue to the country.
- TNCs can manage many natural resource reserves and countries may not receive many benefits. In Nigeria, Shell and BP have developed many Nigerian oil fields.
- Dutch disease can lead to currency appreciation because of the export of resources like oil. This can stop a nation exporting any other goods and services.
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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