Embedded Files
- Patterns of power change over time. There may be one, two or multiple superpowers extending their power globally. This would be referred to as a uni-polar, bi-polar or multi-polar world.
- The existence of different numbers of superpowers and the relationships between them can affect geopolitical stability and the prospects of peace and war.
- The term, superpower, dates from the late 1940s when it was used to describe the three dominant superpowers at the time: the USA, the USSR and the British Empire.
- The British Empire is the group of colonies and countries which were ruled and controlled by Britain. The time of the British Empire can be termed the colonial or imperial era. Imperialism is the domination of other nations politically or economically. Colonialism is of a similar nature, often perceived as imperialism in practice. Colonialism is defined as the acquisition of political control over a territory by another country, and the subsequent settlement of that territory. Direct control is maintaining control through 'hard' power, e.g. colonialism. The video (to the right) highlights the sphere of influence and alliances of the British Empire.
- The British Empire was a superpower which had a global influence, with a legacy that still remains today. During its tenure, the world was considered to be uni-polar. The British Empire was the world's largest empire by maximum land area by 1913. At it's height, it reigned over nearly one quarter of the world's land surface and more than a quarter of its population. It included swathes of North America, Australia, Africa and Asia. The empire was a colonial power alongside other European states including France, Spain and Portugal.
- The British Empire began when Britain began to establish colonies overseas in the 16th century. Expansion accelerated in the 18th century.
- The empire is believed to have collapsed following the end of the Second World War from 1945. Most colonial powers such as the British Empire, had lost their colonies by 1970 due to post-war bankruptcy, the focus on post-war reconstruction and anti-colonial movements. Such movements include those proposing for independence. From 1919 to 1939, a multipolar world emerged.
- The Irish Home Rule Party campaigned for Ireland to remain part of the British Empire although have it's own Parliament. In the late 1800's, the bid for Ireland to have Home Rule was rejected. One of the reasons was concern that if Ireland left the British Empire, the empire would subsequently fall apart. Conflict followed between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British fellows. By late 1921, a truce and treaty was established between Ireland and Britain.
- Following Ireland's split from British rule, the Republic of Ireland became a country separate to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland remained a part of the UK. Northern Ireland divided into two groups of people - those who wanted to remain part of the UK or Unionists/Loyalists, and those who wanted to join the Republic of Ireland (Nationalists and Republicans). The Irish Republican Army (IRA) was re-established in the late 1900's as a means to end British rule in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement, or the Belfast Agreement, was signed on 10th April 1998 about how Northern Ireland should be governed. A devolution was agreed with the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in 2002 before regaining power in 2007.
- Many of the former British Empire colonies, now independent countries, have kept their ties with Britain through the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is an international association or grouping consisting of the UK and most of the countries that were formerly part of the British Empire.
- Whilst, colonialism is associated with indirect control, the British Empire has been associated with 'soft' power, critical to the empire's success in the 19th century. Soft power has continued to be essential with changing influence, now by the US, the present day superpower.
- Colonial India is an example of how colonies were controlled or of the direct control by Britain. Colonial India was the part of India controlled by European powers up to the mid-19th century.
- British military personnel, civil servants and entrepreneurs emigrated to India to run the Raj. The British Raj refers to the rule of India by Britain from 1858 to 1947. In 1947, India gained independence from Britain, marking the beginning of the end for the British Empire.
- During this, a process of acculturation was undertaken where two cultures interacted. British traditions, such as cricket, afternoon tea and the English language, were introduced.
- Following the decline of the British Empire, there were several changes in the patterns of power which brought about varying degrees of geopolitical stability and risk. Over time, multi-faceted, indirect control (political, economic, military, cultural) including neo-colonial mechanisms has become a more important way of maintaining and extending power. This is a change from the maintenance of power during the imperial era by direct colonial control.
- Following the decline of the British Empire, a bi-polar era began with the USSR and the USA as the remaining two superpowers, in the Cold War era (1945 to 1991). The Cold War was a conflict between the USA and the USSR following the Second World War. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR (or Soviet Union), was a former communist country established in 1921 up to it's demise in 1991. The USSR fought against the capitalist USA, having previously been allies during the Second World War against Hitler. The two had opposing ideologies.
- One of the key events of the Cold War era was the establishment of the Truman Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine was a foreign policy administered by former US President Harry Truman in 1947. The policy announced the containment of communism, opposing the geopolitical expansion of the Soviet Union as Truman believed the world was becoming increasingly divided. Truman accused the Soviets of running and encouraging dictatorial regimes and stifling the world economy. To ensure this containment, Truman announced the release of immediate economic and military aid to the governments of Turkey and Greece as they struggled against communist rebels, who were trying to take communist control of these countries. In 1948, Truman signed an act known as the Marshall Plan. This program channelled $13 billion from the United States to rebuild the economies of Western Europe following the Second World War. This was an attempt to prevent them from being taken over by the USSR communist rule. NATO is an alliance formed to prevent the spread of communism to Europe, it's eligibility today is disputed.
- As the USA and USSR sought to extend their influence globally, this led to geopolitical instability and proxy wars in many different parts of the world. Such included the 1950-1953 Korean War, the 1955-1975 Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The long-standing Vietnam War was a conflict between the communist-led North Vietnam and US-supported South Vietnam where US forces wanted to prevent the spread of the communist-led region. Communist victory was held in 1975, a rule Vietnam holds today with the Communist Party of Vietnam.
- Towards 1991, countries of the Soviet Union began to demand autonomy (self-governance) proposing nationalist movements, against the Soviet Union's communist rule.
- Estonia was one of the first to do this, followed by similar moves in Lithuania and Latvia. These movements weakened the Soviet Union.
- In December 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed disintegrating into fifteen independent countries including Russia and Belarus.
- Russia, known as the Russian Federation is the world's largest nation today. This is the legal successor to the USSR, established following the collapse.
- The collapse of the USSR was hailed by the Western world as a victory for freedom, nationalism and evidence of superiority of capitalism over communism and socialism. This has meant a return to a uni-polar world with the capitalist USA as the world superpower today.
- Neo-colonial mechanisms have been important in extending 'soft' power or indirect control since the decline of the British Empire. Indirect control is maintaining control through 'soft' power, e.g. neo-colonialism. It relates to the shift from 'hard' power or direct control to 'soft' power, despite the importance of 'hard' power today, particularly with Russia and the USA. Neo-colonialism is the colonial rule of less-developed countries or developing countries by developed countries. It can be alternatively defined as the use of economic, political and cultural power to influence other countries.
- This was particularly significant during the Cold War era where developing countries could be influenced and controlled after they gained independence from their colonial masters by this accelerated movement of colonialism. This meant newly independent countries were not actually masters of their own destiny. Their independence was actually not what it seemed.
- Several neo-colonial mechanisms include strategic alliances, aid, TNC investment, terms of trade and debt. These are all methods of establishing indirect control.
- Strategic alliances are associations between different countries who have chosen to work together. Military alliances between developing nations and superpowers make the developing nations dependent on military aid and equipment from the superpowers.
- Debt has a similar hindrance, as developing countries borrow money from developed countries ending up in a debtor-creditor relationship (unforced but still an extension of 'soft' power).
- More present mechanisms include the use of tariffs and taxes to control trade and Chinese investment in Africa, by the emerging China superpower.
- Hegemony is leadership or dominance, especially by one state or organisation (over other countries). During the uni-polar era we live in, the use of 'soft' power by the USA has been crucial in maintaining it's hegemony. The USA's hegemony is now threatened by the rise of China as a potential rival to this.
- Different patterns of power have brought about and continue to bring varying degrees of geopolitical stability and risk, with the uprising China. Such is imminent with the instability and proxy wars during the Cold War era.
Additional resources:
Read the Abstract of the article by Michael Holm. Click here to access the article. Consider the role and relative importance of 'soft' power and 'hard' power in the dominance of the British Empire.
Watch the TED talk about Global power shifts. Click here to access the video. How has power changed in the 21st century?
Explain the importance of the Second World War in the collapse of British imperial power.
Report abuse