Global power and the sovereignty of states
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Question
Define power (in this topic).
Answer
The ability of a state or organisation to **shape the behaviour of others** and influence events beyond its own borders.
Question
Define sovereignty.
Answer
A state's right to **govern its own territory** — its laws and the flows of people, money, goods and data crossing its borders.
Question
What is a superpower?
Answer
A state with **global reach across economic, military, political and cultural power** (e.g. the US; China is now widely described as one).
Question
Define hegemony.
Answer
**Dominance by one power that others largely accept**, so it can set the rules of the international system.
Question
Hard power vs soft power?
Answer
**Hard power** changes behaviour by **force or money** (military, sanctions). **Soft power** does it by **attraction** (culture, universities, brands).
Question
What is an IGO? Give an example.
Answer
An **inter-governmental organisation** — a body of member states, such as the **United Nations** or the **WTO**.
Question
What is an MGO? Give an example.
Answer
A **multi-governmental organisation** — a grouping of governments that pools some decision-making, such as the **EU** or the **G7**.
Question
Name four ways superpowers maintain influence.
Answer
**Economic strength**, **hard and soft power**, **control of energy/resources**, and **mastery of new technology** — and they reinforce one another.
Question
Name three forces that escape state control.
Answer
**TNCs** (footloose profits and production), **shrinking-world technology** (instant data and capital), and **tax avoidance, civil society or hacking**.
Question
Name three ways states reassert sovereignty.
Answer
**Cybersecurity and data-localisation laws**, **biometric e-passports / smart borders**, and **populism, tariffs or re-shoring** of strategic industries.
Question
What is 'regulatory power'? Give the classic example.
Answer
Power exercised by **setting rules others must copy** to access your market — the **EU's market and data-protection rules** are adopted worldwide.
Question
What judgement do examiners reward on lost control?
Answer
That governments and MGOs have lost their grip **only partially and unevenly** — weak over data and profits, strong over borders, law and key industries.
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Topic 4.1 hub
Global interactions and global power
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