SuperpowersColonialism

Discussion

• Is the EU really the world’s major superpower?

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_superpowers

Superpowers

Theories of colonialism

1.Modernism

Modernists believed in the 19th C that the world could be improved by human intervention and achievement and that this necessitated colonising other less intelligent and able peoples.

Europeans, and the British (say the British) were thought to be more modern, civilised, progressive and superior to others elsewhere in the world.

• 2. Mackinder’s heartland theory

• In the early 20th C Mackinder believed that there was a pivot in central Eurasia surrounded by a heartland and that whoever ruled this would rule the world.

• Conversely he indicated that the further you were from the heartland the less influence you would have. He indicated that Russia’s position in the heartland and its natural resources made it the natural leader of the world.

• However, the industrial revolution centred on Britain in the 19th C ensured that the original heartland was shifting westwards and that Britain, with its economic power and naval supremacy, was more likely to lead the world.

• 3. Evangelical Christianity & Social Darwinism

• With colonialism came the call from the church to spread its message. Such evangelism was rooted in the myth that others were racially inferior and that spreading the Christian message was a divine call to civilise the inferior peoples of the world. In 1500 less than 5% were Christians in Africa; today the figure is 50%.

• This view was coupled with the notion (from Darwin’s views of natural selection) that the strong would survive over the weak and therefore improve the gene pool.

Colonialism - the British Empire as the first great superpower

• Pp142-145

• The 19th century British believed they were superior to other nations and set out to dominate other nations through colonialism.

• They were invaded and British people were assigned key roles that ensured the dominance of those nations.

• Ruling them gave the British power as well as resources required for industrial development.

British Colonisation• The scramble for Africa (<10mins) http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw12KGSj53k

• Then read page 143 before discussing the ‘What do you think?’ Page 143

• “Should colonisers say ‘sorry’ for slavery and any other misdeeds of colonialism?”

• Useful website: http://www.britishempire.co.uk/index.htm

Capitalism -v- Communism

• Read pages 146-151 and take notes (bullet points and no more than a couple of sides of A4) to help understand the Cold War rivalry between USA and USSR and the relative influence of each country

• Be sure you know about the role of each of the IMF, the World Bank and WTO

• Complete Q3 page 151 (Choose North and South Korea)

• Complete Q5 page 151

A2 exam question

• Using examples assess the view that the role between superpowers and the developing world is a neo-colonial one.