Global Action:
- Superpowers play a key role in global action e.g USA giving medical aid after the Haiti 2010 natural disaster.
- Crisis response can also occur when conflict arise e.g the war on terror.
- EU and UK also involved in this, not as powerful, but they support the USA.
- The USA as a superpower is so powerful that it acts alone without any help from the UN.
- UN is the IGO of all countries known as the ‘global police’.
- Emerging BRICs do not intervene often as they might be afraid of USA conflict or more interested in their own development.
Alliances:
- Superpowers always want to develop alliances that can either be military, economic or environment.
- Through the Cold War, the USA has had very song military alliances with NATO (hard power)
- NATO is a military deterrent that deters others from attacking such as Russia.
- USA has many bilateral military agreements such as air and navy bases with Japan and Australia.
- China does not have any major officials military alliances
- MEDCs like the EU and the USA are historical allies through trade, language and similar development but NATO is more of a formal geopolitical IGO.
Alliances
To Gain Power:
- British Empire had many alliances through force whilst the Cold War saw USA and USSR try and gain allies around the world.
- This is the biggest limitation of the emerging BRIC superpowers as they do not have a strong or global allies like the USA. Unlikely that China and Russia will ever be allies despite being similar.
Alliances
For the Economy:
- Most powerful are trade blocs such as the EU as they have free trade and free markets, increasing trade interdependence and security to goods.
- Even more powerful than military alliances as they increase development and economic growth as well as dependence on the west.
Alliances
For The Environment:
- Agreements such as the Paris Agreement get all the nations to sign a deal to reduce carbon emissions but there are major problems such as them being voluntary.
- The USA actually left the deal but this shows the hegemony power which they have as they don’t care enough to take a lead role.
The
UN To Increase Geopolitical Stability:
- Aim for world peace and development. USA and EU have the most power in them. USA pay the most towards them and so have the most control. Have also acted without UN approval e.g 2003 invasion.
Security
Council:
- Approves peacekeeping soldiers the UN send to conflict zones known as peacekeeper missions which aim to protect citizens
- Often don’t agree e.g China and Russia have vetoed in areas in the Middle East where emerging powers are cautious over USA dominance. The USA may have the power but the emerging countries don’t like to play.
Courts
& Climate Change:
- Role in the international court of justice which aims to resolve disputes between UN members. Commonly over border issues e.g India/Pakistan conflict with Kashmir or illegal actions.
- Independent body with less superpower influence.
- Paris Agreement was managed through the UN which means that the UN plays a key role in international decisions over the physical environment but the USA has the least amount of power as they pulled out.
- China is now increasing its role in such agreements and the EU is also a superpower who is becoming important for alternate energies.