How Powerful Countries Dominate Through Global Chaos

Source: The post How Powerful Countries Dominate Through Global Chaos has been created, based on the article “Geopolitics has played a massive role in the rise of ‘Master States’” published in “Live mint” on 17th December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- International relations

Context: The article explains how powerful countries, or “Master States,” use geopolitical chaos to gain economic and military dominance. It highlights how nations like Britain, the US, Germany, and Japan leveraged resources, markets, and opportunities during global upheavals to succeed. How Powerful Countries Dominate Through Global Chaos?

What is the Westphalian System?

1. The Westphalian system describes a world where countries, known as nation-states, operate under their own rules.
2. These rules are often shaped by a few powerful countries, referred to as “Master States,” which dominate because of their military and economic strength.
3. Master States maintain control by creating rules that benefit themselves and disadvantage less developed countries. This creates an unequal global economic system.

How Have Master States Historically Gained Power?

1. Colonization and Conquest: European powers like Britain plundered resources from colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Colonies provided cheap raw materials, labor, and markets for British goods.
2. Slavery and High Tariffs: The U.S. used slavery to address labor shortages and protected its manufacturers with high tariffs while stealing European technology.
3. Geopolitical Chaos: The U.S. benefited from World War II by supplying war materials and leading reconstruction. The 1944 Bretton Woods system established the U.S. dollar as the global trade currency.

How Did the U.S. Help Japan and Germany After World War II?

1. After World War II, the U.S. helped rebuild Japan and Germany. It funded Europe’s recovery through the Marshall Plan and boosted Japan by buying its products during the Korean War and beyond, which helped Japan’s economy flourish.
2. The rise of Master States relies significantly on their ability to manipulate global rules and take advantage of geopolitical disturbances to cement their economic and military superiority.

Question for practice:

Discuss how Master States have historically gained power by leveraging geopolitical chaos and economic strategies.