What makes the USA a world power?
The USA as a world power, including its political, economic, military and cultural influence, its place in international organisations, and its relationships with other countries.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on the USA as a world power, covering its economic, military, political and cultural influence, its role in international organisations such as the UN and NATO, and its relationships with allies and rivals around the world.
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to explain why the USA is a world power, describing its economic, military, political and cultural influence, its role in international organisations, and its relationships with other countries. This supports -mark "evaluate the extent of influence" essays.
The answer
Economic power
Military power
Political power
Cultural power (soft power)
Relationships with other countries
The USA has close allies (the UK and other NATO members, plus partners such as Japan and South Korea) and significant rivals (notably China and Russia). The rise of China as an economic and military competitor is the central limit on US dominance, which is why a strong answer treats US power as great but not unchallenged.
Examples in context
The dollar's role as the global reserve currency shows how economic and political power combine: because so much world trade is priced in dollars, US sanctions, such as those imposed on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, can be felt worldwide. NATO leadership lets the USA coordinate the military response of dozens of allies. At the same time, China's growing economy, expanding navy and Belt and Road investments illustrate the main limit on US dominance. Using these concrete examples lets a Higher answer evaluate the real extent, and the boundaries, of US influence.
Try this
Q1. Describe two ways the USA exercises influence as a world power. [4 marks]
- Cue. Its large economy and dollar, its huge military and NATO role, its UN Security Council seat, or its cultural soft power.
Q2. Explain why the USA can be described as a world power. [8 marks]
- Cue. Economic size, military strength, political influence through the UN and NATO, and cultural soft power combine to give global influence.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher 201820 marksEvaluate the extent of the influence of a world power you have studied on other countries.Show worked answer →
A -mark essay on the USA: up to marks for knowledge and understanding and up to for analysis, evaluation and a sustained conclusion.
KU marks come from accurate detail across the dimensions of power: the size of the US economy and the role of the dollar as the main reserve currency, the largest defence budget on Earth and global base network, the UN Security Council veto and NATO leadership, and cultural soft power.
Analysis and evaluation marks come from judging how far this influence extends and where it is limited, for example the rise of China as an economic and military rival. A sustained judgement on the extent of influence is the discriminator.
SQA Higher 202112 marksAnalyse the ways in which a world power you have studied exercises influence around the world.Show worked answer →
A -mark analysis question, roughly half KU and half analysis. Markers reward developed explanation of the different forms of power rather than a list.
KU should cover economic power (the dollar, major global companies), military power (defence budget, NATO, bases), political power (UN Security Council veto, G7), and cultural soft power (films, technology, brands).
Analysis marks come from explaining how each form of power translates into influence over other countries, for example how the dollar's role lets US sanctions bite globally. A judgement on which form of power is most significant is the discriminator.
Related dot points
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An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on the political system of the USA, covering the separation of powers between the President, Congress and the Supreme Court, the system of checks and balances, federalism, and how citizens participate in US politics.
- The social and economic issues facing the USA, including inequality and poverty, differences between ethnic groups, health and education, and government responses to these issues.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on social and economic issues in the USA, covering income and wealth inequality, poverty, differences between ethnic groups in health, education and employment, and the government responses that try to tackle them.
- The nature, causes and effects of a significant world issue such as conflict, terrorism, poverty or disease, and the impact it has on individuals, countries and the wider world.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on a significant world issue, covering how to define the issue, its causes, its effects on individuals and countries, and the wider impact it has on the world, using conflict, terrorism, poverty or disease as examples.
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An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on international responses to a world issue, covering the responses of individual countries and international organisations such as the UN, NATO, the EU and NGOs, and an evaluation of how effective these responses are.
Sources & how we know this
- SQA Higher Modern Studies Course Specification — SQA (2018)