The dominance and power of the west is affecting cultures. Bagdikian states that in 2004 only 7 corporations owned all the media from approximately 50 in 1983. This concentration of the media brings limited views and benefits capitalism as people will only be influenced in a certain way as news is a social construction to benefit the capitalist state. (McQuail) Cultural hegemony is the result of this. It is therefore threatening the cultural identities of many countries because this one culture is being largely promoted due to the dominance of the western media and media imperialism.
Currently there is only one superpower, the USA. Superpowers have economic, cultural & military power resulting in global political influence. Firstly, the economic factor is very important when trying to have the superpower status. Wealth allows super powers to export their power around the world, buy resources and influence trade. By having an economic influence, the country can also have a large number of companies and economic self-sufficiency.
Modern History Assignment International Studies in Peace and Conflict: The Cold War “Evaluate the view that the ideologies of capitalism and communism influenced policies and strategies in the Cold War.” While the Cold War has come to be defined as "a clash of ideologies" by a majority of historians, the principles of capitalism and communism were exaggerated in political rhetoric by both the United States and the Soviet Union. Although the conflicting ideologies had a formative influence on the early strategies of the two superpowers – establishing a framework that would shape future policy - national and economic interests had a more significant impact on overall Cold War foreign response. However, an assessment of influences on policy making must be more complex than simply ‘ideological’ or ‘economic’. As Martin McCauley writes, "the weaknesses of the orthodox and revisionist analyses are evident: the former pays little attention to the legitimate security needs of the USSR, while the latter ignores Soviet behaviour which gave rise to shifts in American policy." In examining the factors that shaped the various strategies of the struggle, a more balanced post-revisionist approach must be taken.
As the fourth President of the United States of America, James Madison was a complicated leader. He is most often referred to as the “Father of the Constitution.” He was a strong nationalist that believed a strong central government was essential for the existence and future of the new country he helped found. He exercised his powers in fighting secessionists and would-be tyrants. But in many ways, President Madison contradicted his own beliefs. While Madison supported a strong central government, he also helped implement what are common separations of power and checks and balances.
Some of the ideas from The Prince are considered, by some, to be quite brutal, but no matter the moral relativity of his philosophy, many of these ideas still ring true in the world today. Machiavelli wrote these rules for politics nearly 500 years ago, but they are still used by governmental leaders worldwide to dictate such institutes as foreign policy, political popularity, and national security. The United States of America in particular has implemented and followed through on many of the philosophies. The U.S. government has funded 'secret' missions to Guatemala to attempt assassination on an elected leader, has participated in nation building through the conquest and occupation of Iraq in the interest of economic and geographic strategic gain, and has discreetly reallocated tax payers funds to pay for the economic downfall yet kept American citizens happy by providing multiple tax incentives. All of these actions are plays directly out of The Prince, ensuring the ability to do what is in the best interests of the nation, however morally objectionable, while keeping the continued public approval and contentment of the American citizens.
Unlike the American version, heads of government departments are not usually experts in their fields. Hence they are surrounded by experts from the Civil Service and what are referred to as 'special advisors'. The role of the cabinet is to discuss issues relevant to the country, registering and ratifying decision taken elsewhere in the cabinet system, discusses various points of view, weighs up arguments concerning whatever is being discussed and comes to a decision that is backed by the majority of the Cabinet. As such it becomes government policy, if supported in the House of Commons, and has the legitimacy of majority Cabinet support behind it. This means that decisions have collective responsibility behind them - all Cabinet members would be expected to publicly support and defend such policies.
These countries locate roughly 20-35° north, where is very good for farming. Farming could support more people, it's better than hunting and gathering. For more than 1,000 years, from at least 600 to 1700 ad, the most powerful country is China, not the West. However, 400 years ago, the geography had forced Britain to make ships that could reliably cross oceans. Because Britain is not in a favourable location, but a island.
One way a country can show it has a good economy is by considering the country’s GDP (PPP) per capita. Seeing as USA is the only current superpower in the world, taking their GDP (PPP) of $54,800, considerably more than certain other countries such as China ($12,900) and Russia ($24,800). However, it must be considered that GDP (PPP) per capita is not entirely accurate in measuring the strength of a country's economy as it hides the gaps in wealth in the population. Consequently, A country with a few billionaires and the rest living in poverty would probably have a pretty good average. This would not be considered a superpower due to all the people living in poverty.
In 2006, out of all the consumer electrics in the world, 80% was exported from China. China is also a massive consumer. It consumes more steel, coal meat and grain than any other nation. This means that it also imports raw materials from many other countries. In 1978 Deng Xiaoping became leader and began an ambitious programme of economic reform aimed at raising rates of foreign investment and growth.
Estonian national security is built up on being a member of NATO and depending on it's system of collective defense. The United States with it's second biggest army in the world is the most influential member of NATO and therefore we can say that in the sense of national security we depend on them. For this reason Estonian politics are very much interested in having good political relations with the United States and therefore some political decisions in Estonia might be influenced by the United States even if this impression might be withheld from the public. For instance, one example that comes to mind is the removal of the Monument of Lihula, which is a monument commemorating the Estonians who fought on the German side for Estonia against the Soviet Union in World War II. In Estonia the influence of the United States is felt the most in cultural sphere.