Geopolitics and Markets Review – 13th February 2023

The UK’s Transition From Hard Power To Soft Power

Before the United States empire that we find ourselves existing under today, there was the British Empire. The UK benefitted from the industrial revolution which led to rapid military innovation. The UK had the world’s strongest navy, and an ocean surrounding it. The geography of the UK was its greatest strength.

By controlling the global oceans, the British Empire was able to stretch its influence further than thought imaginable. They did this through hard power. Hard power involves military and economic power through force. As nobody could rival the British on the oceans, they did this with relative ease. Countries as far as Canada, India, and Australia were part of the British Empire.