New
New
Year 10

Is the UK still an important international power?

I can explain how countries have influence on the world stage and outline the UK’s influence.

New
New
Year 10

Is the UK still an important international power?

I can explain how countries have influence on the world stage and outline the UK’s influence.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Countries pursue foreign policy aims through soft and hard power.
  2. Hard power uses military/economic pressure, while soft power relies on attraction and persuasion.
  3. Soft power may be subtle but shapes international relations and influences policies globally.
  4. The UK, despite challenges, remains an influential nation today due to its membership of international organisations.

Keywords

  • Influence - the power to affect or change someone's thoughts, actions or decisions

  • Hard power - the ability of a state to influence other states through coercion, often using military or economic means

  • Soft power - the ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion or force

Common misconception

The UK no longer has any influence in the world.

Although the UK's influence has declined in some areas, it still holds significant global influence. Through its membership in organisations like NATO, the UN and the Commonwealth, the UK continues to shape global events.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: Is the UK still an important international power?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage pupils to consider both the positive and negative aspects of the UK’s global influence. Prompt them to reflect on how international organisations help maintain influence.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the minimum percentage of GDP that NATO members must contribute?
Correct Answer: 2%, 2, two percent, two
Q2.
When was NATO founded?
1919
1945
Correct answer: 1949
1951
Q3.
What does Article 5 of the NATO treaty state?
Every nation must have nuclear weapons.
Correct answer: At attack on one member is an attack on all.
Members must also be in the UN.
Countries must trade with each other and give good deals.
Q4.
What does the WTO do to help resolve trade disputes?
encourage war to end disputes
Correct answer: hold meetings to mediate disputes
refer to the UN to advise on disputes
ban countries involved in disputes from trading
Q5.
Which of the following nations is part of the Commonwealth?
France
Germany
Russia
Correct answer: Canada
Q6.
Match the sentence head to its tail.
Correct Answer:NATO is organised into,two main branches, military and civilian.

two main branches, military and civilian.

Correct Answer:The North Atlantic Council is,NATO’s main decision-making body.

NATO’s main decision-making body.

Correct Answer:The Commonwealth is an organisation,based on voluntary association.

based on voluntary association.

Correct Answer:The current Head of the Commonwealth is,King Charles III.

King Charles III.

6 Questions

Q1.
Freezing bank accounts and limiting trade is an example of what type of power?
Correct answer: hard power
soft power
constitutional power
judicial power
Q2.
Which international organisation did Britain leave?
Correct Answer: European Union, EU, The EU, The European Union
Q3.
The UK hosts the Commonwealth Games, which allows the UK to share its values of equality and inclusion. What type of power is this an example of?
hard power
Correct answer: soft power
constitutional power
Q4.
Which nation uses Confucius Institutes to spread its language and culture?
Correct Answer: China
Q5.
Which international organisation helps to keep the UK safe through collective security?
Correct Answer: NATO
Q6.
Match the word to its definition.
Correct Answer:influence,the power to affect/change someone's thoughts, actions or decisions

the power to affect/change someone's thoughts, actions or decisions

Correct Answer:foreign policy,strategies a country uses to manage relationships with other nations

strategies a country uses to manage relationships with other nations

Correct Answer:isolationist,ideology where a country avoids involvement with other nations

ideology where a country avoids involvement with other nations