A-Level Geography: Superpowers EQ2

Question 1

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What is a superpower?

Answer 1

A superpower can be defined as a country with a dominating power and influence. It means that this country influences different parts of the world beyond their own borders.

Question 2

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What is a regional power?

Answer 2

• A country that exerts influence over other countries in the immediate area of the same region.
• China and India are regional powers in Asia and currently developing to become (possible) superpowers.

Question 3

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What is an emerging power?

Answer 3

• An emerging power is a country that has increasing influence but is not yet dominant.
• We can refer to the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as emerging powers.

Question 4

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

Why is what are the top three largest economies with regard to GDP?

Answer 4

• America is the world’s largest economy with a GDP of $20 trillion.
• China is second with a GDP of $14 trillion.
• Japan has the 3rd largest economy in the world.

Question 5

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How much of the global GDP do the world’s 10 largest economies earn?

Answer 5

The world’s 10 largest economies earn 65% of the global GDP.

Question 6

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What are the world’s five largest consumer markets?

Answer 6

• The USA
• China
• Japan
• Germany
• The UK

Question 7

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What currency has historically been considered a powerful currency?

Answer 7

The US dollar (USD).

Question 8

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

Why do some nations borrow in the US Dollar? Name a real-life example.

Answer 8

• Some nations have to borrow in US Dollars because investors do not trust their currencies.
• Turkey had problems in 2018 because they had lots of debts in dollars and their currency kept depreciating vs the US Dollar, so they could not repay their debts.

Question 9

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How do the world’s largest economies and economic superpowers control investment?

Answer 9

• Most Foreign Direct Investment is directed towards these ten countries because a TNC investing here is likely to make more profit. This is because the consumer market is so large.
• Most of the world’s biggest companies are from the USA or China. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google are from America and Tencent (own part of Fortnite) and Alibaba are from China.

Question 10

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What is an example of a Superpower gaining status without physical size?

Answer 10

The British Empire is an example of gaining superpower status without physical size. Britain exerted global influence despite being a small island. But the Empire included large territories like India and had lots of strategic locations.

Question 11

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What is an example of a Superpower characterised by ifs physical size?

Answer 11

• Russia is the world’s largest country and controls significant resources as a result of its size.

Question 12

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How has Russia’s physical size benefitted it?

Answer 12

• The size of Russia may also prove important in the future with the Arctic region. Climate change makes it possible to exploit some of the previously untapped natural resources.
• The Arctic is mainly under Russian & Canadian control.
• The state-controlled oil company Rosneft has spent $1.74 billion in Arctic exploration since 2012 and will invest another $4.35 billion between 2017-2021.

Question 13

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How can superpowers exert political power in modern times?

Answer 13

With the rise of globalisation, it is rare for a country to hold much influence on their own. It is much more common for countries to exert power through their membership of trade blocs or IGOs.

Question 14

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How TNCs help promote global cultures/influence?

Answer 14

• Disney promotes a global culture with American traits through its films and TV shows.
• Netflix is also spreading US culture internationally.
• Global media TNCs influence global culture by deciding which films people watch.

Question 15

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How have demographics helped China achieve superpower status?

Answer 15

• China used its large population (1.4 billion) to become the ‘work shop of the world’. It was able to provide TNCs with low labour costs and use this to grow its manufacturing sector.
• As China becomes a more wealthy power, its large population is now offering TNCs a large consumer market and so increasing economic growth further.

Question 16

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What are examples of countries rising to superpower/regional powers without large demographics?

Answer 16

Singapore is an example of this. It is a regional power with major influence in South Asia yet it has a population of only 5.6 million. This suggests that demographics are not the only thing that matters.

Question 17

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How was the USA’s access to natural resources important to its growth as a superpower?

Answer 17

• The USA was very rich in Iron and Steel, which were very important in its development in the late 1800s.
• John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil was so powerful from 1870-1911 that it had to be broken up.

Question 18

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

Why is access to resources not the only important reason for status development?

Answer 18

• Much of Africa has huge resource reserves but these have caused conflict and hindered development further.
• Corruption can mean that the gains do not accrue to the country.
• TNCs can manage many natural resource reserves and countries may not receive many benefits. In Nigeria, Shell and BP have developed many Nigerian oil fields.

Question 19

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What are the main Global Environmental Concerns?

Answer 19

• Urban air quality in emerging power cities is very dangerous due to poor vehicle engines.
• Imports and exports have increased so CO2 has increased through increased transport. This means goods have a larger carbon footprint.
• Deforestation has accelerated as people cut down trees in order to grow crops for food or biofuel

Question 20

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What has emerging economies and growing wealth led to?

Answer 20

• Emerging economies and the growing wealth of many countries has led to increased consumption of various resources.
• High resource consumption (the last stage in Rostow’s Modernisation Model) has caused many environmental problems

Question 21

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What are some of the pressures a growing middle-class provides?

Answer 21

• Food security
• Water security
• Energy security
• Resource security

Question 22

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How does a growing middle-class increase pressures on food security?

Answer 22

There will be more demand for volume and variety of food types. Land used for staple foods will be converted to produce meat and dairy products, which are more expensive to produce and release more greenhouse gases. This will cause food prices to rise, which would affect the poorest worst.

Question 23

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How does a growing middle-class increase pressures on water security?

Answer 23

Many emerging countries already suffer from water shortages. By 2030, it is estimated that 60% of places in India will face water scarcity. This could also worsen food security, as droughts induce crop failures and famine.

Question 24

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How does a growing middle-class increase pressures on energy security?

Answer 24

Oil demand is expected to rise by 30% by 2030. Prices of oil will increase and there may be shortages, causing electricity blackouts. Countries with vast reserves are likely to be in a good position (e.g. Russia) whereas countries not self-sufficient will be left vulnerable to exploitation.

Question 25

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How does a growing middle-class increase pressures on resource security?

Answer 25

Demand for rare earth minerals increases leading to higher prices. For example, the demand for lithium-based batteries is very high and could be hard to meet. There could be severe shortages for basic metals like copper, tin, and platinum.

Question 26

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What does increased pressure on resources imply?

Answer 26

This increased pressure on resources will not only make the resources more scarce but could increase tensions between nations (between those who have an excess of resources and those who need them) and increase prices.

Question 27

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What had occurred in 2017 with President Donald Trump with regards to the environment?

Answer 27

In 2017, Donald Trump, US President, withdrew the USA from the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Question 28

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What is China with regards to energy consumption and extraction?

Answer 28

• China is the world’s biggest consumer of energy and most of that energy comes from burning coal mined in China itself.
• China is the top country for fossil fuel extraction.

Question 29

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How much more do the richest countries consume in comparison to the world average?

Answer 29

The richest countries in the world consume on average 10 times as many materials as the poorest countries and twice as much as the world average.

Question 30

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

In terms of natural resources, what do industrialisation and urban growth require?

Answer 30

• As an emerging country, China’s industrialization and urban growth have required unprecedented amounts of iron, steel, cement, energy and construction materials.
• Between 2011 and 2013 China used more cement than the US did in the entire 20th century.

Question 31

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

In terms of plastic waste, how much does China contribute?

Answer 31

• In a recent study, China topped the global ranking for the country releasing the most plastic into the oceans.
• According to this study, in 2010 8.8 million tons of plastic waste in the ocean could be traced back to China.

Question 32

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What did China support in 2015?

Answer 32

China supported the 2015 Paris agreement. This is important as it is the world’s largest emitter and thus must be involved in any deal that is to be a success.

Question 33

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

In 2017, what did China and the EU set up?

Answer 33

In 2017, China and the EU set up a new alliance to further tackle climate change. They are determined to ‘lead the energy transition’ toward a low-carbon economy.

Question 34

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What did Russia not support in 2015?

Answer 34

Russia did support the 2015 Paris agreement. However, most people believe that Russia has not changed its attitude.

Question 35

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

In terms of weather, what has occurred in Russia?

Answer 35

• Extreme weather events in Russia have doubled over the past 25 years and Russia’s attitude may change because of this.
• Climate-related economic damage is expected to reach $4.3 billion a year by 2025 for the Moscow region.

Question 36

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How is the EU a global leader in climate initiatives?

Answer 36

• The EU has become a global leader in many climate initiatives.
• It aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 (compared to 1990 levels).
• It wants 20% of the total energy consumption to come from renewable energy by 2020.

Question 37

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How will the rise in the global middle-class strain global grain reserves?

Answer 37

In 2017, the prices of wheat, corn, soybeans, and rice are already twice what they were in 2000.

Question 38

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

How will the rise in the global middle-class strain metals like platinum and palladium?

Answer 38

• Rare earth metals are also very important for the construction of renewable energy generators.
• Platinum and Palladium are rare metals that may be needed for use in batteries and electric vehicles.

Question 39

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

Where is the growing middle class largely concentrated?

Answer 39

• The growing middle class is concentrated largely in Asia.
• China’s increased affluence saw its meat consumption increase by 99%, its perfume consumption increase by 133% and its cereal consumption increase by 364% between 2000 and 2018.

Question 40

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What is the IPCC an example of?

Answer 40

An environmental alliance.

Question 41

7.6 Global concerns about the physical environment are disproportionately influenced by superpower actions.

What is the IPCC? What does it do?

Answer 41

• Every 5 years, scientists from all around the world meet and together, as part of the IPCC, they produce a report about the latest research on climate change.
• The members of the IPCC represent over 120 countries.
• To produce their report, they compile the evidence from peer-reviewed journal articles written over the past 5 years.