EQ2: The global impacts of superpowers

Question 1

What is the role of the World Bank in free trade and capitalism?

Answer 1

Makes development loans to developing countries, but within a ‘free-market’ model that promotes exports, trade, industrialisation and private businesses, which benefits large, developed-world TNCs.

Question 2

What is the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in free trade and capitalism?

Answer 2

Promotes global economic security and stability, and assists countries to reform their economies.

Question 3

What is the role of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in free trade and capitalism?

Answer 3

A Swiss non-profit organisation that promotes globalisation and free trade via its annual meeting at Davos.

Question 4

What is the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in free trade and capitalism?

Answer 4

IGO established in 1995 that regulates global trade.

Question 5

What is the difference between publicly traded TNCs and state-owned TNCs?

Answer 5

• Publicly traded TNCs - shareholders

- State-owned TNCs - government

Question 6

Why are TNCs dominant in the global economy?

Answer 6

• Their economies of scale
• Their bank balances
• Their ability to open up new markets and to expand.

Question 7

What do the characteristics of ‘Westernisation’ include?

Answer 7

• A culture of consumerism
• A culture of capitalism and the importance attached to attaining wealth
• A white, Anglo-Saxon culture with English as the dominant language
• A culture that selects parts of other world cultures and absorbs them.

Question 8

How does the UN Security Council strive to maintain international law?

Answer 8

• Applying sanctions to countries that are deemed to be a security risk
• Authorising the use of military force against a country
• Authorising a UN peacekeeping force

Question 9

How has the USA intervened militarily in foreign countries over the past 40 years?

Answer 9

• As part of a UN Security Council action
• Together with allied countries as a coalition, but outside a UN remit
• Unilaterally

Question 10

What does unilaterally mean?

Answer 10

No support from another country

Question 11

How is interdependence between nations further strengthened?

Answer 11

By economic alliances

Question 12

When was the system that is in place to help maintain global security set up?

Answer 12

1945

Question 13

Why is global security under strain?

Answer 13

Its leaders - the USA, the UK and France - are not as economically or militarily as powerful as they were.

Question 14

What does maintaining a large economy, a military machine with a global reach and a wealthy population require?

Answer 14

Energy, mineral, land and water resources

Question 15

Why is urban air quality low in emerging power cities?

Answer 15

Heavy reliance on fossil fuels

Question 16

Why might emerging countries be less willing to reduce carbon emissions and sign global agreements on environmental issues?

Answer 16

Developed countries are in a better position to turn to renewable sources of energy. The emerging countries are heavily dependent on fossil fuels and are less willing to sign international agreements.