EQ4 - What Are The Outcomes Of Geoplotical Intervention In Terms Of Human Development And Rights

Question 1

Explain the different measures of success of geopolitical interventions

Answer 1

There is no measure that is used more than another when measuring the success of geopolitical intervention.

Progress in terms of human development is easier to measure than progress in human rights

Question 2

Explain the difficulties in measuring the success of geopolitical interventions (4)

Answer 2

Disagreement over what is success

Some countries do not have the facilities to collect or monitor data

Many developments span over a long period and therefore are subject to circumstance changes

Data collected can be interpreted by different people

Question 3

Explain the Human development and Human rights measures for measuring the success of geopolitical interventions

Answer 3

Human development measures:
Life expectancy, Provision of healthcare, Literacy rate, Quality of infrastructure

Human rights measures:
Freedom of speech, Gender equality, Democratic elections

Question 4

Define Democracy

Answer 4

Is a system of government where the whole population of an area have the power to elect a representative from among themselves to form a governing body

Question 5

Explain the benefits of democracy (3)

Answer 5

Promotion of democracy is seen as a key goal for intervention, particularly for marginalised groups

Democratic institutions are important building blocks for secure societies that will lead to economic prosperity

Allows political and social stability meaning countries are less likely to support militant groups and go to war

Question 6

Define Democratic aid

Answer 6

Is aid given, usually by western governments, to fund democratic building

Question 7

Explain what Democratic aid focuses on (3)

Answer 7

Supporting crucial process and institutions (free and fair elections)

Strengthening and reforming government institutions

Supporting civil society (freedom of expression)

Question 8

Explain the contrast in viewing democracy over economic growth as a measure of the success of geopolitical intervention

Answer 8

While IGO’s and Western governments favour democracy, often countries receiving geopolitical aid see economic growth as the best measure of success. A improvement in the economy will gain resources to improve infrastructure, health, education and the environment.

Question 9

Define Aid for trade

Answer 9

Is aid given to a recipient country to allow them to develop skills, knowledge and infrastructure for economic growth in return for increased global trade

Question 10

Explain the evidence that shows China has favoured economic growth over human rights

Answer 10

China has made gigantic economic strides with it now being the second largest economy in the world. However it has a record of persistent abuses of human rights of certain minority ethnic groups and other groups of society.

Question 11

Explain the cost of economic growth in China

Answer 11

Persistent human rights abuses have led to the Chinese people become more open to the democratic world, protests in China have risen

Environmental degradation has occurred due to the expanding manufacturing industries. Has led to significant health problems as air pollution from manufacturing has led to toxic chemicals being inhaled

Question 12

Explain the Ebola outbreak and how it has been a successful example of development aid

Answer 12

Is a disease that is spread through bodily fluids, with the outbreak occurring in West Africa in 2014

After 18 months the outbreak had caused 12,000 deaths in 6 countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Mali and USA.

After 6 months development aid arrived from the UN, with a purpose to inform people about the disease, locate and monitor contacts, oversee the burial of victims, establish treatment centres and organise transport of medical supplies.

Thanks to the UN and NGO’s there was a sharp fall in cases and control was regained. It was the first ever mission deployed by the UN to tackle a huge health security challenge. It has been admitted action should have been taken quicker.

Question 13

Explain Haiti’s development aid and how it has not been a successful example of development aid

Answer 13

Haiti has received aid for a long time, linked to natural disasters and poverty. Has led to a large number of NGO’s in the country with aid money worth 3x the national government budget.

Has led to some positives but many negatives: local jobs have been lost to aid workers, dependency on aid with 85% of education funded by NGOs, Contrast in standard of living between aid workers and Haitians and only a small amount of aid money has reached Haitians.

Question 14

Explain Botswana’s background as a example in explaining how development aid has benefited a country

Answer 14

Botswana is a beacon of hope. It is politically stable, fairly free of corruption and respectful of human rights.

Is sparsely populated, arid and landlocked with one of the lowest GDP per capita’s when it gained independence in 1966

Question 15

Explain how development aid has effected Botswana in explaining the impact of development aid

Answer 15

60% of Government expenditure came from international aid. In 1966 agriculture accounted for 60% of GDP.

Since 1966, Botswana maintains one of the highest economic growth and has transformed into a middle income country. Is one of the largest producers of diamonds and also exports tourism, financial services and cattle

Question 16

Explain how development aid has effected health in Botswana

Answer 16

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is the second highest in the world and threatens the country impressive economic growth. One in three adults is currently infected with HIV and this has cut the life expectancy.

However it now has one of the most advanced treatment programs and, due to economic growth and development aid, the government has made antiretroviral drugs readily available

Question 17

Explain how development aid has impacted human rights in Botswana

Answer 17

Has a reputation for speaking out against human rights abuses in Africa.

However the same political party has been in power for 40 years, state control of the media makes it harder for opposition parties to campaign, it retains the death penalty, criminalises homosexuality, dispossesses indigenous people and discourages cultural diversity

Question 18

Define Official Development Aid (ODA)

Answer 18

Is government aid designed to promote the economic development and welfare of a developing country

Question 19

Explain how Superpower objectives link to development aid

Answer 19

Economic and military superpowers use development aid as an element of foreign policy, to strengthen links within the globalisation process.

Aid can open doors for donor countries to exploit and secure deals for trade, aid is rarely offered without strings attached.

Question 20

Explain China’s assistance to Africa in terms of how superpowers use development aid as a extension of foreign policy

Answer 20

China is involved in 51 countries in Africa, using bi-lateral aid and the Asian development bank.

Chinese aid is concentrated on infrastructure projects in order to facilitate access to resources.

China provides more aid to African countries that support it in the UN. Aid has been most significant in Ghana, where there is suspected oil reserves and large scale cocoa production.

Question 21

Explain military interventions short and long term impacts on Iraq

Answer 21

Short term:
Military intervention in Iraq removed Saddam Hussein from power, a supposed brutal dictator who used WMD’s against his own people and violated Iraqi peoples human rights. Was also able to fund a US led vaccination programme which reduced infant mortality rates by 75%.

Long term:

• A lack of understanding and planning has left Iraq without the systems needed to restore security, foster democracy and protect human rights.
• Terrorist groups like Isis and Al-Qaeda took advantage of Iraq’s political instability to establish themselves
• Has worsened relations between Iraq’s Sunni and Shia groups
• Has allowed corruption
• Human rights remain insecure with kidnappings and killings of Sunni civilians and thousands held in prison without charge.

Question 22

Explain the effects military intervention, through the UN Peacekeepers, has had on the Ivory Coast

Answer 22

Gained its independence from French colonial rule in 1960. Was a model of political stability, with a thriving economy based on the production of cocoa and coffee.

In 1999 an attempt to overthrow the government was made. Incumbent christian president Gbagbo lost his presidency and refused to step down. A civil war broke out between the Muslim and Christian populations.

The UN peacekeepers were given the tasks of protecting civilians, demobilising the warring factors and promoting human rights. They were not successful in doing this.

With the help of French troops Gbagbo was arrested and handed to the ICC. Now has a economic growth rate of 9% a year and life has continued near normal.

Question 23

Explain how a lack of action in Zimbabwe affected its progress

Answer 23

Zimbabwe, previously known as South Rhodesia, was a growing economy post-World War II. Had a 10% white population.

Britain oversaw elections after Zimbabwe declared for independence, Robert Mugabe won.

Mugabe blamed the white population for trade blockade is from South Africa, he ceased white peoples assets and they immigrated to the UK and South Africa.

Hyperinflation occurred devaluing the value of the currency, benefiting the rest of the world economically so therefore no intervention took place.

In 2017 the Zimbabwe army without the help of any intervention put Mugabe under house arrest after civil conflict

No intervention saw a 40 year dictatorship which led to, economic decline, attempted ethnic cleansing of the white population, human rights abuses, poverty and large-scale corruption