Geopolitical Flashcards
% of IMF Votes : USA
16.8%
% of IMF Votes :
India
China
India : 1.9%
China : 3.7%
Where are headquarters of IMF and World Bank
Washington
Set up date IMF and World Bank
1944
What does West use debt and iGOs e.g IMF as?
instruments to force developing countries to implement their policies
India and China and NATO
not members
Purpose of NATO
alliance of powerful European + N.American countries which protect security of North Atlantic
promotes democratic values
How many members in NATO
28
GDP per capita: USA
$54,000
When did China complete its first manned mission to space?
2003
USA’s investment in military is greater than what X3 sectors combined
health, energy and environment
What has been happening to US, Indian and Chinese military spending as % of GDP in recent years?
USA : declining
India : plateaued since 2009
China : increased annually since 1997
What arguably stimulated mass increase in Chinese military spending?
collapse of USSR creating distrust in America
Chinese and US military spending as % of GDP
2% - China
4% - USA
What does China have the largest of in terms of its military?
largest active personnel in military in the world
Where is the world’s largest weapons importer? Why is this?
India
due to underdeveloped defence industry
Top 3 ranking countries in terms of weapons exports;
- USA (30%+)
- Russia
- China (5%)
Where does India rank in top 10 weapons exporters
does not rank
What has allowed Nigeria to recently send satellite into orbit?
Chinese finance
What has Sudan recently built in relation to its military? How has it been able to do this?
3 weapons factories
financial assistance from China
What is Beijing doing in the South China Sea, why is this creating tension with the USA?
building artificial islands and building airstrips
other states have claim to South China Sea - looking for US to exert muscle on their behalf
What has China claimed in the South China Sea? Who also claims these?
Spratly islands
lots of countries e.g Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia
Why does China place importance on South China Sea claims?
believed to be vast oil / gas fields beneath
strategic location in busy shipping channel
By building artificial islands and claiming Spratly what is China doing?
ignoring the UN Convention on Law of the Sea
Which viewpoint argues that China may need to develop a blue-water navy to ensure its economy is not strangled by blockades?
Guardian, View 5
Which viewpoint argues that China’s military expansion is at risk of being perceived as expansionist and aggressive by neighbours?
Guardian, View 5
Foreign aid is used by the west in order to…
cement political clout
buy strong political cooperation
strengthen allies
reduce dominance of competitors
e.g financing India’s military to reduce China’s dominance in Asia
What type of advantage does China have over India?
“first mover advantage”
China has built up transnational empire of resources
Why are India’s neighbours not advantageous to the country’s development?
Either hostile (e.g. Pakistan)
or underdeveloped (e.g Nepal)
or competitors (e.g China)
How are ageing populations and geopolitics related?
Some e.g Global Trends 2030 have suggested that in the future there may be some form of ‘geriatric peace’
Position in top 10 weapons producers;
India
China
India - not in top 10
China - 3rd
What % of global weapon exports
5%
USA % of global weapon exports
30%
Since when has India’s military expansion plateaued?
2009
What has Sudan built in terms of military with assistance from China?
3 weapons factories
What has China helped Pakistan in terms of military to foster?
nuclear power and ballistic missiles
How many Chinese businesses operating in Africa?
800,000
What is limiting India’s ability to exert hard power? X2
- limited military capacity
- limited positions within IGOs
Where has China begun building airstrips on atolls?
Spratly islands
What is a transboundary river between China and India? Who has the upper stream and thus greater control?
Bhramaputra
China has the ability to build dams and reduce India’s downstream flows
What is China doing in the South China Sea?
What does USA claim?
building artificial islands
claiming Spratly islands
begun building airstrips
USA claims China has reclaimed 3200 acres of land
What convention is China breaking in the South China Sea?
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
What has China done to prevent the rise of India as a regional and global power?
What has this resulted in?
opposed India’s participation in certain regional / global forums
resulted in tension to the extent that no more BRIC summits are being held
= cannot even communicate in multi-lateral setting
Who has the greatest nuclear capacity in Asia?
China
Number of nuclear arsenals;
- China
- India
- USA
China : 250
India : 90-100
USA : 7,200
Where does the USA currently rank in nuclear capacity?
2nd behind Russia
What will the convergence of military spending mean for the USA’s position as a political leader
convergence will increase
USAs ability to depend on historical alliance partnerships will diminish
