Geopolitics Flashcards
1
Q
Hettne (1995)
A
Development thinking
- development theories = logical propositions about how dev occurred past/ should future
- development strategies - practical paths to development, adopted actors grassroots to international level
- development ideologies - goals/objectives underpin theories and strategies
2
Q
Hirschman (1985) trickle-down
A
- development of core = econ benefits periphery
- dev focus on core
- economic inequalities natural, even out over time
3
Q
Westad (2005)
A
- two models development on offer states after colonialism
- USA, urban-based growth private/public sectors, import advanced consumer products, latest tech global capitalist market, alliance worlds’ most powerful state
- vs USSR political induced growth centralised plan/mass mobilisation, heavy industry, massive infrastructural projects, collectivisation agriculture, independent international markets
- both road modernity through education, science, technological process
4
Q
Adams (2001)
A
Modernisation approaches
- rationalist approach (human improvement and dev) planning, idea social, econ, env resources put systemic improvement human welfare
- Env/socities transformed fully for modernisation, econ transformation - technocratic, modern age
- dev science and tech, belief mastery nature science/tech knowledge
- all out econ growth despite eg. ecological damage
- tech modernisation strategies eg green revolution, large scale dams - harness nature’s power despite damage
5
Q
Harris (2012)
A
“For the state to take on meaning and importance in the lives of rural residents, it…..must also command the attention of citizens through large- scale [infrastructural] efforts…”
6
Q
Dam Protest Case Study
Responsible Travel / Amazon Watch - 2010 campaign/ 2020 access site
A
- Belo Monte Dam, Amazon River Basin
- Indigenous protest as impact lives, not considered Brazilian state decision - not consulted
- lot violence following dams construction
- ruined indigenous culture
- failed resettlement projects
- Brazilian government wants to dam more rivers - indigenous rights being ignored
- The Amazon River is the largest in the world, home to many cultures, indigenous, ecosystems and wildlife. Its rivers and forests are fundamental to global climate stability. Large dams in the Amazon are among the biggest drivers of environmental destruction and human rights abuses in Brazil today.
- Communities live with the constant threat of dams being constructed in this region with dire consequences. Destroying ancient forest habitats and biodiversity through flooding and deforestation, dams displace thousands of traditional communities who have lived there for generations. Large dams in the tropics emit huge amounts of methane. Once free-flowing rivers are impeded, debris and silt collects, churning out potent greenhouse gases in the process. Amazon Watch campaigns tirelessly to end this threat.
7
Q
Klein (2015)
A
- extractivists high energy, tech world - extractivist mindset treating land/peoples as resources to deplete / exploit
- economic system and planetary system at war - economy at war life on earth
8
Q
Hickel (2019) Apartheid global governance system
A
- argues rising inequality part driven power imbalances global economy - rich countries disproportionate influence setting rules international trade/finance
- voting power WB/IMF undemocratic - WB President always American, IMF always European, voting power skewed eg. US 16% votes = de facto power - France, Germany, UK large vote holds - per capita every global north vote, global south 1/8th vote
- British person’s vote worth 41x Bangladeshi’s (former colony) - inequalities roots colonial period, foundation 1944
- global south calls democratise WB/IMF ignored decades - 2010 ‘reforms’ shifted just 3% voting power rich to poor - half of which went to China, US retained veto
- defenders system claim based on monetary contributions - bigger economies bigger say econ decisions - reality does not work that way seeing as china is second biggest global economy - India as big France but prevented purchasing shares = colonial logic
“Claim rich should have more voting power than poor is repulsive” - voting system perpetuates inequality - system ensures rich remain rich and determine economic rules to their advantage
9
Q
Vidal (2017) Latin America mega dams
A
- protests against latin america’s hydropower obsession due env impacts
- 2014 Brazil - araguari river v high levels, operators new Cachoeira Caldeirao dam being built knew water needed released to avoid collapse - thought no problem as run-off absorbed other dams - communications failed, town Ferreira Gomes 50km away swamped, 7th may millions gallons water out temp dam = 17 ft rise Araguari - 1,000 homes/ buildings flooded, thousands evacuate - authorities claimed 350 people impacted, reality thousands and not compensated, gov promised econ dev but destroyed livelihoods
- dams brazil ongoing issue - first dam build 1979 amazon basin - 265 dams built/planned, brazil produces 65% power HEP
- big dams S America = symbol pride, econ progress - claim reduced poverty, met electricity and clean water demand, industrialisation, urbanisation, control flow rivers
- critics see them as injustice, pol corruption, social inequality, ignore human rights, env damage, dams increase climate emissions drowning forests
10
Q
International Rivers (2014)
/
Guardian (2003)
A
China Hydropower
- china committed reduce emissions = reduction coal power production - proposal hydropower dams instead - but what costs HEP China: social, env and infrastructural costs
/
Three Gorges Dam, China
- Yangtze river, work started 1993
- large parts historic gorges submerged
- 1.3mn people displaced - 13 new towns built house evicted
11
Q
Watts (2003) After the Flood - three gorges
A
- 700,000 people relocated, Three Gorges now producing electricity
- Evacuees move, now work eg. unlicensed tourist boat trips, used live river banks / farm - compensation money relocate - got bigger home, no running water/ electricity and land too steep cultivate (not same everyone)
- outside china three gorges seen negative - communist gov record human rights/env - corrupt, bad leadership
- benefits project = prevented floods, 18,200megawatts energy (stop nuclear/coal - 1/10 china’s energy needs)
- Chongqing become modern, busy city - even able have Green Volunteers League (env NGO) - lobby against illegal logging, polluting Yangtze - poor water quality gov hiding- interest econ growth - gov planned build 200 new sewage/waste treatment plans by 2010 but might not solve pollution problem
- those won’t relocate often poorest - elderly, handicapped, paying £1.50 month state housing, can’t afford new housing offered costs 4x much, little compensation - protests town Fengdu - those against dam in minority - many positive eg. ships safer navigate, new homes better, new hospitals/roads built appease public opinion
- dam remarkable feat engineering
- short-term econ gain vs long-term env conservation may haunt them
12
Q
Transnational Resistance Case Study
A
Occupy
- movement protests against global social + econ inequality
- make econ/pol relations societies less hierarchical
- large corporations/ global financial system control world way benefits minority
13
Q
Ainger (2001)
A
- transformation as local movements woven global fabric struggle - social movements need to organise transnationally to survive
14
Q
Transnational Struggle Case Study
A
Anti-apartheid - grassroots nonviolent civil resistance movement in coalition international support/sanctions (eg. UK not buy SA goods)
- tactics like mass demonstrations, marches, music, strikes, rent boycotts, sit ins white only spaces
- protests continue post apartheid - desire development tied with equality, dignity, freedom
15
Q
World Social Forum
A
- emerged after Seattle anti-globalisation protests 1999
- met 2001, roots latin american activism
- space/process build alternatives neoliberalism
- contests monopoly dev knowledge Bretton Woods
- democracy, abolition debt, freedom poverty, violence, self-determination, gender equality
- meaningful participation in development
