Globalisation Case Studies Flashcards
Sahel Countries (why some locations remain largely ‘switched off’ from globalisation (Niger)
Economic reasons:
- weak education system = lack of skilled workers
- poor/no transport infrastructure
- no FDI or TNC interest (no market, lack of skilled workers, lack of resources)
Physical reasons:
- landlocked (hard to trade, communicate & need to rely on neighbouring countries)
- lack of cell phone towers
Political reasons:
- political instability (corruption, terrorist groups eg. Boko Haram)
Environmental reasons:
- desertification & land degradation = less agriculture
- lack of resources
China (global shift of manufacturing) movement of global economic centre of gravity to Asia
Benefits:
- infrastructure investment
- waged work
- poverty reduction
- education & training
Costs:
- cheap & child labour
- increased domestic income gap
- loss of productive land
- unplanned settlements
- environmental & resource pressure (10th most polluted country PM2.5 = 57, caused deaths & respiratory diseases)
Dhaka, Bangladesh (movement of global economic centre of gravity to Asia via outsourcing of services)
Benefits:
- infrastructure investment
- waged work
- poverty reduction (pays more than rural subsistence)
- education & training
Costs:
- cheap & child labour ($40/month)
- pays more than rural subsistence but no other choice
- loss of productive land (100,000 ha agriculture land lost each year)
- unplanned settlements (Rana Plaza factory collapsed in 2013, killed 1100 people, no safety measures)
- environmental & resource pressure (polluted suburbs)
Karachi (RUM & natural increase responsible for growth of megacities)
- not the capital of Pakistan
- 6th most populated city in world
- primate city (dominant city among country’s urban areas)
Pull factors of Karachi (reasons for RUM)
- Pakistans premier industrial & financial centre
- formal economy estimated to be worth $113 billion in 2014
- large port that handles 95% foreign trade in Pakistan
- many MNCs
& natural pop increase (high fertility rate, 3.5 births per woman)
Karachi (rapid urban growth creates social & environmental challenges in megacities)
Social challenges:
- slum is breeding ground for crime
- residents battle for water, water supply cant support large population
- shortages in police compared to crime & population
- 70% workforce in informal sector, unsafe, unprotected
- diseases spread easily in slums
Environmental challenges:
- unsustainable land use
- poor water & sanitation
- increase in pollution
Mass low wage economic migration (European migrants to London)
+ EU migrants willing to work for low wages, long hours & in dangerous conditions (fills jobs locals are unwilling to do)
+ less disposable income = tend to use less energy & produce less waste = good for environment
- possible increase in informal sector
- social tensions, crime & loss of jobs
- more transport, congestion, pollution, stretch of services
Russian Oligarchs to London (increase in elite migration)
+ more tax paying workers = more gov revenue = welfare spending = better quality of life
+ ambitious entrepreneurs = new businesses = more jobs
+ attracts international elite (bankers, entrepreneurs, health professionals = larger & more diverse economy)
+ more FDI
- pressure on housing market = increased prices = too expensive for locals
- changes to urban build environment = social tension
- more congestion = harm to environment
First Nations in Canada (groups seek to retain cultural identity, control of culture & physical resources)
- aboriginal people of canada
- priority = protection of rights & culture
- run own schools, health boards, towns
Eg. Poplar River First Nation
- land management & conservation plan, bans commercial logging, mining, dams, power lines so land is undisturbed & carbon isn’t released
BUT effects of alcohol & drugs on young ppl = tension with elders
Local agenda 21, Keep Britain tidy
NGOs, or local authorities in UK recycling & managing resource consumption
Local Agenda 21: UK 1992
- initiative aimed at encouraging local authorities to promote more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable communities
- eg. banning free plastic bags to stop wastage of plastic
Keep Britain Tidy
- formed in 1954
- logo appeared in bins/packaging to encourage not to drop litter
- UK NGO aiming to eliminate waste & litter, improving local places
- env programmes to reduce litter on beaches/parks/schools
Rise of extremism in Europe (Germany Refugees)
- 800,000 refugees in Germany in 2015
Right wing political party: AfD (Alternative for Germany) opposes European Union & immigration
Factions of racist tendencies but 3rd largest party in 2017
Caused ‘political earthquake’ = protests & tension with chancellor (Angela Merkel)
= rise of purchasing harmful weapons for defence in Germany, increased crime
= social tensions: racism, discrimination
= Germans concerned abt fall in wages, loss of jobs
Jebel Ali (Special economic zone, role of gov in attracting FDI)
- worlds largest SEZ
- 1 of 22 in Dubai
- 1225 companies, 16% growth per yr
- customs free corridor between port & airport
- metro open till 1am
- gov subsidise potentially unprofitable businesses (emirates airlines)
- built infrastructure (jebel Ali port, Metro)
Changing diets in Asia (cultural diffusion created increasingly westernised culture = impacts on env & pp)
- traditional asian diets low in meat, high in veg
- spread of western diet (processed, meat, fast food - McDonald’s, KFC - TNCs) changing diets in Asian cities
- eg. China, worlds biggest market for processed food in 2015, 1990s annual meat consumption per capita increased 5kg to 50kg
- rising obesity & diabetes (higher sugar/fat content)
- wasteful consumption (fast food) in resources, packaging = over-exploitation/waste/pollution harms env
- livestock farming new focus of Asian agriculture = steep rise in methane emissions, crops imported
- rise in middle class, escape poverty = food demands cont to grow
Athletes at Rio 2016 summer Paralympics (spread of global culture led to awareness of opp for disadvantaged groups)
- 2m tickets sold
- more spectators than olympics (170,000)
- presents disabled ppl as glamorous, ambitious, capable
- 400 hours coverage on channel 4 un UK in 2012
BUT
- no/little media coverage in Russia, Japan, USA
- rich country event (specialist training, costly artificial body parts, 9 countries provide 40% athletes)
Loss of tribal lifestyles in Papua New Guinea (cultural erosion resulted in changes to built/natural env)
- 7000 cultural groups
- 850 languages
- tree kangaroo species under threat
- ppl relied on subsistence farming of yams/taro, hunting, fishing
- become colonised by British/Germans in 1884
- missionaries suppressed tribal warfare to allow freedom of movement
- integrated villagers as plantation workers, mission helpers
- spread of Christianity/ western education
- increased intermarriage (diff cultures) = native language not passed on = loss of language
- Rio Tinto TNC constructed giant copper miner 1964, led to conflict between police & fellow citizens as new workers, exploited land (outbreaks of rioting/looting)
China (censorship to control spread of globalisation)
- of political viewpoints/violent/sexual imagery
- 60 internet regulations
- imprisoned journalists
BUT
- the dark web
