ME 1:1 Flashcards
What geographic advantages does the Indian Ocean possess that contribute to its Nexus status?
It flows into two of the great choke-points of world commerce: the Red Sea, and thus the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Malacca, off Singapore, through which pass a thousand ships each week.
What has contributed to the “explosion of Indian Ocean commerce”?
The explosion of Indian Ocean commerce is mainly due to mutual needs. China and India need energy supplies from the Persian Gulf states and raw materials from Africa, and Africa needs the financial resources that the Gulf states are accumulating.
What does CHIMEA stand for?
China, India, Middle East, and Africa
What has contributed to the rising number of transnational corporations from developing countries?
The separate trends of acceleration of economic growth in China and India and the increase in energy prices following the onset of the Iraq war have both contributed to the rising number of transnational corporations from developing countries.
Where have the Arab countries been making their investments?
Arab countries have been making their investments in traditional Western vehicles such as Citibank and Airbus and at home such as with the construction of new infrastructure. However, analysis has shown that they are surprisingly willing to invest in Asia and in particular, CHIMEA countries.
Compare India’s commitment with Africa with that of China’s.
India had committed $17 Billion in new deals in fields ranging from oil exploration to hotel construction. It also has closer ties and a much better reputation with Africa. However, China completely dwarfs the country’s commitment with its investment of $56 Billion.
What has contributed to Africa’s new growth? Why?
Chinese, Arab, and Indian trade and investment with Africa are playing a large part in sub-Saharan Africa’s new economic growth. All of the infrastructure put in place by China will benefit Africa for years and has played a major role in what appears to be the beginning of self-sustaining growth for Africa.
But WHY??
Identify several constraints on Africa’s growth.
Some major constraints on Africa’s growth are the HIV/AIDS epidemic, poor governance, a lack of education, water shortages, and the looming challenges of climate change.
What factors make the CHIMEA promise potentially dangerous for world peace?
The Indian Ocean is a witness to the beginning of an arms race with China building ports that can doubly serve as naval bases and India boosting its forces while developing a missile.
The geopolitical and strategic overtones of CHIMEA and examples drawn from past events show that these commercial highways can just as easily become battlegrounds.
Has the situation changed in the last 10 years? Is CHIMEA still an important force in the world today?
It doesn’t seem that the situation has changed much in the last 10 years, especially with CHIA and their struggles with arms, growing tension, and climate change.
CHIMEA is still a very relevant and important force in the world today as they are still rapidly growing countries with growing trade, relations, and networks.
