P2 - Superpowers Flashcards
Define power
Ability to influence/shape the actions of others
What is global control?
Influence everywhere.
Eg. US
What is regional control?
Influences a collection of countries.
Eg. Russia
What are the 6 key characteristics of a superpower?
Strong military
Access to large workforce
Access to plentiful supply of resources
Good diplomatic skills
Strong economy
Dominant culture
Example of an undisputed power
US
What are the 5 pillars of a superpower status?
Military
Culture
Political
Demographic
Resources
Define superpower
A nation with the ability to project its influence globally and be dominated by global force
Define hyper power
An unchallenged superpower dominant in all aspects of power (political, economic, cultural, military)
Eg.
USA (1990-2010)
UK (1850-1910)
What is a blue water navy?
One that can deploy into the open ocean
Many smaller nations only have a green water navy which is l designed to just patrol that nations waters
Define diplomacy
The negotiation and decision making that takes place between nations as part of international relations leading to international agreements and treaties
Define ideology
A set of beliefs values and opinions held by the majority in a society which determine what’s considered to be normal
Eg. Western values
What are emerging superpowers?
Nations who’s economic, military and political influence is growing
Why is economic power important for a superpower?
‘Base’ of temple
Prerequisite of power
Provides nations with opportunity to:
- build and maintain a powerful military
- exploit natural resources
- develop education
Why is military power important for a superpower?
It’s important for two reasons:
1) to threaten
2) to achieve political goals
What is the superpower index?
- data on superpower characteristics is used to quantify their power and influence
- 1 is highest score
- wide range of data can be used to construct power indices
- total GDP and TNCs have been scaled to reflect their greater importance as measures of power
Military invasion with soldiers strengths and weaknesses
✅get what you want
✅intimidating - shows you are willing to carry out the threat
❌expensive. Some may think it could’ve been spent on better causes
❌very unpopular. Deaths. Changed perception of war since Afghanistan
Strengths and weaknesses of signed diplomatic agreements
✅leads to no fighting as it’s a peaceful agreement
✅not as expensive as invasion
❌it can be broken so some countries may not stick to it
❌some countries could be bribed or manipulated to agree to it
Strengths and weaknesses of economic sanctions
✅intimidation without setting foot on their soil
✅successful as don’t have to invade
❌can lead to negative impacts —> eg. Can weaken link to resources. Eg. Ukraine needs oil from Russia but can’t as they’re in war
❌inconsistent success
Define smart power
Mixture of soft and hard power mechanisms
Define soft power
Get what want through subtle persuasion
Define hard power
Get what want through intimidation or force eg. nuclear
Who came up with soft/hard power?
Joseph Nye (1990)
Examples of soft power
Spreading your culture so your goods seem more attractive
Offering something in return. Eg. Aid
Examples of hard power
Nuke them
Military invasion
Hard power mechanisms are usually…
Very expensive
Unpopular unless cause is good
Leads to long term instability if superpower is unwilling to control the country directly
Quickly ineffective as tech can neutralise tanks/attack
Soft power mechanisms are usually…
Less expensive
More socially acceptable
Less impactful - easier to break promises
Seen as weaker
Example of how characteristics can change over time
The 6 key characteristics of a superpower have not always been those 6.
Eg. Land was more important for gaining control whereas culture was not
What used to be the key method of control?
Direct military control
What do you need for successful direct military control?
Strong army to carry out invasion. Best modern weapons. Lots of people.
Lots of people to fuel the army and make weapons in factories
Lots of resources (and money) to trade
What is the 1904 strategic location theory? (Heartland theory)
The heartland = Eastern Europe and Russia
Lots of people = lots of potential for manufacturing and large military
BUT didn’t become superpower because …
No strong diplomatic skills/allies
Medium pop.
No dominant culture
** CAN ANYONE ADD ANYTHING TO THIS AS THIS IS ALL I HAD IN MY BOOK BUT DONT FEEL IT EXPLAINS WHAT THE THEORY ACTUALLY IS **
What are the three eras?
Age of empires (uni polar)
Cold War (bi polar)
Present day (multi polar)
Define uni polar
One pattern of power
Define bi polar
2 patterns of power
Define multi polar
3+ patterns of power
CASE STUDY:
Imperial era: the British era
Direct control (directly ruled/owned country)
Colonial control (take over countries resources and ppl and try add culture)
Uni polar - uk were not threatened by any other power
What are the two key phases to control?
1) MERCANTILE PHASE
(get the control)
- set up trading ports on coast
- large trading companies (eg. East India company) would trade between ports and British navy would protect trading companies (during British era)
2) IMPERIAL PHASE
(maintaining control)
- colonies extend inland
- acculturation occurs —> spread culture
- settlers from uk sets up farms and plantations
- tech and railways introduced
Positives and negatives of direct/colonial rule
🟢Britain controlled 1/3 of worlds territory by 1914
🟢for most of 1800s Britain was unchallenged (hyper power)
🔴WW2 left UK near bankrupt and unable to finance control over the empire
🔴movement towards independence was growing in colonies after WW2 which was a response to a direct, repressive rule
CASE STUDY:
British in India - examples of how Britain controlled India through hard and soft power
Hard power:
Strict social order maintained that differentiated the ruling white British from the Indians (intimidating so helped 🇬🇧 maintain control)
Rebellions were squashed by military troops (Indian ppl. not allowed to express own views)
Soft power:
India was modernised. Eg. 61,000 km of railways built (helped 🇬🇧 maintain control as they could get around India fast and accused India of owing them)
Educated Indians occupied lower administrative positions (helped spread culture and benefitted Indians)
What is a Cold War?
the powers don’t directly go to war
Why is there a change of tactics from the imperial era?
War is very unpopular.Eg. USA invasion of Vietnam (paused education, ruined finances)
Why has there needed to be a change of tactics from the imperial era ? (Reason 2)
Direct control would be unsuccessful
Because the spheres of influence cover the whole world and no one has the money for that
Describe the USAs power (x3)
(And define each method of power)
Multi faceted power - uses wide range of mechanisms
Indirect power - superpowers don’t invade or take control of country. instead they control more through TNCs, trade and diplomatic ties
Neo colonial power - new more subtle form of colonialism where the poor are still exploited and controlled but the mechanisms are hidden and indirect
Mechanisms used by the USA during the Cold War:
Free military aid and equipment
USA gives military and and equipment to the 3rd world nation initially for free
This means that the 3rd world nation can defend themselves despite their financial position
Mechanisms used by the USA during the Cold War:
USA TV and film
The USA sold films and TV programmes to the 3rd world nation
Spreading culture means they will be able to control and influence beliefs
Mechanisms used by the USA during the Cold War:
Aid
IGOs based in USA (eg. IMF) gave loans to 3rd world countries which often had large interest rates attached to them
Helps as they can temporarily become more financially free and independent HOWEVER at a cost due to interest
CASE STUDY:
China and Africa
China (C) was involved with Ethiopia
C are helping Africa (A) to develop by pumping £56B into construction contracts across A
C therefore has large involvement in A
C are helping A become more developed so they can move the secondary sector and C can become teriary/quarternary (global shift)
C also is creating allies with A so they can help in future when they have industrialised and become wealthy
What is the belt and road initiative?
🟢re-routing global trade. China wanted to re do the Silk Road (transports goods smoothly - like silk) and the belt ‘maritime’
🟢Makes it easier for world to trade with China (so they make more £££)
🟢Required very little work from China (only that Chinese workers are involved)
🟢 Involves 3 continents, 60% worlds pop., 60 countries
🔴 Ethics are not important to China
🔴 Pay back = unlikely
Effects of the belt and road initiative resulted in?
New successful port in Pakistan in 2001 built by China.
Generated $62B (2018)
This port uses Chinese firms so the money is going back into their economy
China handed them the power of the port instead of paying back the loan for it
It is in a strategic location for trade
What is indirect control?
Not invading but controlling through TNCs and schools
What is multifaceted control?
Lots of different mechanisms —> TNCs and ports
What is a ‘stability’ characteristic of multi polar power?
Numerous relationships between equally powerful states
What is a ‘risk’ characteristic of multi polar power?
There are fears that some powers will join forces and create super powerful blocs
What is a ‘stability’ characteristic of bi polar power?
Superpowers try and check the advance of the opposing power
During the Cold War the USA engaged in the containment theory, designed to stop the spread of the USSR and communism
What is a ‘risk’ characteristic of bi polar power?
A race exists for them to try and out do each other (eg. space race)
What is a ‘stability’ characteristic of uni polar power?
Dominated by a hyper power
?? There was no strength in my book so idk for this one ??
What is a ‘risk’ characteristic of uni polar power?
Unlikely to be able to maintain control everywhere
Eg. British empire maintained control but lost it
Chinese loans to Africa ($)
2015 —> $12B
Chinese investments in Africa ($)
2015 —> $3B
How much $ of goods has gone from C to A
(China to Africa)
$128B
Who is involved in G7?
Germany 🇩🇪
UK 🇬🇧
France 🇫🇷
Canada 🇨🇦
US 🇺🇸
Italy 🇮🇹
Japan 🇯🇵
Who is involved in G8?
Russia 🇷🇺
Who is involved in G20?
Turkey 🇹🇷
EU 🇪🇺
Argentina 🇦🇷
Brazil 🇧🇷
South Korea 🇰🇷
Mexico 🇲🇽
China 🇨🇳
Indonesia 🇮🇩
Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
Australia 🇦🇺
India 🇮🇳
South Africa 🇿🇦
(G20 = G7 + BRIC + MINTs (+others))
Facts about G20
Formed in 1999
First meeting in 2008
Concerned for International financial stability
Emerging powers have evolving strengths and weaknesses:
Russia
🟢9th largest economy in world
🟢military spending increased
🟢USSR resulted in large global influence
🟢increasing birth rate
🔴weak legal system
🔴underdevelopment of modern economic activities
🔴lack of trust between citizens
🔴deforestation and logging, reducing biodiversity
Emerging powers have evolving strengths and weaknesses:
China
🟢16th largest economy in world
🟢large military
🟢Young population. 70% are working age
🔴little military funding
🔴religions can have conflict
🔴unsustainable population growth (3M per year)
🔴 forest fires are a significant threat
Emerging powers have evolving strengths and weaknesses:
India
🟢growing economy
🟢4th largest military power
🟢 2nd largest population globally (1.3B)
🔴high poverty. Not enough ppl. in workforce
🔴 lacks national security strategy. Structural weaknesses in defence strategy
🔴severe problems with pollution (like other BRICs). Worlds 3rd largest carbon emitter
What are the 3️⃣ theories of development?
1️⃣ modernisation theory
2️⃣dependancy theory
3️⃣world systems theory
(Can be talked about in P3)
What is the modernisation theory? (1️⃣)
Shows level of development and time
Shows any country can reach stage 5 and become highly developed (which is a 🔴 because it doesn’t take external factors into account. eg. debt)
Stage 5 = SUPERPOWER 🦸♀️
Countries can only reach stage 5 by pushing down other countries (so therefore not all countries can actually reach stage 5 in reality)
What is the dependancy theory? (2️⃣)
This shows that not any country can become a superpower. Global society is built on the rich staying rich and the poor staying poor
It has the ‘core’ ( resources, skilled ppl - brain drain -, products and manufacturing) then the peripheral countries provide money, aid, knowledge, tech
Limitations:
🔴maintains poverty
🔴China, India, Brazil, Nigeria don’t support this theory
What is the world systems theory? (3️⃣)
Made a couple years after dependency theory (2️⃣)
Suggests that there are rich and poor in society but there is an emerging power from a small group of poor.
Diagram of model:
Aid, money, tech
Aid+money Aid+money
CORE Semi peripheral Peripheral Skills+commun. Skills+commun.
Ppl+goods
Limitation:
🔴some countries (eg. Landlocked) can’t even become semi peripheral as they need:
- large pop
- lots of resources
- strategic location
Key:
Commun. = communication
How does acquisition of physical resources create tension between superpowers?
Conflict is created between superpowers over resource abstraction because …
disputes over who owns the resources if in politically ambiguous area —> multiple countries lay claim to same resource - who wins?
disputes over if the resources should be exploited for environmental reasons or not —> different countries have different attitudes towards the ethics of resource abstraction
Case study: resource acquisition in the Arctic
(Become more contesting as ice is melting that was previously frozen)
Has extremely large oil reserves
Green countries have access to the areas with oil
Rare earth
Resource acquisition in the Arctic: exclusive economic zone
Stretches 200NM (nautical miles) off the coast of a country —> meaning anything in that section of land (including contents of earths crust) is the countries
If Antarctica melts —> 70m sea level rise
If Greenland melts —> 7m sea level rise
How much of the worlds undiscovered hydrocarbon resources are found in the Arctic?
22%
What are other reasons that countries are so interested in the Arctic?
(ice = melting)
Trade, economic and political benefits
Why do people disagree over if the oil should be exploited in the Arctic?
- seismic exploration
- exploration drilling
- production platforms
}leading to acoustic disturbance to marine mammals, disturbing the ecosystem (eg. Breeding calls) - due to its remoteness, safety procedures after oil spills can fail and cause detrimental effects
- Arctic may hold 1.7billion cubic feet of natural gas (30% of undiscovered planets)
What is a counterfeit product?
“Fake” product
Why does counterfeiting create tension between superpowers?
It’s made in imitation of something valuable to deceive or defraud
Shoes = biggest things counterfeited - 38%
Most goods = from China - 79%
Why does Russia see Ukraine as part of its political sphere of influence?
Russia views Ukraine as territory rather than an independent state
Ukraine is a former Soviet Union state which is believed to form a single historic ‘triune’ nation with Russia.
This caused Putin to start the war to destroy Ukraines nation building project — aiming to restore historical Russia
How is the Ukraine case study different to the China one?
China is trying to gain control over the seas that they believe should belong to them while Russia is trying to gain control over land.
China = no fighting
Ukraine = fighting = caused many deaths
Relationship 1: China and Africa
China = exploiting Africa. China get more minerals than manufactured goods ~> China is favoured (unbalanced trading pattern) ~> importing cheap materials and exporting £££ manufactured materials.
Changing trade patterns -> China and Africa. Large increase in Chinas imports from Africa. So, Africa can take over primary/secondary and China can become tertiary industry
Growth is continuous until 2016 = dip could be due to war, disease, government action such as tariffs, and natural disasters
China and the democtratic republic of Congo
People work long hours —> little £££
China benefits as got precious resources for change
China encouraging illegal mining —> could only extract small amounts
Opportunities and challenges of Chinese investment (HASNT BEEN A 12MARKER BEFORE!!)
🟢 China has invested heavily in roads, railways and ports to export raw materials-infrastructure which the Africans can use themselves
🟢 Vital jobs are created = positive multiplier effect
🔴 Cheap Chinese imports of clothing have undercut locals producers and forced them out of business
🔴 Children workers found in mines and Chinese companies are not be interested in dealing with this
Does the trade pose more of a long term opportunity or challenge for Africa?
Long term opportunity - builds infrastructure (benefits everyone) for future investment as well as giving short term gains to the economy
- helps them continue to develop. Eg. Technology and education
What is relationship two?
China + South East Asia
How has Chinas economic importance created tension?
In 2017, China punished South Korea and the Japanese - South Korean business Lotte, for cooporating with the US’s THAAD missile defence program
China has become the no.1 trading partner and principle export destination for most countries in SE Asia
China are trying to expand their sphere of influence —> tension with HICs (Japan) and NEEs (South Korea), which are countries that can complete on a global sphere
What is relationship three?
USA and the Middle East
Relationship three : USA and the Middle East
(E)Young populations - high unemployment and low education levels (creates tensions as may turn to crime as source of income)
(C) There remains several religious groups - Christianity, Judaism, and two Muslim sects. (Tensions as diff beliefs)
(P) Since 2011, most governments in the middle east are new, democracy is either weak or non- existent (country may try to expolit —> rise of terrorist groups
(En) Resources - oil rich (65% of world’s crude oil exports originate here) but short of water and farmland (tensions as extreme economic divisions —> farmer = poor but oil = rich)
(E) Economic
(C) Cultural
(P) Political
(En) Environmental
Arab Spring
2011, started in Tunisia (Northern Africa)
> there was a peaceful protest for democracy which resulted in violence and the gov. becoming overthrown
> due to the rise of phones/media, more info is spreading
> spread across the Arab States within a matter of months. Governments were overthrown (Tunisia, Egypt)
Refugee Crisis - Syria
6.3 million ppl internationally displaced
NATO air strikes against IS
Russia + Iran support Arab gov.
Results of this tension:
Conflicts between civilians and Syrian army
Free Syrian army (rebels) = supported by rest of world eg. US ————— BUT, terrorists join UK and US (which they fund) to overthrow the dictatorship
Refugee Crisis - Syria
6.3 million ppl internationally displaced
NATO air strikes against IS
Russia + Iran support Arab gov.
Results of this tension:
Conflicts between civilians and Syrian army
Free Syrian army (rebels) = supported by rest of world eg. US ————— BUT, terrorists join UK and US (which they fund) to overthrow the dictatorship
Superpowers have 2 main interests in the Middle East. What are they?
Geostrategic location - eg. Politically
Natural resources - oil
Why Middle East is a problem for superpowers:
Wars that superpowers are drawn into can look bad for the superpower
Superpowers might be drawn into protecting countries that are fighting in order to protect their resources
Significant refugee crisis as they may flee to superpowers
Oil prices fluctuate and can rise dramatically
Why is there tension in the Middle East?
Has lots of natural wealth (oil, gas) every industrialised/ing country needs
Contains fertile region Mesopotamia (‘land between the rivers’)
The different religions leads to contrasting beliefs - therefore resulting in tensions (eg. Islam=dominant)
Why do the USA feel they need to intervene (w/ the tensions in Middle East)?
2015:
US airforce were carrying out limited air strikes, which assisted Iranian Republican Guard Commanders
1980:
Iran and Iraq war - Iraqis used 6 divisions to cross the Shayla - Arab in an attempt to annex the Iranian province of Khu Zestan
—> they didn’t make it off the swap ridden plaines and the war dragged on for 8 years taking at least a million lives
Why is the tension in the Middle East problematic for USA?
The USA wants a better relationship between Turkey and Israel to strengthen NATOs position in the Eastern Mediterranean
Turkey is a key country as it controls the entrance and exit of the Black Sea
USA = keen to scale down their political and military investment in the Middle East due to a reduction in their energy import requirements
HOWEVER: if they withdraw then China may have to get involved in equal proportion to the USA loss of interest
What internal challenges do superpowers face?
USA:
Debt amounted to US$19trillion in 2016 (D)
Increased use of robotics and computers which replaced workers across all industries (RU) eg. Ford factory
Immigration (SC)
UK:
2007-8 global financial crisis (D)
Aging pop. so increased demand for pensions, healthcare and care homes (D) (SC)
Unemployment close to 10% (RU)
Key:
(D) debt
(SC) social costs
(RU) rising unemployment
How do the economic challenges (that superpowers face) affect the power of the EU and USA ?
Military:
May lead to social unrest
Can’t spend as much on military, if don’t have strong economic base —> so therefore don’t have strong military and workforce
Austerity:
The govs stop spending needs on social costs (eg. Education and NHS) and pay back debt
Loans from NEEs:
Strong economic base = necessary for superpower —> NEEs can use it against them —> shows they don’t hold power if they need money
Isolationist vs internationalist:
USA suffered with global shift eg. Robot workers taking over workforce —> become protectionist —> isolate themselves from rest of world —> hard to be superpower
Funding military and space exploration
Keep paying:
Increases defence
Makes power seem stronger and therefore more intimidating/powerful —> so preventative to war
Space ex gives more knowledge
Stop paying:
Put money towards other social costs (health, edu)
Others may feel threatened so may increase chance of war
Contested sphere of influence:
Who are the key players involved
China
Philippines
Malaysia
USA
Contested sphere of influence- the South China Sea : why is the South China Sea important ?
11 billion barrels of oil
190 trillion feet of natural gas
10% of the worlds fisheries
30% of global shipping trade
Contested sphere of influence- the South China Sea : What is China building in the South China Sea? What is on these islands ?
Man made islands
Military bases
Island chain strategy
Economically important as they may harbour oil and gas reserves
Referred to as the ‘Great wall of sand’
Contested sphere of influence- the South China Sea : Why does China feel they have a right to the sea?
The 9 dash line
—> 90% of south China sea
Contested sphere of influence- the South China Sea : Why are the spray lu islands important? What are people doing to enhance this?
Any country that can own them can enhance their exclusive economic zone
People put buildings and people on the islands
What is the US’s role in this argument?
Global superpower
Patrol through the south China sea
What is the cabbage strategy? How do the new islands play a role?
Surround islands with ships
—> sealed access for the country that owned it
They are military bases so it is easier for them to take contested islands
Contested sphere of influence- the South China Sea : Why is tension itensifying?
Countries are arresting people in waters that they own
International attention
How do superpowers influence the global economy?
Promote free trade and capitalism through IGOs
TNCs - technology (patents) and trade patterns
Importance of global cultural influence in the economy
Capitalist means…
Priv ownership of property
Priv ownership of business
Wages based on supply and demand
Right to make profit and accumulate a large amount of wealth
Free trade is…
Exchange of goods and services free of import/export tax/quotas - all methods of protectionism designed to protect local products
What is state capitalism?
The adaptation of state run centrally planned economy to more capitalist ideals eg. China
What is the IMF?
1944
Initially 44 countries now 191
Loans created to to help countries with heavy debts helping to stabilise their economies
Promotes capitalism
What is the WTO?
focus on trade enforcing rules
Operates a system of ‘one country one vote’ which makes it fair on developing countries
Aims to free up global trade and decrease trade barriers through free trade
Currently focused on reducing poverty programme
What is the WB?
1944
Role is to finance development
Focuses on effects of natural disasters
Role to help capitalisation function
2016 USA controlled 16% of WB
What is the world economic forum?
1971
Swiss non profit org.
Solves global disputes
Gives platform for for superpowers to discuss important issues either TNCs and world leaders
Leaders are mainly men —> ideas contrast w/ public
Define state owned
Operates commercially but all profits return to the gov.
How do TNCs dominate global trade?
UN conference estimated in 2013 that TNCs account for 80% of global trade
Intra company trade now dominates —> a few companies exist and all trade is between different branches of the same company
How do economies of scale help TNCs dominate the global economy ?
Their products are always cheaper than locally sourced products - reducing the price of them
How does the global shift of manufacturing to Asia help TNCs dominate the global economy?
Their influence is spread globally rather than just to western countries
How do huge financial profits help TNCs dominate the global economy?
Can afford to move / improve / do whatever it takes to keep ahead of the game. Can also afford to merge and take over competition
Define patent
Allowing ppl who need the drug 20 years to set prices as high as they need
🟢incentives come with it
🔴do not favour LICs or ppl/areas on a lower income scale
Examples of how America is struggling to exert global control of culture…
UK —> Indian takeaway is still more popular than McDonald’s
Baseball = relatively irrelevant outside USA
NATO
32 countries. Eg UK, Russia
military
Guarantees freedom and security for members
Promotes democratic values
Builds trust preventing conflicts
ANZUS
Australia, New Zealand, US
Environmental
Military
Protects security of the pacific
Helped maintain independence from sphere of influence of communist powers
EU
27 countries eg. Italy, Belgium
Military
Promotes peace and values and well being of citizens
Prevented combat crime
NAFTA
US, Canada, Mexico
Economic
Aim: Eliminate all tariff and non tariff barriers of trade and investment between them
Encourages trade
ASEAN
10 countries. Eg Cambodia and Indonesia
Economic
Aim: accelerate econ growth, social progress, cultural development and promote peace and security in south east Asia
IPCC
195 members (part of UN or WMO)
Environmental
Monitors and assesses all global science related to climate change
What is the UN?
1945
193 countries in 2016
Aim: prevent reoccurrence of global conflict by focusing on human and equal rights
Peacekeeping missions
Climate change conferences annually
Why do superpowers have a greater impact on the environment?
Consumerism:
Higher incomes —> buying new products —> fast fashion
High standard of living:
Water
Food
Access to white good (harmful to environment)
Larger pop.:
China
USA
What is mineral extraction?
Removal of minerals beneath the ground
What is degradation?
Destruction of something over a long period of time
Global concerns:
1. Food
Eutrophication:
High standard of living —> higher incomes —> higher demand for food (varied taste) —> more fertiliser going into crops—> more eutrophication —> more fish die —> less food for pop. —> habitats destroyed.
Palm oil plantations:
Local impacts = harvest lost due to millions of acres of land (+habitats) destroyed
Global impacts = increased consumption (x5 since 1990s) and plantations create billions of tonnes of CO2 pollutions
Global concerns:
2. Minerals
Cobalt mining - Congo
Cobalt is used in phones, electric car batteries etc
2023, 63% of global cobalt supply was mined in Congo
1/4 is not sold through gov. meaning no tax, poor conditions, poor pay
Water = contaminated by industrial run off
Global concerns:
3. Fossil fuel extraction
Oil in Nigeria:
Bodo delta oil spills 2007/8
Caused pollution
Shell accused but took no responsibility
Illegal tapping into pipelines to steal oil (corruption and leads to oil spills)
What is the Paris agreement?
Comes from UN
Puts a cap on global temp increase of 1-5°C
Sets ambitious goals
Meet per 5yrs
HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH ITS LEGALLY BINDING, COUNTRIES HAVE SOVEREIGNTY
Willingness to act:
🇨🇳 CHINA 🇨🇳
Only willing to act if it doesn’t impact their resources
Willingness to act:
🇷🇺 RUSSIA 🇷🇺
Reduced greenhouse emissions from soviet era
Still large exploit of fossil fuels
Eg. CO2 emissions are rising
Willingness to act:
🇪🇺 EU 🇪🇺
Forefront of climate initiatives
Willingness to act:
🇺🇸 US 🇺🇸
Making large steps to reduce emissions
What are carbon credits?
Trading carbon, rather than reducing carbon emissions
(Not actually making anything better)
How are the middle class defined?
Disposable income
Spend on holidays
Spend on consumer goods
Pressure on resources: oil: facts and stats
Global oil demand likely to increase by 30% by 2030
—> it was 95M barrels per day in 2015
Pressure on resources: rare earths: facts and stats
Increase in middle class—> increase in demand—> increase in prices
Processing one tonne of rare earths can produce 2000 tonnes of toxic waste (can mix with surface and ground water)
Pressure on resources: staple grains: facts and stats
Consumption of rice in India will increase by 50% by 2030 - more are now able to afford it
Nutrition transition - demands for new foods
Pressure on resources: water: facts and stats
60% of areas facing water scarcity in India —> likely to be critical by 2030
Due to increasing middle class
Effects of growth of middle class in emerging superpowers
Manufacturing
Increased jobs
Increased pollution eg. Pearl river delta
Who? (NEEs)
China
Nigeria
Brazil
India
Saudi Arabia
Wasteful
Throw away culture
Consumerism
More disposable income
More food
More pollution
Healthier/ more exotic/ more protien
