Superpowers

Question 1

Rise of USSR

Answer 1

Formed after 1917 communist revolution led by Lenin and Trotsky. USSR went through strict and speedy industrialisation and nationalism.

Question 2

USSR collapse

Answer 2

Gorbachev 1985
Loss of cultural hegemony fuelled by the loss of economic capability - ran out of money.
Economic liberalisation undermined communist values leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Question 3

The cold war

Answer 3

bipolar world during this political era.
Both nations became building nuclear weapons
The Space Race - Yuri Gagarin and Niel Armstrong.
Mccarthyism amongst creatives in Hollywood.
Korean War.
Vietnam War - North Supported by China while South supported by America, American presence for 9 years.
NATO vs Warsaw Pact.
Cuban Missile Crisis - Soviet weapons on Cuba and USA weapons on Turkey.
Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Question 4

UN Security council

Answer 4

USSR, USA, UK, China and France set up UN Security council following WW2. They are the 5 permanent members and have the power of veto. 10 non permanent mebers rotating every 2 years.
US military action has often occurred despite no clearance from council - undermines its effectiveness.

Question 5

COP 26

Answer 5

Countries only agreed to phase down rather than phase out coal after late intervention by India and China.
China, India and Russia haven’t joined pledges to cut methane production.

Question 6

Kashmir

Answer 6

Ethnically diverse. Under partition plan was free to join India or Pakistan. Maharaja wanted independence but joined India in 1947. Wars have occurred in multiple instances over the previous decade. Today both nations both claim kashmir but only control parts of the region.
Armed revolt in Indian Kashmir India blames Pakistan for backing separatist militants.
Pakistan suspended trade with India following them granting themselves more power in the region. Kashmir over 60% muslim - the only Indian state with majority muslim
Region has high unemployment and complaints of human rights abuses. Over 500 died during conflict in 2018.

Question 7

Falkland Islands

Answer 7

British overseas territory claimed by Argentina. They speak English. Island is isolated and sparsely populated. War in 1982. Long term British administration and population views themselves as British.
In 2013 Islanders democratically voted to remain British.

Question 8

South China Sea dispute

Answer 8

Proxy war
5 trillion global trade flows through waters.
Beijing claims more than 80% of South China Sea. - accelerating military presence and construction on disputed islands.Many nations have comtemporary overlapping claims - territory disputes rooted in regions colonia history. Number of naval ships facing off in the sea has increased.
Japan ammending post war paficism by ammending theconstitution as a result
US presence in region increased
Chinese militia patrols the seas harrassing ships - sank a filipino fishing boat.
Chinese militia grey zone tactics as they exert sovereignty without engaging in warefare - allows China to ignore international conventions as Beijing denies involvement.

Question 9

Arctic Oil and Gas

Answer 9

30% of world undiscovred oil is in arctic.
Estimated 13% of world undiscovered gas located in the arctic.
Several nations lay claim to seabed - Norway Icelanfd Russia Canada etc…
Dispute whether Lomonosov Ridge is part of Russian EEZ
2007 Russia planted a flag under the seabed - tensions
‘Scientific expeditions’ increased in number.
Russia and Canada have created Arctic forces to protect their interests.
Largely due to natural resoiurces known to be in teh region.
Risk of climate change accelerating and increased geopolitical tensions.
Diverging interprestations of International Conventions - UN convention on the law of the sea.

Question 10

China in Africa

Answer 10

Interdependency with Africa as they rely on African Oil, Zambian copper and sugar.
Africa relies on Chinese investment into its infrastructure such as roads railways and ports.
Africa is importing more Chinese goods.
Projects
Railway in Kenya
5bn investment in Guinea
Railway in Ethiopia.
Africa now votes with China at political conferences - increased Chinese geo political power.
Low/No interest loans from China to Africa.
China profits off of African growth.
Chinese firms operate in Africa due to low labour costs.
Chinese military base in Djibouti.
Skilled and technical jobs filled by Chinese
Cheap Chinese workers undercuts local prduce/workers
Much of FDI only brings temporary construction jobs.
China funding HEP dams in Africa such as in Ethiopia.
China owns 7% of Africa.