Superpowers enquiry question 3

Question 1

What did the McKinsey report 2012 highlight

Answer 1

That the world’s economic centre of gravity was shifting
- by 2025, 600 cities with highest GDP will generate 65% of world economic growth, of those 440 will be in emerging countries, this pulling the centre of flavory away from the west

Question 2

Why is the economic centre of gravity important - 3 reasons

Answer 2

influence
investment
control

Question 3

Static about earnings in America

Answer 3

42% of those who earn over a million are American

Question 4

What will a change of the economic centre of gravity lead to

Answer 4

• large amount of trade and investment from western TNC’s in huge markets of China and Southern Asia.
• as markets shift so does world trade investment
• impacting established countries like US

Question 5

Case study - growth of India
social
economic
structural, political

Answer 5

• high economic growth - investment in road and rail
• improvements in healthcare education and national security
• smart villages, digital media
• diplomatic realtions improved, BRICS member
• seeking permanent UN membership

Question 6

Case study - growth of India - diaspora

Answer 6

• growing middle classes attracted investment
• India’s diaspora is spread globally and the Bollywood film industry bigger than Hollywood - 2.2 billion tickets compared to 1.4 billion

Question 7

Case study - growth of India - location

Answer 7

Indian Ocean remains a key trade route, good base for trade

Question 8

Case study - growth of India - controversy, modi

Answer 8

President modi controversial figure
internal issues within India social and ethnic divisions threatening its emerging power

Question 9

Case study - growth of India - military

Answer 9

has two air craft carriers, goof super power status indicator, representation in the ocean

Question 10

Case study - tensions in the Middle East - superpower influence

Answer 10

• Sykes-Picot agreement 1916 divided the old Ottoman Empire into 4 zones controlled by British and French
• this contitnued post ww2 with creation of Iraq, Jordan, Israel
• this has created tension with Palestine as they have become landless and terrorism has grew against Israel

Question 11

Case study - tensions in the Middle East - water and blockading

Answer 11

• Israel has blocked Palestinian access to the water in the river Jordan and Golan heights in syria maintaining tensions

Question 12

Case study -tensions in the Middle East -5 issues/ CAUSES OF CONFLICT

Answer 12

• instability and governance
• religious
• cultural
• colonial
• territorial - water

Question 13

case study - tension in the Middle East - 2015 spring uprising, consequences

Answer 13

• Libya syria and Yemen still struggling with cvil war
• biggest threat from the sunni and shia islam

Question 14

case study - tension in the Middle East - sanctions and oil

Answer 14

• 2015 economic sanctions against Iran imposed by US as a result of WMD crippling the country
• Iran is now able to sell oil and gas, which they can produce for less than Saudi Arabia
• Saudi Arabia argue this is the usa trying to influence oil price

Question 15

superpower futures - 3 economic challenges

Answer 15

• debt
• unemployment
• economic restructuring

Question 16

superpower futures - 4 military challenges

Answer 16

• navy
• nuclear deterrence
• air power
• intelligence

Question 17

superpower futures - debt

Answer 17

global recession has created higher debt in richer countries, tax rises need which can slow economic growth down, with austerity measures as an alternative

Question 18

superpower futures - debt, consequence and impact on balance of power

Answer 18

western countries - uk, eu, USA may being to rely on money from emerging powers during recessions which increase political and economic influence

Question 19

usa debt

Answer 19

107% of GDP

Question 20

indian debt

Answer 20

8% of GDP

Question 21

china debt

Answer 21

55% of GDP

Question 22

debt evaluation

Answer 22

western powers bordering on 100% debt level compared to BRICS, this leads to reliance and increasing influence from BRICS

Question 23

superpower futures - unemployment

Answer 23

• many companies being bought by huge companies such as tata steel buying British steel this means western countries relying on decisions made in emerging countries leading to influence
• job vulnerability increasing
• recession, job vulnerability, economic problems

Question 24

superpower futures - economic restructuring

Answer 24

• eu and use forced away from manufacturing to reliance on tertiary and quaternary
• uk falling behind in skilled workforce
• issues in previous manufacturing communities - economic and social costs, need for regeneration

Question 25

superpower futures - social costs

Answer 25

• unemployment - deteriation of living environment
• increase in crime
• marginalisation of working classes

Question 26

superpower futures - alternative future

Answer 26

• multi polar world may exist if uk and USA begin to rely more on investment and finance in these innovation projects from emerging power such as BRICS and MINT countries

Question 27

navy importance

Answer 27

aircraft carriers are vital for projecting power

Question 28

how many aircraft carriers does usA have

Answer 28

11

Question 29

how many aircraft carriers does Russia, china, India have

Answer 29

1

Question 30

who are the top nine military spenders

Answer 30

us france germany saudi sk india japan russia china

Question 31

How much more does US spend on military than china

Answer 31

us invests 4 times as much as China does

Question 32

superpower futures - three evaluation points

Answer 32

• usa replace uk as leading superpower only 10 yrs after ww2, not very long but big global changes
• Chinese investors have invested 6 billion worth of development in Manchester on a local level
• global networks and orgs discourage change to not upset status quo