Superpowers EQ3 Flashcards
Why are resources contested?
- the land border between to countries is in dispute (e.g. India and Pakistan over Kashmir)
- the ownership of a landmass is in dispute (Argentina’s claim to the UK governed Falkland Islands continental offshore oil and gas)
- the extent of a nations offshore exclusive economic zone is in dispute of claimed by another nation. (Artic with several nations claiming ownership over the valuable oil and gas reserves there)
Why is buying physical resources not preferable for superpowers?
- resources can be set at very high prices
- trading with unfriendly regimes or ones that are politically unstable
- during conflict trade routes and supply can be blocked or stopped.
What is a countries exclusive economic zone?
The areas of ocean extending 200 nautical miles behind the coastline (or to edge of congenital shelf), over which a nation controls the sea and submarine resources. They are decided in the UN in the event of a dispute.
How can nations acquire their own natural resources?
- invasion and conquest of another countries territory
- claiming offshore resources by extending a countries EEZ.
What is an example of gaining natural resources through invasion?
Russia annexation of Crimea:
- 2014 Russia invaded and took control of Crimea (Ukraine) due to fear of Ukraine joining NATO
- It slowed Russia to controls its Russian naval base, prevent the loss of land physical resources (land and port)
- invade again in 2022 in attempt to control three of Russia’s main oil pipelines to Europe
What an example of disputes over EEZ for resources?
Artic ocean:
- the huge oil and gas reserves may exist under the Artic Ocean (30% of the worlds undiscovered)
- the areas in beyond the EEZ of Canada, USA, Russia and Denmark meaning they are all claiming EEZ extension to gain control
C > currently their is no actual drilling for resources in the Artic due to environmental and political concerns
What is intellectual property rights?
Run by the World Intellectual Property organisation (part in UN). It is the rights given to a person/company over their own innovation or creation.
Why is IP rights important?
- without IP innovation and ideas can be stolen and used by others reducing innovation and creating.
- countries would be reluctant to trade, as intellectual property could be stolen or copied.
How can IP rights create tensions and conflicts?
Intellectual Property theft, counterfeiting and industrial espionage can strain trade relationships and cause conflicts.
- counterfeit good normally unsafe so out consumers at risk
- total losses for $400-600 billion
- lack of action by Chinese government may suggest that they are less likely to cooperate in other issues of international law
Why does the undermining of IP property rights strain trade TNCs investment.
TNCs may limit investment in China if they fear IP theft.
(22 fake apple stores found in China in 2011, 70% of the worlds counterfeit goods originate in China)
Why does counterfeiting IP property led to stained trade relationships?
trade agreement are limited if one country is know to not ‘play by the rules’
What is a sphere of influence?
A sphere od influence is an area of territory beyond a countries national borders, over which it believes it has economic, military, cultural and political rights without having a formal authority.
Why can conflict occur over spheres of influence?
- balance of power changes (Pakistan gaining nuclear weapon putting on par with India in terms of military capability’s)
- disputed territories visited by high level official
- military ‘sabre rattling’ (flying jets or sailing naval vessels close to a disputed territory (China and USA in south and east China seas)
- new resources are discovered of suspected (new possibility of oil in water off the Falkland Islands governed by UK but claimed by Argentina)
The south and east China seas
China is actively trying to expand its sphere of influence, trying to gain complete control the ocean from its coast to the first island chains. It’s doing this by island settling and artifices island building and then adding military facilities (2014 constructed as island on Fiery Cross Reef). This is being contested by USA (due to military allies with Japan, North Korea and Philippines).
Why is China’s actions in the south’s den East China Sea having implications/conflicts?
- arguably island building is a direct attack in UN Law of the Sea as constructive happening in areas that are disputed
- China is challenging US naval and air hegemony in the area and has begun to question the rights if US ships and aircraft to sail and fly in the disputed areas
What are example of spheres of influence resulting in open conflict?
Western Russia/Eastern Europe:
Russia believes it has a sphere of influence over Eastern Europe including Ukraine and Georgia ect. Moves to join the EU and NATO angered Russia leading in to invade parts of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014