Superpowers EQ3 (7.3)

Question 1

what are the two ways a country can claim a new territory ?

Answer 1

1. invasion and conquest of another countries territory

2. claiming offshore, undersea resources by extension a country’s exclusive economic zone

Question 2

what is an examples of invasion and conquest ?

Answer 2

In 2014 Russia invaded and took control of Crimea in order to gain control of a Russian naval base there. Russia feared that if Ukraine joined the EU they would lose control over them.

Question 3

What are the different players in the dispute over the arctic region ?

Answer 3

• Russia stake a claim to resources there and have put arctic bomber patrols there
• Denmark claims land using the exclusive economic zone rule
• Canada has carried out military exercises there
• united states stakes claims for territory
• Inuit tribes have been disturbed and so has local wildlife from the competition for resources

Question 4

what are the reasons for the heavy dispute over resources in the Arctic ?

Answer 4

Firstly the melting of the ice caps has meant that there are now shipping routes that weren’t previously available and that cut down travel times significantly. Secondly there are thought to be many resources such as huge fish stocks, and oil and gas beneath the melting ice caps. The US geological survey estimates the Arctic has 25% of the worlds undiscovered oil and gas.

Question 5

What have been the effects of this conflict in the Antarctic ?

Answer 5

Resources are being exploited and there has been many oil spillages. This has destroyed wildlife and habitats whilst also damaging the environment for the ancient Inuit tribes in the region.

Question 6

what is the purpose of intellectual property (IP) ?

Answer 6

• it stops TNC’s being reluctant to invest in R&D because it means inventions won’t be copied
• increases trade as they can trust their ideas won’t be copied by other countries

Question 7

what is an example of tensions due to other countries abusing IP laws ?

Answer 7

the USA have accused Thailand of abusing the TRIPS agreement (agreement concerning copyright etc.). This is due to the counterfeit culture that exists in Thai tourist spots.

Question 8

what are spheres of influence ?

Answer 8

an area or territory beyond a countries national borders, over which it feels it should have power without any formal authority there.

Question 9

how have different spheres of influence led to conflict over the South China sea ?

Answer 9

China, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei are all competing for the sea and disputing territory. This includes the Paracel and Spratly islands s which have resources. The USA has also stepped in at times to try to ensure key shipping lanes and air routes remain.

Question 10

what disputes have occurred in the South China sea ?

Answer 10

• China claim the Spratley and Paracel islands belong them historically but Taiwan claim the same thing
• China has the ‘nine dash line’ however this territory is quite unclear as to what it includes
• there have been stand offs such as Vietnam losing 70 troops in a clash with China
• Philippines tried to take China to regional courts but China boycotted them

Question 11

How has Russia’s military alliances created tensions with the USA ?

Answer 11

they have been an active ally of the Syrian government. Also they support Iran who are an enemy of 2 US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Question 12

what tensions are there within Asia ?

Answer 12

• There are tensions between the communist govt. of China and the republic of china govt. which has retreated to the Chinese island province of Taiwan. Both claim to be the official govt. of China
• Tibet has for a long time seeked separation from China however this hasn’t happened and China refuse to acknowledge the Tibetans leader the Dalai Lama

Question 13

what are some of the reasons for the large Chinese investment in Africa ?

Answer 13

• political and economic ties and geostrategy
• young people they can educate
• rapidly growing populations so cheap labour
• resources such as minerals, oil and gas
• landscape for factories and agriculture
• raw materials

Question 14

what are the benefits of Chinese investment in Sub Saharan Africa ?

Answer 14

• they are Africa’s largest trading partner
• increased education
• they have benefited from China building schools and infrastructure

Question 15

what is the problems with the Chinese investment in Africa from an African perspective ?

Answer 15

• only 5% of the FDI actually goes to Africa whilst half is in Asia
• there is an overdepence of Africa on Asia and if the Chinese economy slows down so would the African one
• China is effectively doing what the western world did to them as they are exploiting the growing population with cheap labour

Question 16

what are the different tensions in the middle east ?

Answer 16

• most Muslim countries are hostile to Israel whilst USA are their allies
• religious difference between Sunni and Shia branches of Islam
• the rise of IS in Iraq and Syria has created war. terrorism and a refugee crisis
• the Kurdish people demand their own state

Question 17

what did the global financial crisis mean for emerging powers ?

Answer 17

high debt levels and economic restructuring in EU and the USA gave a chance to other countries to draw level in terms of economic growth

Question 18

what is economic restructuring ?

Answer 18

the shift from primary industries to the tertiary services industry

Question 19

Why are there questions surrounding the funding of NATO ?

Answer 19

The USA pays 22% of the overall budget and only 5 members actually spend the 2% target of their GDP on defence. The countries that meet the targets question why others don’t.

Question 20

what are the costs of military spending for the UK ?

Answer 20

• for naval power there is debate over whether it is better to have low cost ships or high cost ones
• for nuclear power there is debate over if it worth the cost during austerity as they are unlikely to be used
• for air power it is again very expensive to maintain the new tech

Question 21

what are the benefits of military spending for the UK ?

Answer 21

• naval power allows for anti- piracy operations and deliver human assistance
• nuclear power means other countries take the UK seriously and it defers military conflict
• air power means rapid naval response and also for the UK to intervene in conflicts

Question 22

why could the US’s large spending on military power and space exploration be questioned ?

Answer 22

13% of Americans live in poverty. In addition to this they have an ageing population of 15% and this is due to to rise to 20% by 2030 so they have these populations to look after.

Question 23

what are the 3 possible scenarios for the future balance of superpowers ?

Answer 23

1. the USA remains a hyper power
2. there is a bipolar world with China and USA
3. a regional mosaic where the USA and EU decline in comparison to increasingly powerful BRIC economies