The emergence of a multipolar world Flashcards
Economic strengths of BRICS
Brazil is energy-independent in oils and biofuels.
Brazil produces half of South America’s GDP
Russia has huge oil and gas reserves
China has a highly educated population and is soon to be the largest economy in the world with modern infrastructure
India has the largest workforce in the world
Economic weaknesses of BRICS
Brazil has a poor education system - which could lead to an unskilled population
Russia’s economy is overly dependent on fossil fuels
India will likely experience shortages of essential resources like food, water and energy in the future
India has poor infrastructure and high levels of poverty
Political strengths of BRICS
Russia has a permanent seat in the UN
India is the world’s largest democracy
Brazil is the regional leader of South America
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Political weaknesses of BRICS
Russia has difficult diplomatic and geopolitical relations with the US and EU
India has poor political relations with neighbouring countries like Pakistan
China has tense relationships with countries in South East Asia
Military Strength of BRICS
Russia, China and India are nuclear powers
India has advanced space and missile technology
China has the largest army (by military personnel) in the world
Brazil’s military budget makes up 60% that of South America
Military weaknesses of BRICS
Brazil has a small military
The military budget of the USA is almost 2x that of BRICS combined. The USA has the most advanced aircraft and has powerful allies like Germany, France and the UK in NATO
Other strengths of BRICS
India has a youthful popualtion - Demographic
Brazil has cultural influence from the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics - Cultural
Most of India’s population speak English - Cultural
Brazil generates lots of renewable energy through biofuels and hydroelectric power - environmental
Other weaknesses of BRICS
Russia has an ageing and declining population - Demographic
12% of China’s population arreover 65 (2020) - Demographic
The cultural influence of the USA through media, technology and its military is vast - Cultural
Destruction of Brazil’s rainforests - Environmental
China produces 33% of global emissions - Environmental
How does Rostow’s “Modernisation Theory” (1960) outline development?
Rostow believed development consisted of 5 stages. This included
Traditional society - based of subsistence agriculture fishing, etc.
Preconditions for takeoff - Export mining and cash crops growing
Takeoff - The development of manufacturing industries
Drive to maturity - all sectors of the economy experience growth (especially industrial and commercial)
Age of mass consumption - mass consumerism. The tertiary sector dominates economy
Rostow believed that the stage of development would not increase until the pre-conditions for takeoff (exporting raw materials, developing technology, improving infrastructure, improving governance) were met.
Limitations of Rostow’s “Modernisation Theory” (1960)?
China - followed the same stages of development under a communist government.
Asia Tiger Economies - experienced huge economic growth largely due to investment from the USA.
Some countries skip some stages of development. For example, the Maldives never experience industrialisation. Instead, they developed their tourism industry.
Many countries are left in debt as they have to loan money from wealthier countries.
How does Frank’s “Dependency Theory” (mid-1960s) outline development?
Frank believed that the world was divided into the core developed nations and the peripheral developing countries. The peripheral countries provide the core developed nations with raw materials political support, debt repayments and skilled workers (brain drain). The core countries sell the periphery manufactured goods, provide aid, provide political and economic ideas and outsource polluting industries to the periphery.
Frank believed that capitalist core countries keep the peripheral countries under developedby setting prices of commodities, controlling economies through the IMF and World Bank, as well as using aid to gain political support and debt repayments.
Limitations of Frank’s “Dependency Theory”?
Doesn’t consider emerging economies like BRICS which are neither core nor peripheral.
Some countries may lose power and not remain in the core (e.g USSR)
Outline the “World Systems Theory” (1973)?
This is an extension of Frank’s Dependency Theory. It divided countries into:
The core regions - the most developed (USA, Western Europe, Japan)
Semi Periphery - Emerging economies (such as BRICS)
Periphery - Developing nations (such as those in Central Africa)
The importance of the G20
The g20 is a group of 19 sovereign nations, the European Union and the African Union. Together they account for 85% of World trade and 85% of the World’s GDP. It contains many emerging economies (including all of BRICS). BRICS themselves may overtake the g20 for global significance.
