Topic 7 - EQ3 - Superpowers Flashcards
Which superpower has the most coal and mineral reserves?
China
Which two superpowers have the most oil and gas reserves?
USA and Russia
Which two superpowers have the most ‘people power’ (highest population)?
China and India
Why is resource wealth important to superpowers?
Superpowers are fuelled by resources. Human capital and human resources is increasingly economically important for innovation and entrepreneurship BUT physical resources are still important - oil is the lifeblood of industrialised economies and a variety of resources are key in manufacturing.
Why are there tensions in the Arctic over contested resources?
-Mineral wealth beneath Arctic increasing accessible because of sea melting from cc + permafrost melting makes it less difficult to drill into arctic ground
-There are vast amounts of proven oil and gas reserves (25% of undiscovered global gas and 12% of undiscovered oil)
-Contest over what is an extension of each Arctic country’s continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles mark has created overlapping claims
Why will control over the Arctic become more desirable over time?
-Sea ice melting (extensive in summer due to CC) opening NW passage to W USA and Northern Sea route to E Asia (over top of the world) creates valuable alternatives to the Suez or Panama canals = countries with access to Arctic sea have a competitive advantage
-Permafrost melting makes it less difficult to drill into arctic ground and access resources
How are Arctic nations responding to tensions in the Arctic with expressions of hard power?
-Since 2002, Canada has carried out military exercises in the Arctic and has recently committed to Spending 3.5bn CAD on Arctic defence
-Denmark creating Arctic military command and response force
-Russia carried out Arctic bomber patrols, upgraded navy, re-opened soviet army bases… general process of Arctic militarisation clear
How are Arctic nations responding to tensions on the Arctic with expressions of soft power?
-2014 Denmark claimed section of Arctic setting precedent that Arctic countries can control seabed within 200 nautical miles of its coast (Russia, Canada, USA and Norway all made similar claims as a result) and within this claimed area each country has sovereignty over this ‘Exclusive Economic Zone’ - BUT this still leaves lots of Arctic seabed unowned except for if a country can claim it is an extension of their continental shelf = highly contentious int’l disputes
-2007 Russian submarine sailed beneath N Pole and placed a Russian flag on the seabed staking claim to the resources there (claim it is an extension of Russian continental shelf)
How have violations of intellectual property developed in a globalised world?
With the globalisation of ideas, commerce and technological innovation, protecting intellectual property via patents and copyright has been difficult.
Emerging countries, e.g. China, Indonesia, India…, have become key markets for counterfeit goods (most common way to violate int’l property rights) either because the gov’t is unable to enforce regulations or it lacks the will to. Estimated 5-10% of world trade is in counterfeit goods. China accounts for 70% of all counterfeit goods.
How may international intellectual property rights (patents and copyright) may cause tensions in international relations?
Counterfeiting is thought to cost hundreds of thousands of jobs in places such as the US and EU and hundreds of billions of lost revenue yearly.
Often a large counterfeit = limited possibility of trade agreements if one side refuses to play by the rules of international commerce (extensive counterfeiting is often symptomatic of an uncooperative government). Counterfeiting has arguably soured US-China relations as US TNCs like Apple, Nike… are most commonly counterfeited.
What is a sphere of influence?
A physical region over which a country believes it has rights to economic, military or political influence. Spheres of influence extend beyond the borders of the country.
Who are the main players in the S China Sea dispute?
-China (claims largest portion stretching hundred of miles S and E on basis of extended continental shelf)
-Taiwan (claims Spratly islands)
-The Philippines (scarborough shoal clash with China)
-Brunei
-Malaysia (claims some Spratlys)
-Vietnam (claims it has ruled the Spratlys since the 17th C and fiercely clash with China)
-India (more recent)
How has hard power been exercised in the S China Sea?
-Chinese clashes with Vietnam (1974 China seized Paracel Islands, 1988 clashed in the Spratlys - over 100 Vietnamese troops and sailors killed - and in 2012 two Vietnamese exploration operations were sabotaged by the Chinese Navy and later in 2014 there were numerous collisions between ships as China established a drilling rig near the Paracel Islands)
-Chinese standoff with the Philippines (2012 the countries entered a lengthy maritime standoff over Scarborough shoal and in 2013 Philippines said it was taking China to the UN over violations of the UN Laws of the Sea)
What are the barriers to the resolution in the S China Sea?
China’s relative size, clout, military might and power on int’l stage in relativity to the other players.
China has been determined to engage in bilateral negotiations only so it can dominate smaller nations, but many have called for it to negotiate with ASEAN (10 country regional group representing all players in the region) - China has refused.
The Philippines took China to the UN over UN Laws of the Sea violations and in 2016 the UN tribunal backed the Philippines - stated that China had violated Filipino sovereignty - China has boycotted the proceedings.
What is the founding for Russian aggression on its Western Border?
Russian influence undoubtedly extends beyond its western border into Europe.
Old Russian communities exist across former Soviet Republics and former Russian Empire territory - e.g. Eastern Ukraine (Donetsk, Luhansk, Crimea), the Baltic states (¼ of Latvia is ethnically Russian), Transnistria part of Moldova and Belarus. Russia uses these communities to justify aggression and claims of land - e.g. foundation for 2014 invasion of Crimea and 2022 invasion of Ukraine was on the grounds of protecting the human rights of Ethnic Russians from a ‘Nazi’ Ukraine…
BUT it was also because Russia was increasingly anxious that Ukraine was moving towards the EU and NATO and into the Western European sphere of influence whilst traditionally it has been firmly in the Russian sphere. The same issues apply in the Baltic states which have already joined NATO.
What is the chief emerging power that is developing new ties with the developing world?
China
What are some examples of China forging ties with the developing world outside of Africa?
‘Dry Panama Canal’ in Colombia - China and Colombia in talks to build a railroad across Colombia to be an alternative to the Panama Canal (traditionally US dominated). Benefits Chinese trade interests and also develops infrastructure connecting the two coasts of Colombia.
‘String of Pearls’ - network/relationship of Chinese military and commercial facilities along its sea lines of communication. Stretches from China to the Horn of Africa via Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan…).
Why have the Chinese expanded their influence in Africa?
China’s investment into the African continent has grown exponentially in recent times to fuel its rapid economic development. China needs to secure a reliable supply of raw materials and a growing market for its manufactured goods and Africa is the answer. China is now Africa’s largest trade partner, buying about 1/3 of its oil from the continent (Angola, Nigeria, Sudan…). In 2015, Chinese-African trade totalled over $160 billion generating both opportunities and challenges within Africa and China.
