EQ 1 ; BRICS emerging superpowers ; Rise of China

Question 1

China’s pop.

Answer 1

1.4 bln- largest in world

Question 2

China’s position in GDP rankings and economic wealth compared to the 1980’s and what was this boosted by ?

Answer 2

6 th largest econ. in past - now 2nd place in largest econ and country with highest share in global GDP- boosted by exponential 10% annual economic growth while Uk= 3% and US = averaging around 3%.

Question 3

evidence of China’s economic success through socio-economic factors ?

Answer 3

• predicted that by 2022 - 45% of population can be classed as middle class
• Increase in PPP to number 1 - evident in 2013 where Chinese population bought more TV’s and electronics than the US

Question 4

What is China’s silk belt road initiative and why is it so economically important?

Answer 4

Silk belt road initiative - a maritime reserve for connection of several economic corridors between china and 65 countries involved = links of up to 75% of energy reserves = huge economic growth prospects

Question 5

Possible Socio-economic benefits of the silk belt road initiative.

Answer 5

• could increase global incomes by nearly 6% and pull more than 30 million people out of poverty

Question 6

Possible benefits of Blue water navy expansion plans?

Answer 6

protection of shipping and trade routes + assertion of dominance over south china dispute during on going tensions between the US, Vietnam and China.

Question 7

Possible evidence for increase in middle class correlation with increase in social health?

Answer 7

life expec. Increase by 1.0 yrs between 2000-2005 , largest increase in the world

Question 8

China and it’s scramble for africa

Give statistics on impact on african economy as a whole?

Answer 8

inc. trade between C and A by 19%/yr
- over 20% sub saharan fuel exports are to C.
- While 28% of China’s manufacturing goods are sold to Sub-Saharan Africa = trade deficit for Africa

Question 9

Criticisms of China on it’s neo-colonial nature of involvement with Africa and other countries?

Answer 9

• Human Rights watch in 2011 found out that Zambian Cu mine workers were being mistreated by Chinese TNC’s
  + Protection of South sudan’s corrupt president and govt. in front of UN = tensions with western UN countries
• Sri lanka - victim of ‘debt trap diplomacy’- China taken control of 99 yr lease on Hambantota port and airport - Sri lankan govt unable to pay the back = C. control of part of Indian Ocean = tensions with India

Question 10

Do Western countries still maintain a dominant presence in Africa as they did before?

Answer 10

China only accounts for 5%of FDI while majority of rest is made up by UK, US and France due to strong historical political links and relations - however over 1/2 of China’s foreign aid goes directly towards Africa proving useful in outbreaks like the Ebola outbreak

Question 11

Example of cultural imperialism ?

Answer 11

China moves workers to Africa to work on huge infrastructure projects like the Tanzanian railway - 1 million C. ppl now reside in Africa

Question 12

Evidence to prove that china is struggling to catch up to the US as the world’s greatest Superpower.

Answer 12

• China’s Industrial growth has decline by 13% since 2011 with no sign of it increasing (may be due to transiton into more advanced manufacturing and services however industrial growth is what built up China’s economic success how will it survive without it ?)
• soft power is weak compared to US
• Military technological advancements weaker than US’ due to limited experience while US has one of the world’s most advanced armies.

Question 13

Environmental impacts of superpower China?

Answer 13

• worlds most polluting country (GHG emm)

- consumes 50% of world’s coal consumption

Question 14

Future of resource demand for China ?

Answer 14

• increase of middle class pop. to 45% = increasing resource pressure
• consumption has increased by 3x since 2000