EQ3 superpowers Flashcards
(24 cards)
Tensions can arise over the acquisition of physical resources (Arctic oil and gas) where ownership is disputed and disagreement exists over exploitation.
As the warming Arctic loses ice (as a result of climate change) and the region becomes easier to navigate, naval ships can move their position closer to the disputed area. Greater accessibility also means that test drilling for oil and gas can take place in disputed areas.
- what is there in the Arctic circle, estimation of how much?
- Is the area around the North Pole protected?
- what are countries making territorial claims on?
There are reserves of oil and natural gas in the Arctic Circle (with some estimates placing the volume of the oil at 90 million barrels). Unlike Antarctica, the area
around the North Pole is not that well protected from resource exploitation. This means that many countries are making territorial claims on the Arctic Ocean,
the seabed beneath it and the Lomonosov Ridge.
Who have made territorial claims over the Arctic?
why?
- what’s the issue
Canada, the USA, Russia, Norway and Denmark (through its connection to Greenland) have made territorial claims in the area as they all have land territory that borders the ocean. Most of the countries’ territorial claims on the Arctic are for the areas closest to their country.
- However, the position of these countries in relation to the Arctic Circle means there are overlapping claims based on each country’s EEZ.
In the Arctic, who are there disputes between?
What did Russia do In 2007 which intensified this?
In the Arctic, there are disputes between the USA and Canada as well as between Russia and Norway. Russia
planted a Russian flag on the seabed at the North Pole in 2007, which intensified the disputes in the region.
Both the USA and Russia are powers with a significant military presence in the region.
What did Denmark do in 2014 (in terms of the Arctic)
-How much of the aRCTIC OCEAN DOES Denmark control (km)?
In 2014, Denmark claimed a section of the Arctic
- using the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which says that a country can control the seabed (and its resources) within 200 nautical miles of its coastline (called the Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ). Although Denmark has no coastline bordering the Arctic, Greenland is officially a self-governing part of Denmark, and therefore controls 900 000 km? of the Arctic Ocean.
Russia’s involvement in the Arctic
Russia
Controls half of the Arctic coastline and has the largest Arctic military presence.
Seeks to dominate the Northern Sea Route and expand energy projects.
Reopened and expanded military bases and is building nuclear icebreakers.
US involvement in the Arctic
United States
Competing with Russia and China for influence in the Arctic.
Concerned about freedom of navigation and strategic deterrence.
Increased focus on Alaska’s resource potential and military infrastructure.
China’s involvement in the Arctic
China
Declared itself a “near-Arctic state” and is investing heavily in Arctic research and infrastructure.
Seeks access to shipping lanes and resource extraction projects in Russia, Greenland, and Canada.
Developing the “Polar Silk Road” as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
Canada Norway and Denmark’s involvement in the Arctic
Canada, Norway, and Denmark (via Greenland) assert claims over Arctic territories and resources.
Compete over extended continental shelves and exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
What are continental shelf claims?
- who have them to the Arctic ?
Continental Shelf Claims
Nations submit claims to extend their EEZs beyond 200 nautical miles under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Russia, Canada, and Denmark all claim overlapping areas near the Lomonosov Ridge, including the North Pole.
how much of the worlds undiscovered oil and gas is in the Arctic?
- Who are investing in Arctic energy exploration?
- what does melting of ice enable and what issues does this bring?
Oil and Gas
The Arctic is estimated to hold 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of undiscovered natural gas (U.S. Geological Survey).
Russia, Norway, and the U.S. are investing in Arctic energy exploration.
Melting sea ice enables offshore drilling, but raises environmental and sovereignty concerns.
What minerals is the arctic rich in and what are these needed for ?
- who’s interest has been drawn in Greenland
Minerals
The region is rich in rare earths, nickel, copper, zinc, and uranium—vital for electronics, green tech, and defense.
Greenland, in particular, has drawn Chinese and Western interest for its mineral reserves.
- what routes are melting Arctic sea ice opening up and why are these pop strategic importance?
- why do countries compete for control over these routes?
- what is increasing?
Shipping Routes
Melting ice is opening new sea routes like the Northern Sea Route and Northwest Passage, reducing travel time between Europe and Asia.
Countries compete for control over these routes due to economic and military advantages.
Result: Resource accessibility is increasing strategic competition in an area once defined by cooperation.
The global system of intellectual property rights can be
undermined by counterfeiting, which strains trade relations
and TNC investment.
What is the WIPO and who operates it ?
- what does it do?
The UN operates the World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO). This global organisation regulates intellectual property and enables creators to protect their work and the inner workings of their companies. This protection is known as intellectual property rights.
- what do intellectual property rights prevent?
- when are royalties paid and why do people avoid them?
- why have breaches of intellectual property rights grown rapidly
Intellectual property rights prevent an idea or design
being used by another person or company in order to profit from it. Theft of intellectual property is illegal and companies can lose revenue from it.
* If a company wishes to use the intellectual property of another, they are required to pay royalties.
- Royalties generate high levels of income if the intellectual property is in common use and needed in the marketplace (like the way a particular drug is made). However, this can lead to theft of the intellectual property if a company can’t afford to pay for it.
- Breaches of intellectual property rights have grown rapidly with the expansion of the internet.
What are the two outcomes of intellectual property theft?
1) Companies that steal intellectual property may produce counterfeit goods that match the real branded products so closely that it is difficult to tell them apart.
These instances represent very clear breaches of intellectual property law.
2)Companies may also steal intellectual property and produce their own version of a product that uses some features of the original but is a completely different product. These instances often go to court where the legal system determines whether the new product is different enough to be classed as a new invention.
In 2019, how much did important of counterfeit goods to the EU account for ?($)
Counterfeiting has a big economic impact. Imports of counterfeit goods into the EU in 2019 amounted to US$134 billion worth of products. The global trade in counterfeit goods accounted for 2.5% of world trade in 2019.
how can counterfeiting strain economic and political relationships?
- weakness
Counterfeiting can also strain economic and political relationships between countries.
A government may be viewed as politically weak if they do little to stop the production of counterfeit goods in their country. This means the country may be seen as weak in other geopolitical areas, such as in international agreements or in other areas of international law.
how can counterfeiting strain economic and political relationships?
- Inhibition of trade agreements
3) Economically, a country may not wish to create trade agreements with a country that turns a blind eye to counterfeiting. A country that does not stop counterfeiting might be seen as producing counterfeit goods to try to undermine the global trade system by producing goods that are very competitive in some markets.
How can counterfeiting affect the way Tncs operate in countries? (2)
Companies that produce counterfeit goods are known to operate in countries such as China and Turkey. This has caused disputes between the countries that own the intellectual property and those that are stealing it. It can affect the way that TNCs may operate in other countries:
* TNCs may reduce their investments in research and development facilities in a country where counterfeiting happens.
* TNCs may withdraw wider operations from a country where counterfeiting takes place if they feel the local government does not do enough to prevent counterfeiting from happening.
Example of where counterfeiting takes place
Thailand- A pair of fake BIRKINSTOCKS COSTS £3.50/200 baht
