eqi3 Flashcards
(25 cards)
what is a sphere of influence?
a spatial region over which a state or organisation has a level of cultural, economic, military or political power, exploited for the benefit of the external power
why is russia expanding it’s sphere of influence into eastern europe?
- expansion of nato into eastern europe
- make it difficult for ethnic russians to gain citizenship in european nations
what is an example of russia expanding it’s sphere of influence into eastern europe?
the war in ukraine
- russia believes ukraine belongs to russia
- ukraine was absorbed into sphere of influence during ww2
- collapse of USSR = collapse of sphere of influence
what happens when spheres of infleunce clash?
conflict
what is hughes reef?
a manmade reef built by china in the south china sea
- they did this because all coastlines have 200m exclusive economic zone around them belonging to the country
why does china want to control the south china sea?
~ 11 bn barrels of oil
~ 190 tn feet3 of natural gas
~ 10% of the world’s fisheries
~ 30% of global shipping trade goes through it
why have china made the 9 dash line?
they have disregarded the exclusive economic zones becayse of a HISTORICAL claim?
china has built military instillations on their islands that others have not and are using the cabbage strategy to claim islands
- this is to layer ships around an island they want and blockading the inhabitants without food
what is evidence that america’s sphere of influence is shrinking?
- trump attempted to move israel’s capital to jerusalem but everyone ignored him
- trump declares syria ceasefire and lifts turkey’s sanctions but everyone ignored
- french parliament votes to recognise palestine america said no - france ignores
what is evidence of china’s growing sphere of influence?
china has influence in 17 african countries
- oil in sudan
- minerals in kenya
- iron in south africa
- political and economic cooperation in senegal
why is china investing in africa?
- chinese labour is too expensive now - african labour can be exploited
- $2.3 bn railway = easier to move goods and people between cities = more productive
- $530 million dam in guinea = secure power = more exploitation
- their only foreign military base in djibouti
- this is a neo-colonialist relationship
what has a neo-colonial relationship in africa done?
this has caused a dependent relationship
china - minerals, oil, cheap labour, biofuels
africa - FDI, income
how has a neo-colonial relationship with africa benefitted china?
- skilled and technical jobs are often filled by chinese migrants who send home remittances (200,000 in 2014)
- china will provide aid which is exploitative
- infrastructure investment ensures china can export raw materials cheaply and efficiently
- cheap chinese imports have undercut local products
how has a developmental relationship with china affected africa?
- vital jobs are created modernising the economy, energy and industry
- chinese finance has funded 17 HEP projects
- investment deals are accompanied by aid so the benefits of chinese money are felt by more people
- china has invested in the roads, rails and ports
- chinese TNCs bring modern work practices and tech
why is russia moving for the arctic?
socially and economically important due to natural resources
- the melting ice means
coal
oil - 30% of global
gas -30% of global
shipping routes open
how much military buildup has russia put in arctic?
- 50 airfields
- military exercises
- special forces
- 45000 troops
- long range bombers
what are the growing tensions in asia?
afgahnistan - war on terror - USA, russia, unstable
india vs pakistan - cultural and religious confluct
india vs china - border war about SCS entrance
borneo - deforestation and environmental management
taiwan - democratic governance of china
japan vs china - culture war, ww2 USA key ally of china
why is the middle east so unstable?
- new ideology = radical islam as the old systems of military rule were failing to provide growth for young people = people turn to extreme religious leaders
- collapse of arab spring = series of revolutions against old leaders but failed as they tried to introduce democracy which was not compatible
- new borders = erasure of syria-iraq border
what created instability in the middle east?
1) religion - islamic religon is secratarian - shi’ite and suni
2) ethnic - arabs vs persians
3) oil and gas - 65% global
4) young governance - democracy is weal
5) youthful pop - unemployed and poorly educated = radicalism
6) history - new nations
7) natural resources - lacks water and fertile land = conflict
what is basra?
it is a port
- symbolises iraq’s growth and is the economic centre due to the only deep water ports
why is iraq running out of water?
they do not control the flow of rivers
they do not have infrastructure to clean the rivers
- 100,000 people were hospitalised due to water related illnesses (trash and debris blocked waterways)
- many dams have been built over 30 yrs and the less water there is the less diluted the toxins in the water are.
what is the conflict between israel and jordan?
- jordans king announced that israeli farmers are no longer able to lease land
- israels agricultural minister threatened to reduce the water it shares
- dams installed upstream left the jordan river which divides the countries as little more than a trickle
what are the threats to the USA as a superpower?
- poor foreign policy decisions
- no longer a beacon of democracy
- death of american dream
- debts
- populism
- protectionism
- geopolitical overstretch
- isolationism - withdrawal of COP, WHO and NATO
- losing political influence
what are the threats to the EU?
- rise of the right and nationalism
- questions as to what the EU is?
- concerns over unelected leadership of EU
- 2008 economic crisis
what are the negatives of the EU?
- aging fast - 2025 = 20% over 65
- energy security is an issue - relies on oil and gas from russia
- EUs 28 nations have tension - relationships are strained
- youth unemployment was 22% in 2015 - long term unemployment risks a lost generation
- debt amounted to £9.7 tn with £1.6 tn in UK
