GI6 - Political Outcomes Case Studies

Question 1

Trade Bloc

Answer 1

EU

• 500mn people, 28 countries (to be 27)
• citizens work, study, travel, retire anywhere EU
• Goods (single market, no levies), services, people, capital moved freely
• Money moved bank anywhere EU
• Houses bought + sold Eu citizens EU
• Free health care travelling EU
• originally response growth trade; now political
• euro (might eventually all same currency)
• Single Market = reduction price (40% drop price phone calls 2000 to 2006), 3mn new jobs created
• Schengen = strengthen EU external borders, no checks internal (group 26 countries no passport/immigration controls - UK not in)
• Erasmus+ programme to tackle youth unemployment; EU Youth Strategy promotes equal opportunities in education + employment
• regulations environmental / pollution problems e.g. food safety rules, cigarettes packing warnings, disposal e-waste
• Charter of fundamental rights; cooperate police etc.
• European Parliament decides laws/ supervises EU work

Question 2

Loss of Sovereignty

Answer 2

Britain + EU

• EU = law making to Brussels from UK gov (loss power)
• not like homogenisation of laws
• 300yrs constitution free external influence until EU membership = upheaval
• feel Gov cease sovereign; GB cease sovereign state
• European commission sets laws in motion but must be agreed by politicians each member state
• (Germany 84% laws adopted EU origin)
• (Lithuanian gov EU laws directly affect = 30%)
• 16,980 EU acts in force; 2007 gained 2,017 (where annually gain 942 1998-2007)
• Lisbon treaty = legislative impact EU grow - moves national to EU level things like foreign policy, defence (largest transfer powers EU history)
• Law EU route rarely scrutinised + can’t be changed (broken democracy) but GB representations discussions
• Membership EU = accept will majority

Question 3

EU and flow of goods

Answer 3

EU extending tariffs shoes China/Vietnam 2006

• Chinese tariffs = 16.5%
• Vietnamese = 10%
• some opposed - damages trade + reputation + makes consumers pay more (Eu protectionism bad)
• benefits EU shoemakers but signals to failing European companies be protected competition EU
• basis = no/lower tariff = chinese shoe’s flood EU market + out-compete so bring prices up make uncompetitive

Question 4

EU and flow of labour

Answer 4

EU tightens border controls in Schengen

• EU proposal allow Govs recall border controls faced with elevated flows migrants
• 25,000 illegal migrants N Africa arrive Italy
• Influx = Fr/I tension (I complains not getting help from EU partners with influx people fleeing political turmoil + violence in Tunisia + Libya) - Fr stopped migrants arriving by train from Italy
• may need temp limited border controls under exceptional circumstances Schengen

Question 5

EU and flow of capital

Answer 5

EU/UK

• world’s largest trading bloc worth £3.17 trillion year
• ‘leave’ cite cost membership drawnback - ‘remain’ trade + investment benefits outweigh cost
• EU huge potential UK businesses (access wealth international expertise + investment; array cultures etc)
• need localised sales strategy - EU provides insight cultures

Question 6

Loss of Sovereignty - TNCs

Answer 6

Walmart

• world’s largest retailer
• 400+bn annual revenues eclipse GDPs over 170 countries (e.g. Singapore $300bn GDP, Wal-mart $485bn GDP)
• 2,100,000 employees
• 2010 revenues = $421bn
• 10x sales Amazon
• 60% US pop lives within 5miles Walmart; 96% 20miles

Question 7

TNCs dominance

Answer 7

US multinationals

• less than 1% US companies, account 1/3 growth GDP
• 50% nation’s exports; over 1/3 imports
• helped pull global economy out recession
• US one most attractive markets multinational companies but emerging markets = competition
• Companies pay 35% income tax, trump reduce to 20% to encourage industry back = employment

Question 8

TNCs + Marketing

Answer 8

Apple

• Inspires feelings in customers - resembles religious cult store opening - no comment rumours = stirs media frenzy - play press = air of mystery marketing strategy
• customers fly huge distance to queue days advance
• keep everything secretive
• staff whip up a frenzy

Red Bull

• Origins Thai drink - westernise tastes (carbonated e sugar)
• never discuss marketing techniques
• purchase companies/ teams outright - no sponsorship = complete control/ identity loss
• Austrian football team history/ identity erased (Red Bull Salzburg)
• 25% revenue spent marketing
• sells personality

Question 9

Anti-globalisation Movements

Answer 9

People’s Global Action
- network for spreading info + coordinating actions globally

Focus on the Global South (NGO 1995)

• Aims = dismantle oppressive economic + political structures/institutions / create liberating ones + promote demilitarisation + peace
• Paradigm of deglobalisation = basis work - transform global economy centred TNCs to centred people, communities, nations

Question 10

Nationalism

Answer 10

UK

• BNP policies - halt all immigration to UK, exit EU, increase tax global cooperations, increasing teaching GB history, charge foreign trucks UK roads, bank hols for national days
• BNP 1.9% vote 2010, 2 seats European parliament, 1 seat London Assembly, 1 council seat
• BNP some fighting globalisation, most racist + harm multi-cultural society reputation
• Britain First = patriotic political party formed 2011
• campaigns against multiculturalism, islamism, immigration, abortion
• 2016 petition to ban group
• Birmingham’s first Muslim MP condemned group
• propaganda condemned - used photoshop / false videos push ideas

Question 11

Secularisation

Answer 11

France

• 1905 law separated state + religion = neutrality state + freedom religious expression
• 2004 voted ban religious symbols = students can’t wear headscarves, crosses etc. to make students equal / promote idea being french
• 2010 voted ban full face veil public (246 to 1) - improve integration immigrant groups + stop suppression women - impacted 2000 women - fines women 150 euros + prison sentences men forced women wear 1 year / 30,000 euro fine
• president backed ban
• Niqab + burka seen as threats women’s rights / secular nature state
• controversial - anti-Islamic / freedom choice removed
• combat globalisation of religion / promote Fr cultural values

Question 12

Emiratisation

Answer 12

UAE

• youth unemployment Middle East
• UAE = rapid development but small pop = majority labour force foreign expatriates
• 7mn pop, 15% Emirati
• concern = Emiratisation = increase locals in work at expense foreign (less than 1% private sector jobs Emirati currently)
• emiratisation.org provides up-to-date info jobs
• news exclusively about emiratisation, monthly newsletter, careers fairs etc
• aim increase education / skill level Emirati
• no. workers increased gov jobs (high pay + short hours preferable)
• 90% jobs UAE done expatriates

Question 13

Resurgence of Nationalism

Answer 13

Ireland

• 11th (86.92) KOF index = globalised
• unique sports (Gaelic Football, hurling)
• campaign buy “guaranteed Irish” products
• Gaelic League (NGO) promotes Irish lang - helped campaign make Irish official Eu lang
• Irish compulsory school = young gen speak Irish (68.7% age 10-14; 66.3% 15-19; 51.2% 20-24)
• English rule = Irish lang banned until 1871
• Gaeltacht region = 72.6% fluent Irish
• 83% Cork speak Irish
• Waterford county 1000 irish speakers (77.7% pop Gaeltacht)
• Dublin just 34.6% speak Irish
• 2002 = 1.5m Irish speakers; over 2mn non-Irish
• Irish war Independence 1919-21; Irish Civil war 1922-23 - IRA fought for Irish independence from UK - refusal speak anything but gaelic, events including catholic ceremonies held secrecy

Question 14

Resource Nationalism

Answer 14

Ireland (oil/gas exploration)

• Gov seeks make it cheaper/easier for multi-nationals to search for oil and promises to increase stake Irish people receive in profits
• discontent Irish people over gov. handling natural resources + state assets = protests - feel giving away valuable resources - e.g. corrupt contracts - shell; proposed lease Ireland’s state forestry body Coillte; 2013 plans build large fish farm pantry Bay
• increasing state ownership + rising resource nationalism main threats to global oil supplies - power shift state owned oil companies
• small famers suffering hands TNCs - share of profits declining
• need citizens force gov promote change - get gov engage resource nationalism (gov allowing TNCs dominate rn)
• TNCs profit not Irish economy

Question 15

Migration Control

Answer 15

USA/Mexico + Trump’s Wall

• 2/3 illegal immigrants US in 8 states
• illegal immigrants 5% US population
• 2/3 illegal immigrants work - 5% workforce
• jobs little education / official licenses
• 2006 700miles fencing built on 2000 border
• 1993 14miles border San Diego fences
• Arizona Desert radar towers, high def cameras, ground sensors
• planned 492miles fencing bypass environmental reviews
• Fences Texas go through private property = resistance
• apprehensions border lowest level 15 years
• 11.5-12mn illegal immigrants USA 2006
• Border entry: Visa overstay, Fraudulent marriage, Border Crossing (200,000-400,000 year) incl smugglers, entry by sea ports (10/283 chinese crossing died 1993), slavery (50,000 trafficked annually), prostitution
• border fencing/ enforcement = flow move to rural areas
• increasing tax payer cost per arrest $300 1992 - $1700 2002
• 2006 vote blockade 860 miles
• 2007 funds 700miles new fencing
• building wall impossible - rough terrain, mountains etc
• building wall cost $15-25bn
• tax cost maintain/staff wall
• 27-40% undocumented immigrant came plane / overstay visas = wall won’t stop
• 240% increase immigrants border control = not return home
• illegal border crossings all time low - 337,117 2015 - 1,676,438 2000
• 1/30 USA = unauthorised immigrants
• Trump plans deport 2-3mn (not possible)
• 178,000 illegal immigrants w criminal records
• 11mn undocumented immigrants US
• Trump promise wall + deportations but hard deliver
• 1mn use border day, 400,000 cars, 15,000 lorries