7.7 Contesting Global Influence

Question 1

What is the environmental importance of the arctic

Answer 1

• holds 30% of oil and 13% of gas
• tundra is biodiverse and home to 25% of the worlds trees
• acts as a carbon sink (carbon offsetting) due to trees, permafrost, and cold waters

Question 2

What is the current
economic importance of the arctic

Answer 2

• 1 million tonnes of fish caught 1950-2006
• 1.5million tourists a year

Question 3

What is the political importance of the arctic

Answer 3

• arctic countries can control trade there as ice melts for longer allowing larger ships through
• estimated to be able to transport 1.4milllion 20ft containers by 2030

Question 4

Who claims the arctic

Answer 4

Russia, USA, Canada, Denmark, and Norway
All claim up to 200nautical miles offshore but these areas overlap

China also claims to be a near arctic state

Question 5

What is the importance of Tibet

Answer 5

• plateau provides water
• protects china from Indian invasion due to lack of infrastructure

Question 6

What are the plans for managing the arctic

Answer 6

1. Business as usual
2. Arctic framework
3. Arctic global sanctuary

Question 7

Describe the business as usual arctic management plan

Answer 7

• national govs manage fish stocks with quotas
• they can protect areas as national parks
• issues are self regulated
• disputes settled through bilateral agreements

Question 8

Describe the Arctic framework management plan

Answer 8

• intergovernmental forum made up of the Arctic council (nations with arctic borders)
• aims to remote cooperation with indigenous communities

Question 9

Describe the arctic global sanctuary management plan

Answer 9

• launched by greenpeace
• campaigning for bands on oil drilling and industrial fishing

Question 10

What are the consequences of counterfeiting

Answer 10

• $300billion lost in the USA each year
• the production of counterfeit electricals or cars isn’t monitored closely making them unsafe
• 63% of counterfeit goods originate in china meaning they’re not trusted trading partners

Question 11

What is a sphere of influence

Answer 11

The area over which a country feels it has influence outside its own borders

Question 12

Summarise the history of tensions in Ukraine

Answer 12

• since the fall of the USSR some Ukrainian leaders have been pro-Russia and others oppose it
• 1997 friendship treaty of mutual respect
• 2004 Russia cuts of oil and gas to Ukraine
• protests in the east where the people felt culturally aligned with Russia
• 2014 Russia annex crimea after seizing the airport and 97% of locals voting to join Russia
• parts the east start claiming themselves republics eg Donetsk
• 2022 Russia invades Ukraine - putin describes it as liberalising eastern Ukrainians

Question 13

Why is Ukraine important

Answer 13

• old soviet factories allowing exports of agricultural goods
• access to water and oil
• on east/west divide
• Black Sea is important for trade and resources

Question 14

Summarise the Israel-Palestine conflict

Answer 14

• 1948 israel gains independence and the first Arab-Israeli war begins leading to them seizing some Palestinian territory
• Israel controls Gaza and West Bank following 6 day war
• uprisings from the Palestinians following violence towards them lead to West Bank barrier being created
• hamas gains control of Gaza in 2006
• Israel invades Gaza in 2014
• 2017 trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and says they have sovereignty over Gaza - criticised by UN
• ongoing war since 2023 October 7th attack killing 1200 Israelis
• several ceasefires agreed and breached

Question 15

Why are Gaza and the West Bank contested

Answer 15

• religious ties from both sides

Question 16

Who’s involved in the conflict in the South China Sea

Answer 16

Brunei, china, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, vietnam

Question 17

What is the importance of the South China Sea

Answer 17

• over 30% of global trade passes through
• supports coral reefs and 3500 fish species
• 12% of fish caught globally are here

Question 18

Explain the conflict over the spratly islands

Answer 18

• Claimed by china, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam
• china has built islands to expand their exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
• china military there restricts the US Navy’s ability to move into the Indian Ocean - US navy supported by Philippines
• all but Taiwan agreed UNCLOS which governs maritime areas

Question 19

What are the social impacts of conflict in the South China Sea

Answer 19

• militarisation makes the area feel unsafe and reduces government spending on social services - many of the involved countries have high inequality for healthcare/education, and food insecurity
• sailors and fishermen experience harassment or intimidation

Question 20

What are the environmental impacts of conflict in the South China Sea

Answer 20

• artificial islands disrupt ecosystems and destroy coral reef systems
• overlapping fishing zones and illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing leads to overfishing
• fuel leakages from military outposts/vessels

Question 21

What are the social impacts of conflict in Ukraine

Answer 21

• over 35,000 civilian casualties
• refugees in Europe or internally displaced
• infrastructure destroyed in Kyiv including power plants, factories, and farmland
• food prices and global energy prices rose due to sanctions on Russia

Question 22

What are the environmental impacts of conflict in Ukraine

Answer 22

• contamination of soil and water by heavy metals, explosives, chemicals, industrial leakages from destroyed sites
• dams, sewage treatment plants, and pipelines damaged leading to water shortages
• carbon output of producing/transporting arms