MIGRATION - contested borders

Question 1

Why is Crimea strategically important to Russia?

Answer 1

It provides a warm‑water naval port and control over Black Sea trade routes.

Question 2

Why does Russia want a land bridge to Crimea?

Answer 2

To secure access to its naval port if Ukraine joins the EU or NATO.

Question 2

What percentage of Crimean voters supported joining Russia in 2014?

Answer 2

95.5% supported re‑joining Russia.

Question 3

How many deaths and refugees resulted from the 2021–2022 Russian invasion?

Answer 3

Over 500,000 deaths and 5.6 million refugees.

Question 4

How many Ukrainians fled Crimea and Donbas after the 2014 referendum?

Answer 4

850,000 Ukrainians fled.

Question 5

When was Crimea transferred from Russia to Ukraine within the USSR?

Answer 5

1954

Question 6

Where is Russia’s Black Sea Fleet based?

Answer 6

Sevastopol port in Crimea.

Question 7

Who controlled Kashmir in 1925?

Answer 7

Maharaja Hari Singh, empowered by the British.

Question 8

What percentage of Kashmir’s land and population does India control?

Answer 8

India controls 55% of land and 70% of the population.

Question 9

why is Kashmir contested?

Answer 9

Kashmir is a deeply contested, heavily militarized region primarily between India and Pakistan

• religious, ideological, and strategic factors

Question 10

How many major wars have India and Pakistan fought over Kashmir?

Answer 10

Three wars: 1947, 1965, and 1999.Three wars: 1947, 1965, and 1999.

Question 11

What natural resources make Kashmir economically valuable?

Answer 11

5.9 million tonnes of lithium, 33% of India’s graphite, 23% of its marble, and 14% of its gypsum.

Question 12

What is the Line of Control (LoC)?

Answer 12

The ceasefire line established in 1948 and formalised in 1971.

Question 13

What recent military escalation occurred in Kashmir in 2025?

Answer 13

Armed clashes and airstrikes in April–May 2025, ending with a ceasefire on 10 May 2025.

Question 14

How many Palestinians and Israelis have been killed since 2023?

Answer 14

69,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis.

Question 15

How much has Gaza’s GDP declined in early 2025?

Answer 15

GDP declined by 86% in the first half of 2025.

Question 16

How many Israeli settlements exist in the West Bank and East Jerusalem?

Answer 16

Over 250 settlements with nearly 750,000 settlers.

Question 16

How many Palestinian homes have been demolished since 1948?

Answer 16

Over 130,000 homes.

Question 17

How many Palestinians were displaced during the Nakba?

Answer 17

750,000 Palestinians.

Question 18

What percentage of UN member states recognise Palestine as a state?

Answer 18

81% of UN member states.

Question 19

How many registered Palestinian refugees exist today?

Answer 19

Over 5 million registered refugees.

Question 20

What policy encourages Jewish immigration to Israel?

Answer 20

The Law of Return (1950s).

Question 21

Why is Jerusalem a major source of conflict?

Answer 21

Both Israel and Palestine claim it as their capital.

Question 22

What is the main cause of the Kashmir conflict?

Answer 22

The 1947 Partition and disputed accession of Kashmir to India.

Question 22

What treaty governs water sharing between India and Pakistan?

Answer 22

The Indus Waters Treaty.

Question 23

Why is Kashmir strategically important for water security?

Answer 23

Control of Kashmir’s mountains determines access to downstream river systems.

Question 24

What prevents a Kashmir referendum from occurring?

Answer 24

India insists the region must first be cleared of ‘irregulars’.

Question 25

What percentage of Kashmir does Pakistan control?

Answer 25

Pakistan controls 30% of the territory.

Question 26

What percentage of Kashmir does China control?

Answer 26

China controls 15% of the territory.

Question 27

What is Zionism?

Answer 27

A political movement beginning in the 1880s advocating a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Question 28

What blockade restricts movement in and out of Gaza?

Answer 28

The Israeli–Egyptian blockade.

Question 29

what did Cyprus do to intimidate Turkish Cypriots?

Answer 29

Purchased a Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in 1997 creating the Cyprus missile crisis (1997-1998)

Question 30

what did Turkey do to 'claim' northern Cyprus?

Answer 30

TRNC project: ​ Delivers 75 million cubic meters of freshwater annually from Turkey to North Cyprus ​ 106km long underwater pipeline ​ Cost 1.6 billion Turkish Liras

Question 31

what is the international involvement in Cyprus?

Answer 31

There is a UN patrolled buffer zone separating the two zones

Question 32

describe the population changes in Cyprus

Answer 32

- 1/3 of all people moved - An estimated 100,000- 150,000 Greek Cypriots were moved/forced from the north to the south - 150,000 Turkish Cypriots from the south to the north

Question 33

what is the disagreement in Taiwan about?

Answer 33

- China claims sovereignty over Taiwan + regards it as a rebel province which needs to be united with the mainland: 'one china' policy - china believes it has the right to use force if Taiwan declares independence under their 2004 anti-succession law

Question 34

how was Taiwan formed?

Answer 34

after the Chinese civil war the nationalist government alongside 1-2 million people fled to Taiwan in1949 after defeat + set up their own government

Question 35

how has the Taiwanese government attempted to promote nationalism?

Answer 35

- by promoting democracy as part of their national identity - teaching indigenous languages

Question 36

what escalated the tensions over Taiwan?

Answer 36

- china exercising air and naval exercises around Taiwan in 2024 - 2024 election of president William Lai: china sees his political stance as more assertive and problem causing

Question 37

what statistic shows how Taiwan could not withstand a Chinese military attack?

Answer 37

chinas gov. = 12x larger than Taiwans

Question 38

how have Chinese/Taiwanese demographics changed in Taiwan?

Answer 38

1992: - Chinese = 25% - Taiwanese = 18% 2022: - Chinese = 2% - Taiwanese = 63%

Question 39

what is a global impact of a possible conflict between china and Taiwan?

Answer 39

would largely impact the global technology supply chain - produces 90% of advanced computer chips

Question 40

which development theory is Taiwan an example of?

Answer 40

modernisation theory

Question 41

what happened in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus?

Answer 41

- estimated 4500-6000 on the Greek-Cypriot side - The large displacement of Greek Cypriots from the north was considered ethnic cleansing - 1600 Greek Cypriots are still counted as missing persons, after being detained and not released. ​ - The high rate of rape resulted in temporary permissions of abortion in Cyprus by the Cypriot Orthodox Church

Question 42

what was the role of colonialism in the Turkish Cypriot war?

Answer 42

- British reinforced ethnic identity which categorized citizens strictly by religion and ethnicity which separated them politically - Britain failed to develop a strong economy so left both communities in poverty

Question 43

list the supporters of the Republic of Cyprus

Answer 43

- The UN recognizes this side as the sole legitimate government ​ - The EU, joined in 2004 represented by the government in the South ​ - Greece advocates for the removal of Turkish troops

Question 44

list the supporters of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (North)

Answer 44

- Turkey: provides essential economic, political and military support to the TRNC ​ - Organisation for Turkish States (OTS)

Question 45

describe why there is a dispute between Northern and Southern Cyrpus

Answer 45

Dispute between the Greeks in the south who want Enosis and Turkish north of the country want recognition of the Turkish republic through Takism (the Turkish nationalist and sucessionist movement)

Question 46

how has the UN contributed to the militarisation of Cyprus?

Answer 46

- UN- patrolled buffer zone remains “frozen” (900 total personnel) and in place - rapid militarisation of the island - the republic of cyprus have secured 1.18 billion euros of investment for drones, missiles and French military hardware the EU’s SAFE programme ​ - Turkey’s alignment with Isreal in the Isreal-Gaza war has seen Cyprus receiving new Israeli made air defence systems in 2025

Question 47

list some different points for the question 'Why are some states contested?' Give examples.

Answer 47

- establishment of borders post-colonially + states wanting to break free e.g. Rwanda + Taiwan - the value of the territory e.g. Kashmir + Arctic deep sea mining - geostrategic locations e.g. Russia wanting its Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol - religious/ethnic divides e.g. iraq/Iran

Question 48

why is it difficult for the USA to get involved with the Taiwan-China conflict?

Answer 48

has connections with both: on the one hand the USA does not want to support Taiwan openly as it would increase tensions with china: - China is the greatest threat to American hegemony BUT ties with Taiwan would aid the USA as: - it is a great Strategic Defence Position against China - Trade with Taiwan would be beneficial

Question 49

what has the USA done to 'sit on the fence' in the Taiwan-China conflict?

Answer 49

maps produced by the US: - Taiwan is the same colour as china - Taiwan is unitalics - suggests it is an 'island' of china - Taiwan is also in bold - suggests it is a 'dependancy or area of special sovereignty - but Taiwan is not in uppercase which you would use for a country name

Question 50

how is Turkey physically securing its claim on northern Cyprus?

Answer 50

- through the TRNC Project: a 106km underwater pipeline - delivers 75 million cubic meters of water from turkey to north Cyprus

Question 51

what was the Annan plan? when was it? what was the outcome?

Answer 51

a plan suggested by the UN that Cyprus should be unified into the 'united republic of Cyprus' - 2004 - rejected

Question 52

what happened at the Argaki village?

Answer 52

- in Cyprus - 1400 greek Cypriots living there were forced to move -> they were displaced