Superpowers EQ3

Question 1

How can resources be contested?

Answer 1

Through land disputes, ownership of land masses and extents of EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)

Question 2

Why is the Arctic a region with a contested sphere of influence?

Answer 2

-Natural resources (13% of all oil, 30% of undiscovered gas)
-Fishing
-Shipping routes, the North Sea Passage (Russia) and North West Passage (USA+ Canada)
-Military eg. Russia reopening 50 bases

Question 3

Why did Russia invade Ukraine in 2022?

Answer 3

-Claimed by Putin to be a ‘special operation’ to free Ukraine from oppression

-Putin wants to stop aligning with the EU and NATO

-Putin is not happy with NATO’s Eastern expansion in what he sees as Russia’s sphere of influence

Question 4

Impacts of the Russian-Ukraine war 2022

Answer 4

-Global price rises for oil, gas and food
->8 million international refugees and over 8 million internally displaced people
-8000-100,000 people killed
-18 million people in need of humanitarian assistance

Question 5

Why does China want the South China Sea?

Answer 5

It is a global shipping route accounting for 2.1% global trade ($3.37 trillion)

Militarily important to defend the country and economically important due to oil/gas reserves

Question 6

China’s island chain strategy

Answer 6

strategy to occupy deserted island and artificially build larger or new islands eg. Spratly Islands

This violates UNCLOS treaty

Question 7

Positive impacts of China’s involvement in Africa (briefly)

Answer 7

-Increased quality of life and infrastructure
-Increased trade and economic growth
-Modern technology and work practices given
-Political ties with China
-China could provide funding eg. 17 HEP projects since 2000

Question 8

Negative impacts of China’s involvement in Africa (briefly)

Answer 8

-Chinese loans, don’t care about human rights
-Skilled/technical jobs filled by Chinese migrants
-Temporary jobs for locals
-Debt
-Chinese imports undercut local producers
-Loss of natural resources

Question 9

What is China’s belt and road initiative?

Answer 9

A global network of roads, ports and railways to further connect China with the rest of the World, costing $4-8 trillion up to 2049, increasing trade efficiency and reducing dependency on shipping

Question 10

Geopolitical impacts of the BRI

Answer 10

-Corrupt governments that don’t fund projects
-Strengthens ties with some countries, however troubles other countries with China’s growth
-Could reform huge areas of the economic/geopolitical map

Question 11

What are possible impacts that rising tensions in the Middle East have on superpowers?

Answer 11

Oil and natural resources may increase in price
Refugee crisis, causing political tension
Increased military spending
Risk of terrorism attacks

Question 12

What are the ways the USA became a superpower?

Answer 12

-TNCs
-IGOs
-Alliances
-Aid

Question 13

What are the expenses of a superpower to maintain their influence?

Answer 13

-Nuclear weapons
-Funding IGOs
-Military spending
-Space exploration
-Cultural influence
-Aid spending

Question 14

What are the futures of superpowers?

Answer 14

-Unipolar (dominated by USA)
-Multipolar (powers of regional influence)
-Bipolar (US and China)

Question 15

2 types of resources

Answer 15

-Human Resources
-Physical resources

Question 16

Why are tensions in the Arctic rising?

Answer 16

-Global warming so more accessible for ships
-Oil reserves running out so higher demand for Arctic oil