Country Profiles: Development and Global Patterns

What is Nigeria's geographical location in Africa?

Located in the Sahel region of West Africa.

What is Nigeria known for in terms of its economy?

It is one of the wealthier countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and has received substantial FDI in the oil industry.

What are two notable supranational organizations that Nigeria is a member of?

OPEC and the African Union.

What is the official language of Nigeria?

English.

What cultural challenges has Nigeria faced?

Numerous armed conflicts between Christians and Muslims, as well as between rival ethnicities (Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba).

What is the economic status of the Democratic Republic of Congo?

It is one of the world's poorest countries despite being rich in natural resources.

What geographic feature allows the Democratic Republic of Congo access to the ocean?

It has a proruption (geographic extension) that prevents it from being landlocked.

What was the colonial history of the Democratic Republic of Congo?

It was a Belgian colony, awarded to Belgium at the Berlin Conference of the late 1800s, with widespread abuse reported under Belgian rule.

What demographic trend is common in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

High birth rates and a young average population age.

What is South Africa's status in the global economic context?

It is part of the global Semi-Periphery and a member of BRICS.

What was the system of racial segregation in South Africa called?

Apartheid, which ended in 1994.

What is the main language spoken in South Africa?

Afrikaans, an Indo-European (Germanic) language.

What historical influences shaped South Africa's cultural makeup?

British and Dutch colonialism, leading to significant populations of people of European and South Asian descent.

What was the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union?

The UK was part of the EU but never part of the Eurozone; it successfully voted to leave the EU in 2020, known as Brexit.

What was the outcome of Scotland's referendum in 2014?

The referendum to secede from the UK failed.

How does Scotland's cultural heritage differ from that of England?

Many Scottish people identify their heritage as Gaelic rather than English.

What is the largest Christian denomination in Scotland?

Protestant.

What is the legacy of colonialism in relation to the English language?

The global dominance of the English language is largely due to the spread of the British Empire.

What is the significance of English in former British colonies?

English remains an important language in many former British colonies across Eastern Africa, South Asia, and other regions.

What does it mean that the UK is multiethnic and multinational?

It means that Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales have the ability to govern themselves in most local affairs.

What was the outcome of the Irish civil war from 1922-1923?

The Catholic part of Ireland gained independence, while Northern Ireland, which has a mixed Catholic and Protestant population, remained part of the UK.

What was 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland?

A period of conflict that lasted until the end of the 20th Century, characterized by violence between Catholics and Protestants, including the use of terrorist tactics by groups like the IRA.

What is a primate city, and which city is an example in the UK?

A primate city is one that is significantly larger than any other city in the country; London is an example.

What is notable about Russia's geography and population?

Russia is the largest country in the world but has a relatively small population, about half that of the United States.

What is Russia's economic status and dependency?

Russia is considered a developing country by the UN, with an economy heavily reliant on selling resources like oil.

How many ethnic groups are recognized in Russia?

There are 32 recognized ethnic groups in substantial numbers within Russia.

What is the main religion among the majority of Russians?

Most Russians are Orthodox Christians.

What geopolitical tensions exist between Russia and Western Europe?

The lack of physical geographic boundaries creates tension, as both sides push their interests into Eastern European states.

What are 'buffer states' in the context of the Cold War?

Countries in Eastern Europe that served as a buffer between Russia and Western Europe during the Cold War.

What territorial claims does Russia have in the Arctic?

Russia and its Arctic neighbors have conflicting claims beyond their 200-mile exclusive economic zones, with some claims recognized by the UN.

What is irredentism in relation to Ukraine and Georgia?

Russia has sent troops into Eastern Ukraine and South Ossetia in Georgia, claiming to protect the interests of Russians living there.

How is Spain positioned economically in Europe?

Spain is located outside the European economic core, making it less developed than wealthier parts of Western Europe like France and Germany.

What is the status of Spain as a developed country?

Spain is still considered a developed country (MDC) despite being less developed than some Western European nations.

What is the significance of Catalonia in Spain?

Catalonia is an autonomous region with a distinct language and growing nationalism, leading to calls for succession from the central government.

What is unique about the Basque region in Spain?

The Basque region has its own language, unrelated to Spanish, and has experienced violent conflict due to nationalism from 1959 to 2011.

What characterizes Iceland as a nation-state?

Iceland is ethnically homogeneous and is consistently ranked among the world's most developed countries according to the UN's HDI.

What demographic trend is observed in Iceland?

Iceland has low birth rates, which is characteristic of a country in stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model (DTM).

What is unique about the language of the group that has lived in relative isolation for 1000 years?

Their language has changed less than any other Germanic language.

What countries make up the Core economic area in Europe?

France, Germany, Belgium, and the region between them.

What is the significance of the European Central Bank?

It sets monetary policy for the Eurozone and is located in Belgium.

What tradeoff do countries in the Eurozone face by using the Euro?

They can no longer print their own currency, leading to a loss of sovereignty.

What sentiment has emerged in response to the perceived loss of sovereignty in Europe?

Anti-globalization sentiment.

What is a primate city, and which city is an example in France?

A primate city is one that is many times larger than any other city in the country; Paris is an example.

What is Mercosur?

An important trade agreement (supranational organization) between countries of South America.

What impact did NAFTA (now USMCA) have on Mexico?

It removed restrictions on the geographic locations of maquiladora factories, leading to an increase in American factories in Mexico.

What are maquiladoras?

American-owned factories in Mexico that manufacture goods for sale in the US.

What areas in Mexico have the highest levels of development?

Border states with the US, coastal areas, and Mexico City.

What is the significance of Mexico City in terms of urban design?

It is a prime example of Spanish colonial city design with a large open central plaza and grid pattern streets.

How does Mexico City compare to other cities in Mexico?

It is a primate city, meaning it is many times larger than any other city in Mexico.

What was the value of remittances sent to Mexico from the United States in 2022?

Nearly 60 billion dollars.

What is the largest migrant stream in the world?

From Mexico to the United States.

What stage of the demographic transition model (DTM) is Mexico in?

Stage 3.

How does Brazil's average income and level of development compare to Mexico?

They are similar.

What was the purpose of building Brasilia as the capital of Brazil?

To encourage people to move to and develop the interior of the country.

Which cities in Brazil are highly populated?

Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

What is the phenomenon of internal migration in Brazil?

Poor migrants move from low economic development areas in the interior/Amazon region to mega cities in the Southeast.

What are favelas?

Slums that radiate out in the peripheral areas of large cities in Brazil.

What is Brazil's status in the global economic context?

It is a member of BRICS and part of the global semi-periphery.

What is the main language spoken in Brazil?

Portuguese.

What is China's economic status in the world?

It is the world's second largest economy (or largest if adjusted for PPP).

What is China's population as of 2023?

Approximately 1.4 billion, making it the second largest population in the world.

What major policy did China implement from 1978 until 2016?

The One Child Policy, which has led to a demographic shift with a large aging population.

What economic challenges is China expected to face in the next 10 to 20 years?

A significant portion of its population will be retiring, with too few young people to replace them, potentially causing economic problems.

What has been a significant trend in China's economy over the past few decades?

Massive growth and becoming the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the developing world.

What are Special Economic Zones in China?

Regions that introduced reforms to attract foreign direct investment, featuring relaxed labor rules, tax exemptions, and infrastructure development.

When did China start implementing Special Economic Zones?

In the 1980s.

What is the geographical focus of most Special Economic Zones in China?

They are primarily located in coastal cities near the Pacific coast.

What was the outcome of the civil war in China in 1949?

The communists took control of mainland China, while the nationalists retreated to Taiwan.

How does China view Taiwan?

As a rogue province that will eventually be brought under mainland control.

What was Hong Kong's status before 1997?

It was under British control for over 150 years.

What economic approach did Britain take towards Hong Kong in the late 20th century?

A 'hands off' approach, allowing it to operate economically with little interference.

What is the current status of Hong Kong under Chinese rule?

It operates with greater independence compared to other parts of China.

What are the two most important languages spoken in China?

Mandarin and Cantonese.

What kind of state is China politically organized as?

A unitary state, where the central government holds more power over local areas.

What cultural influence is often referred to in Chinese culture?

Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for authority and strong centralized governance.

What agricultural reforms occurred in China during the 1970s?

Privatization of farms, which led to increased agricultural productivity and economic growth.

What is a major crop grown in China, particularly in the southeast?

Wet rice, which is grown intensively and often involves terracing hillsides.

What international disputes is China involved in regarding the South China Sea?

Disputes over territorial claims and rights to ocean areas beyond its exclusive economic zone.

What does China claim regarding its rights in the South China Sea?

A historic right to an area that extends beyond its exclusive economic zone, conflicting with claims from other countries.

What countries have started building islands in the South China Sea to expand their EEZs?

China, Japan, and the Philippines.

What is uneven development in the context of China?

China has regions that have developed successfully, particularly the east coast and special economic zones, while the western part of the country lags behind.

As of 2023, which country is the most populated in the world?

India.

How has India's population growth compared to China's?

India's population growth has slowed but not as quickly as China's.

What policy did India avoid that China implemented to control population growth?

India avoided a strict one-child policy.

What unintended consequence arose from antinatalist policies in India and China?

The termination of pregnancies when the gender was determined to be female, leading to a skewed gender ratio favoring boys.

What stage of the demographic transition has India recently moved into?

Stage 3.

How does India's economic development compare to China's?

India has significantly lower levels of economic development than China, currently ranked 135 on the HDI.

Why have many companies moved their call centers and tech support operations to India?

Due to the growing number of skilled professionals with technical degrees and significantly lower labor costs.

Which two cities in India are among the world's 10 largest cities?

Delhi and Mumbai.

What issue do rapidly growing cities in India face, similar to cities in Latin America?

Large squatter settlements inhabited by economically disadvantaged individuals.

What is the predominant religion practiced by over 70% of people in India?

Hinduism.

Where are Muslims in India most concentrated?

In the west, close to the border with Pakistan.

What languages are predominant in northern India?

Indo-European languages, such as Hindi.

What languages are dominant in southern India?

Dravidian languages.

What is the significance of English in India?

It is significant due to British colonization.

What is the holiest site in Hinduism?

The Ganges River.

What was the outcome of India's independence in 1947?

India split into India (Hindu), Pakistan (Muslims), and Bangladesh (Muslims) due to religious conflicts.

What resource issue is critically important to India and its neighbors?

Access to fresh water, exacerbated by the monsoon weather pattern.

What is the Kashmir conflict primarily about?

Cultural majority of Muslims in Kashmir wanting independence from India, while India needs Kashmir for fresh water sources.

What geographical feature contributes to the water supply issues in India?

The Himalaya mountains and glaciers that feed rivers.