SUPERPOWERS - CASE STUDIES

Chinas polar silk road investment

• Part of chinas belt road initiative

• Shipping and investment route across the arctic

• Aims to use melting arctic sea ice to create shorter trade routes between east Asia, Europe and N. America

• Up to 40% faster than suez Cana, route

• Cheaper transport and access to new markets

• Increases chinas global power and presence - geopolitical influence

• china is trying to partnership with Russia to increase impact in the arctic

• 30% of the worlds undiscovered gas, and 13% of oil resource, are in the arctic

USE POLAR SILK ROAD AS AN EXAMPLE OF:

• globalisation

• Shifting power

• Climate change creating new economic opportunities

South China Sea

• one of the worlds most contested maritime regions

• Major global trade route - about 1/3 of global shipping passes through

What china has done:

• built artificial islands on reefs (e.g. Spratly islands)

• Constructed airstrips, ports and radar systems

• Increased military presence

Why this matters for superpowers:

• china: expanding regional dominance and protecting trade routes

• USA: challenges chinas claims through freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs)

• ASEAN countries: risk losing territory and resource

Political impacts:

• rising tensions between china, USA and neighbouring states

• 2016 international court ruling rejected chinas claims (china ignored it)

Economic impacts:

• disruption risks to global trade

• Competition over valuable resources

Environmental impacts:

• coral reef destruction from island building

• Overfishing threatening biodiversity

USE SOUTH CHINA SEA TO SHOW:

• China as an emerging superpower

• Territorial disputes and hard power

• Geopolitical tension between superpowers

NATO (North Atlantic treaty organisation)

• Military and political alliance

• Formed in 1949 by countries in North America and Europe

• Promotes collective security

IMPORTANCE:

• core principle is collective defence —> an attack on one member is an attack on all (article 5)

• Helps deter aggression, especially from hostile states

• Shared standards

• Strengthens military cooperation

• Prevents large scale conflict

• 55% of global military spend

LIMITATIONS:

• NATO can only act if member countries agree —> can slow down decisions

• Limited influence outside its all

• Dependence on major powers —> specifically USA

• Internal disagreements

• No standing army

The United Nations security council (maintaining peace and security)

• international organisation made up of 193 countries

• Created in 1945 after world war 2 to help manage global problems

• Maintains peace and security

• Coordinates responses to global issues e.g climate change, poverty and health (e.g WHO)

STRENGTHS:

• Addresses global environment issues e.g coordinated the Paris agreement in 2015 where countries agreed to limit global temperature rise

LIMITATIONS:

• Decision making can be slow because agreements require collaboration between many countries with different priorities

• USA and China have greater influence on decisions, reducing fairness and effectiveness

• Impact is limited by political disagreements and unequal power between member states

Countries that can veto any decisions (because they are permanent members):

• USA

• Uk

• Russia

• China

• France

Why is china seeking a greater presence in Africa?

ECONOMIC REASONS:

• Africa provides china with access to raw materials (oil, copper and cobalt) - essential for chinas industrial growth and manufacturing sector

• Africa also offers new markets for Chinese goods and opportunities for Chinese companies to invest in infrastructure projects

• Africas investment in ports and transport links support the BRI, improving trade routes and increasing Chinas control over key global supply chains

POLITICAL REASONS:

• increasing involvement in Africa helps China expand its global influence

• Africa offers loans, aid and investment with fewer political conditions than western countries

  —> therefore China strengthens relationships and gains support from African states in international organisations e.g. United Nations

HOWEVER…

• Some African countries become too economically dependent on China due to heavy reliance on Chinese investment

• Trade imbalance between China and Africa

  —> Africa imports more from China than it exports to China

USE CHINA AND AFRICA TO SHOW:

• Chinas rise as a superpower has increased its influence in the global economy (China investing in africas raw materials)

The growing importance of India

• India is an emerging superpower - due to rapid economic growth and demographic advantages

• 7.5% growth rate - higher than China

• Member of major IGOs such as G20 and plays an active role in international decision making

• India has the largest and one of the youngest populations - provides a large workforce and consumer market

• India has one of the largest armed forces globally

LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES:

• India faces high levels of poverty, regional inequality and environmental pollution

• Therefore India’s rise as a superpower is uneven and not fully realised

Hamas - Israel war

BACKGROUND

• WW1 —> increase in Jewish immigration

• 1967 —> 6 day war, Israel vs several Arab countries - Israel defeated the Arab armies and captured multiple territories such as:

  • Gaza Strip (from Egypt)

  • West Bank and East Jerusalem

• 2005 —> Israel withdrew from Gaza Strip (but carried on controlling the boarder)

• 1987 —> creation of Hamas - their goals included:

  • resisting Israel control

  • Establishing an Islamic Palestinian state

TENSIONS HAVE BEEN THERE FOR DECADES — SINCE WW1

The Arctic (contested spheres of influence)

BACKGROUND

• The Arctic is a region of growing global importance

  • due to its natural resources (zinc, gold and diamonds), strategic location and environmental sensitivity

  • Several countries are looking for control / influence over that Arctic

• Sea ice is declining - 12.6% per decade → This is opening up new shipping routes and areas for exploration e.g. Northern sea route (reduces travel distance between Europe and Asia by 40%, compared to Suez)

TENSIONS

• Players: Russia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, USA and China

• Caused by overlapping ownership of territory

• The US views Arctic dominance as critical, to counter Russia and Chinese influence

  • Also, 4 million people (including 40 different indigenous groups) depend on ecosystems for subsistence (having just enough to survive)

Crimea (Russia - Ukraine war) - contested spheres of influence

BACKGROUND

• 2014 - Russia annexed crimea and took control over it

  • As a result of overlapping ownership of territory - both countries claim the same areas as their own

  • Historically, Crimea was part of Ukraine, but now it is controlled by Russia

WHY IS CRIMEA IMPORTANT

• Strategic location → gives access to the Black Sea and Mediterranean, important for Russias navy

• Economic importance → potential oil and gas reserves offshore, fishing and tourism industry

• Political importance → strengthens Russias regional influence

IMPACTS

POLITICAL:

• Increased conflict between Russia and Ukraine

  • Contributed to escalation in 2022

ECONOMIC

• Sanctions harmed Russias economy

• Ukraine lost resources in 2022

SOCIAL

• Some residents displaced

• Tensions between ethnic groups