6) External forces

demographic characteristics

= who lives in a place and what they're like

include factors like age, gender, education, religion, birth rates, ethnicity, and population

e.g., high working age population and low dependent elderly/young population is likely to experience a demographic dividend, benefits in development and economic growth

e.g., bristol's large afro-caribbean population has led to new diverse cultural opportunities and ideas, including food, music, art, and St Paul's Carnival

relationships and connections

= the ways in which relationships and connections affect continuity and change in the nature of places

... how the demographic and cultural characteristics of places are shaped by shifting flows of:
1. people
2. resources
3. money
4. investments


e.g., Totness has little influence from external factors, and therefore few connections to other areas of the UK as it tries to conserve its local home town environment

e.g., Bristol has multiple exogenous factors that have helped the technology sector develop through investments, including US investments into silicon micro-chips

cultural characteristics

= to do with how people live their lives

e.g., food, customs, clothing, traditions, language, art, etc.

(St Paul's carnival, Bristol)

how external forces affect the demographic and culture of a place

1. flows of people

2. flows of money and investment

3. flows of ideas and resources

e.g., flow of ideas, 1974 KFC advert
"Kentucky for Christmas"
... led to Christmas Day tradition of families going to get KFC

government policies

can affect demographic, cultural, social and economic characteristics of a place

e.g., chinas one child policy,
social media ban and censorship

e.g., regeneration and urban greening in Bristol
... gentrification of harbour side

government polices and change

e.g., Iran's media ban

- internet shut off in parts of Tehran and Kurdistan (regional government policy)

... blocked access to instagram and WhatsApp to curb a growing protest movement that relies of social media

- 7 protestors confirmed dead, authorities deny any involvement

by 2008, Iran blocked access to over 5,000,000 websites as content deemed immoral and antisocial
(Netflix, YouTube)

January 2025:

• Access to WhatsApp and Google Play has been restored after more than two years of restrictions.

• lots of VPN use

cultural change

e.g., Peru

Peruvian government introduced vigorous controls over coca leaf cultivation that has led to the decline of a traditional farming production

(coca = key ingredient for cocaine)

... indigenous people no longer allowed to grow or harvest coca leaves, ancient tradition from Incan and Quechuan societies being erased due to drug trafficking concerns

(used in festivals, religious practices, ceremonies, medicinal purposes, etc. by native Peruvians)

socio economic change

Wembley regeneration project (local)
... 2010 -2020

urban regeneration scheme, renewing long neglected space by providing jobs + improving facilities

- more than £70 million invested to upgrade roads, rail and pedestrian routes

- neighboured renewal teams worked with residents to address crime, community engagement, employment and education