Paper 3 Geography

What are the top 10 countries with the most amount of miltary soilders ?

1. China

2. India

3. USA

4. North Korea

5. Russia

6. Ukrain

7. Pakistan

8. Iran

9. South Korea

10. Vietnam

USA

USA

• Military: Largest in world, nuclear, advanced tech.

• GDP: £23 trillion, top global economy.

• HDI: 0.929, very high human development.

• Notes: Global superpower, strong influence worldwide.

India

India

• Military: 2nd largest army, nuclear weapons.

• GDP: £3.5 trillion, fast-growing economy.

• HDI: 0.674, medium human development.

• Notes: Large population, rising global influence.

Japan

Japan

• Military: Advanced tech, strong navy, limited army.

• GDP: £4.3 trillion, high-income economy.

• HDI: 0.919, very high human development.

• Notes: High-tech industry, strong global economy.

What is Geopolitical power?

Geopolitical power is the ability of a country to influence or control global or regional politics, economics, and security through its military strength, economic resources, diplomacy, and strategic position.

What is meant by Soft Power?

Soft power is the ability of a country to influence others through attraction rather than force. This includes culture, values, diplomacy, education, and media.

What is meant by Hard Power?

Hard power is the ability of a country to influence others using force or money. This includes military strength, economic pressure, or sanctions.

Examples of Soft Power being exerted

• USA: Hollywood movies, music, and tech brands (Apple, Google) shaping global culture.

• Japan: Anime, video games, and Japanese cuisine increasing cultural influence worldwide.

• UK: BBC, English language, and universities (Oxford, Cambridge) attracting international respect.

• South Korea: K-pop and Korean dramas boosting global popularity (“Korean Wave”).

• France: Fashion, art, and cuisine promoting French culture globally.

Examples of Hard Power being exerted

• USA: Military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan; economic sanctions on countries like Iran.

• Russia: Military action in Ukraine; using energy exports to influence Europe.

• China: South China Sea military presence; trade restrictions or tariffs to enforce policies.

• Saudi Arabia: Military involvement in Yemen; controlling oil prices to influence global markets.

• India: Maintaining a large army with nuclear weapons; border security enforcement.

Why is having many boarders good and bad?

A border is the line that separates one country from another.

Good (Advantages):

• Trade opportunities: More borders = more neighbours to trade with.

• Cultural exchange: Exposure to different cultures can boost tourism, ideas, and innovation.

• Strategic alliances: More potential partners for security and diplomacy.

Bad (Disadvantages):

• Security challenges: More borders to defend increase military costs.

• Conflict risk: Higher chance of disputes or wars with neighbours.

• Border management costs: Customs, immigration, and policing are more complex and expensive.

Why does a big population not always have the best economic power?

Having a large population doesn’t automatically mean a country has strong economic power because economic strength depends on productivity, resources, technology, and infrastructure, not just the number of people. A big population can even be a burden if there aren’t enough jobs, education, or healthcare to support everyone.

Why does having a big population help strengthen influence?

Having a big population can strengthen a country’s influence because it provides:

• Large workforce: Boosts production and economic potential.

• Big domestic market: Attracts trade and investment.

• Military potential: More people to recruit.

• Global presence: More citizens abroad can increase cultural and diplomatic reach.

Carrot and Stick analogy

• Hard power = stick: Using force or pressure (military, sanctions) to make others do what you want.

• Soft power = carrot: Using attraction, culture, or ideas to persuade others willingly.

• Smart power = carrot + stick: Combining both—using force when needed, but also persuasion to achieve goals.

What is an Empire?

A group of countries ruled by a single person, government, or country.

What is a superpower?

A country that has very great political and military power. Since the disintegration of the USSR (USSR disintegration = Soviet Union broke up into 15 independent countries in 1991, including Russia, Ukraine, ), there has been only one superpower- the US.

What are the similraties between an Empire and a Superpower?

• Global/Regional Influence: Both control or strongly influence multiple countries or regions.

• Power projection: Both can use military, economic, or political power to get what they want.

• Resources and wealth: Both rely on strong economies or access to resources to maintain power.

• Cultural impact: Both can spread their culture, language, or values to other places.

What are the Diffrences between an Empire and a Superpower?

An empire is a group of countries ruled by a single entity. However, a superpower is a country that has a dominant influence due to very great political and military power.

What is the superpower theory?

The superpower theory explains how certain countries become extremely powerful and influential globally. It focuses on a country’s military strength, economy, political influence, and cultural reach as the main factors that make it a superpower.

why can the end of WW2 be seen as the end of the age of empires and the beinning of age of supoerpowers?

After WW2, many European colonies were lost, ending the age of empires. At the same time, the USA and USSR rose as superpowers, leading to the Cold War (tension without fighting) in a bipolar world, later becoming unipolar with the USA.

Empires ended mainly because European countries were weakened by WW2, making it too expensive and difficult to control colonies, and colonies (Territories controlled and governed by another country) demanded independence, so most European empires collapsed after the war.

What does hegemonic power mean?

Hegemonic power means a country has dominant influence over others, often controlling politics, economy, or culture without directly ruling them.

Whats the diffrence bwteen demovracy and comunism?

Democracy focuses on political freedom, citizen participation through voting, and protecting individual rights with private property and free markets.

Communism emphasizes economic equality, collective ownership, state control over production, and aims for a classless society,

What is the role of the IMF?

Aims to stabilise global currencies and to provide loans to developing countries to reduce poverty. 8 countires control 47% of the toal votes between them.

• In return for a loan, a country must enforce a Structural Adjustment Program (SAP).

• An SAP ensures that capitalism (an economic system where private individuals or businesses own and run companies, rather than the government) is promoted within the country and it can require a country to impose cuts to public services and privatise state industries.

  • Many countries (particularly in Africa) can see the IMF as a lender of last resort.

  • Many people argue that SAPs and IMF loans result in greater poverty for many developing countries, as they can become trapped in a cycle of debt.

  • China has loaned money to many countires so they can meet the condtions needed for further loans from the IMF.

  • IMF loans also have an intrest.

What is the role of the World Bank?

Similar to the IMF, the World Bank aims to support capitalism.

It also provides loans to developing countries and provides finance following natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.

Whilst aiming to reduce poverty, the World Bank also wants to achieve sustainability.

Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.The World Bank is currently working towards two goals for the world to achieve by 2030:

• To end extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3%.

• To promote shared prosperity by ensuring that the income of the bottom 40% in every country increases.

What does the world econmic forum do?

The WEF is a slightly different IGO as it works with businesses and governments.

It is a Swiss not-for-profit organisation, world leaders, bussiness leaders meet in Davos annually to discuss major global issues. It is for discussion and partnership not a law-making thing. Talks about global cooperation, economic discussions, adress gloval challnges, public and private collabrations.

The WEF Global Gender Parity Sprint 2030 is an initiative designed to accelerate progress towards economic gender equality by focusing on closing gaps in workforce participation, leadership, and wages by 2030

What is the role of the WTO?

• The WTO focuses on trade and the rules of trade. It wants to ensure that capitalism thrives and so trade is free, allowing the market to act independently of government involvement.

• The WTO negotiates free-trade agreements.

  • In 2016, it had 164 members. Over three-quarters of its members are developing or the least-developed countries.

• It is noticeable that North Korea, as a switched-off country is not part of the WTO.

• In the 1950s the global trade increased this could of been from the WTO or globalisation or a bit of both.

What is a criteria of NATO?

To be apart of NATO you have to spend a minuim of 2% of GDP in defence, Trump has publicly decleared that the allinace is no longer elevent has therated to withdraw from NATO.

What is the IPCC responsible for and why was it set up?

Was set up by the UN, and every 5 years scientists from all around the world come together and produce a report about the latest research on climate change, in 120 countries. Compile evidence from the past 5 years.

What is the NAFTA responsible for and why was it set up?

The North American Free Trade Agreement is an economic alliance between Canada, Mexico, and the USA. This agreement does not seek to move towards political uncion so it doesn’t allow the free movement of people. In 2018, Trump called for NAFTA to be renegotiated and claimed that they have wiped out manufacturing jobs in the US because it allowed companies to move factories to Mexico, where labour is cheaper. Howveer this agreement has also caused consumer goods to be cheaper.

What is the ANZUS responsible for and why was it set up?

Australia New Zealand and the US Security Treaty was set up to cooperate on military matters int eh pacific and to stop the spread of communism in this region. In 2011, Obama said that ANZUS is an important part of the US focusing on Asia, as a result of North Koreas nuclear testing.

What is the UN Security Council responsible for?

• This is the branch of the UN responsible for preventing conflict and keeping international peace.

• The Security Council has 5 permanent members, and these 5 have more influence than other members. They are the USA, the UK, France, China, and Russia.

  • The 5 permanent members can veto any decision made by the council.

• There are then another 10 members.

• The UN Security Council is used by nations to defend their own interests. Russia vetoes (special voting power which can basically override any decisions made by the other countires even if all the countries said yes) any threat of action that could harm its global influence and status.

• The UN Security Council decides when and where a UN peacekeeping operation should be deployed.

What is the UN international Court of Justice responsible for?

15 judges who represent the different global regions sort out disputes between UN member countries.

Why is it important for the 2015 Paris Aggreement to be agreed upon by China?

The world’s largest emitter must be involved in any deal that is to be a success.

Paris agreement (Main aims)

• Long-Term Temperature Goal: Keep global temperature rise well below 2°C, with efforts to restrict it to 1.5°C, reducing emissions by roughly 50% by 2030.

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Countries create and report their own pledges to cut emissions, with expectations to update them every five years with greater ambition

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Russia’s view of the 2015 Paris Agreement

Russia supported the 2015 Paris Agreement, but many people think its attitude to climate change has not really changed. It promised to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30% compared to 1990 levels, but because emissions dropped after the collapse of the USSR, they are already below 1990 levels, meaning Russia could still increase emissions while meeting the target at this time. It was when Russia was at the peak of manufacturing. Extreme weather in Russia has doubled in the last 25 years, and rising climate damage, expected to cost about $4.3 billion a year in the Moscow region by 2025, may pressure Russia to change its approach.

USA’s view of the 2015 Paris Agreement

The USA ratified and signed the Paris Agreement and made progress in reducing emissions, especially under President Obama, who invested heavily in renewable energy. However, in 2017 President Trump withdrew from the agreement, arguing that climate change was not a major global threat. He reversed several policies aimed at reducing pollution and tackling climate change, including ending a $10 million per year NASA programme that monitored carbon dioxide levels, which was important for checking if countries were meeting their emission reduction targets.

The EU’s view of greenhouse emissions

The European Union believes greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced quickly to slow climate change. It has strong climate policies and targets to cut emissions, such as aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. The EU also invests a lot in renewable energy and encourages countries to use less fossil fuel and become more sustainable.

Why is the biggest problem in terms of environmental degradation is meat and water supplies.

• Environmental degradation means the damage or deterioration of the natural environment caused by human activities or natural events.

The middle class is going to eat more meat than ever before.

This creates a problem for the global water supply, as raising cattle and washing and processing meat require much more water than most crops.

The growing middle class is concentrated largely in Asia.

• China’s increased affluence saw its meat consumption increase by 99%, its perfume consumption increase by 133% and its cereal consumption increase by 364% between 2000 and 2018.

What is meant by Structural Unemployment?

When people are unable to easily get jobs in other sectors because of their lack of skills. CAN CAUSE A RISE IN CRIMES SUCH AS SUCCIDE, ROBEERY AND MURDERS

How much is the goverment debt in the uk and italy?

86% OF GDP IN UK, 132% OF GDP IN ITALY

What is meant by sovereignty?

Sovereignty is a country’s ability to govern itself independently without interference from other states. If a country invades another country and starts to influence decisions that break the original sovereignty.

South sea china dispute

South China Sea Dispute (Mini Case Study)

The South China Sea is a contested area where multiple countries claim ownership of islands and waters, especially China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.

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⚠ What’s happening?

• China claims most of the sea using the “Nine-Dash Line.”

• Other countries also claim parts of it (e.g. Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands).

• China has built artificial islands and military bases in the area.

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🌍 Why is it important?

• Around £3–£4 trillion worth of global trade passes through each year.

• The area has valuable oil and gas reserves.

• It’s a key fishing region → important for food supply.

• Economic Interests & Resources: The region is estimated to contain 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. It is also crucial for fishing, supporting China's massive seafood industry.

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⚡ Why is it controversial?

• Sovereignty disputes → countries disagree on who owns what

• China’s actions are seen by others as breaking international law

• Risk of military conflict between countries

• Involves global powers like the USA, increasing tensions

2003 US-led invasion of Iraq

The Bush administration believed that Iraq had a massive number of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and they also cited potential links to terrorism to justify the 2003 invasion. However, post 9/11 investigations and Pentagon reviews found no evidence of a relationship between Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi regime and Al-Qaeda (the organisation responsible for major terrorist attacks, including 9/11). The USA did not obtain a second UN Security Council resolution specifically allowing authority for force, and because of this, many countries, such as France and Germany, viewed this invasion as illegal. The invasion resulted in a very high financial loss for the USA of an estimated cost of £1.5 trillion, which affected opportunity costs for citizens, which could of postivley affected education and transport for the population. 2003, around 8,000 Iraqi civilians died and over the ocurse of the whole intervention, around 4,000 US soldiers died.

2026 US-led capture of Venezuelan president Maduro

The USA captured the president for him to stand trials over allegations such as drug trafficking, and the Trump administration believes that Maduro was leading criminal networks such as The Cartel of the Suns and is involved in FARC ( involved in drug trafficking). These networks bring a lot of cocaine into the USA. Maduro has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in New York. The USA did not seek authorisation from the UN Security Council, and since Maduro was the president of Venezuela, he is entitled to head of state immunity, which can protect him from persecution while he is in office, even though Maduro’s 2024 election was seen as illegitimate due to evidence from the opposition. Maduro still exercises control over Venezuela, so it still makes him entitled to it. There are also reasons that this capture was due to the USA’s resource imperialism of Venezuelan oil. Trump says the US will run their oil fields until economic, oil and leadership transition has taken place, and he also stated that rebuilding infrastructure to manage oil requires a 100 billion dollar investment from US oil companies, this would positively benefit the USA economy and market.

2000 British intervention in Sierra Leone

In 2000, Sierra Leone was involved in a civil war with the RUF, which from 1991 till 2002 resulted in a total of aprox 50,000 to 70,000 deaths and the British stepped in due to the invitation by the democratically elected government of President Kabbah to prvent a rebel takeover and singifcant human and finaical loss , they also trained 8,000 Sierra Leonean soldiers by 2001, which helped end the civil war. Over the whole intervention, only 1 civilian was killed by the British, and only 5 military personall died.

Dongria Kondh people in India vs Vendanta recuses (UK based minnning company)

The Dongria Kondh people who live by the mountain streams in the Niyamgiri hill range, located in India. They believe that their God lives in the mountains and regulates their life and justice. They make a lving by being sufficient farmers and gathering necessary life resources by farming fruit orchards and herbal medicines, they also get water from streams and use this water for irrigation as well. The mining company wanted to build a £605 million refinery at the foot of the Hill this would of disrcupted the farming and the 100 streams of water. They protested by involving themselves in human chains of thousands of tribal people to physically block access and caught the attention of individuals around the world, and this effectively stopped the refinery from being built since the company needed permission from the group to build it and they said no.

Adidas Ocean Plastic collaboration with Parley

The Adidas x Parley collaboration is a long-term sustainability initiative launched in 2015 to combat marine plastic pollution. They accepted ocean plastic and made shoes that are 95% made up of the plastic, and this was a direct response to consumer demand to tackle plastic pollution. Only a small portion of shoes were of this collab, though. This shows that TNCs could listen to consumers’ demands and pressure to find a solution.

Individuals in local communities can encourage a plastic ban among neighbours, and this can reduce pollution further in developed countries where factories have left derelict buildings to relocate elsewhere. Local communities can also encourage others to clean up and reuse these buildings to reduce the environmental impacts of globalisation.

Legal action with the Sawhoyamaxa community

Sawhoyamaxa people (subunit of Enxet people)were kicked off their own land in Paraguay back in the 1990s so private owners could use it for cattle ranching, this forced them not to be able to acess their land and burial sites so for over 20 years, they were forced to live in tiny shacks on the side of a busy highway. It was dangerous and poor; many people, including children, died because they didn't have clean water or medicine.

The Legal Win: They took the government in 2001 to a big international court (the Inter-American Court of Human Rights). In 2006, the court told Paraguay: "Give them their land back."

• The Wait: The government ignored the court for years. The community got tired of waiting, so in 2013, they physically marched back onto the land and started living there to show they weren't leaving.

• The Victory: Their protest worked. In 2014, the President of Paraguay finally signed a law to officially take the land back from the ranchers and give it to the community.

• Today: They finally own their 35,000 acres and are working on rebuilding their community with schools and clinics.

The ESCR-NET and amnesty international are constantly monitering their situtation to make sure the goverment is supporting them and provides the full services they promised in court. (Provding 750,000 pounds in funding for schools and rebuilding and other projects to support the people)

India Pakistan conflict

The conflict between India and Pakistan, primarily centred on the disputed region of Kashmir, reached a critical peak in May 2025 with the most significant military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed nations in decades. A militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists. Operation Sindoor: On 7 May, India launched missile and air strikes targeting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which it alleged were terrorist infrastructure .

Indus Waters Treaty: India has suspended this 65-year-old water-sharing agreement, citing Pakistan's support for terrorism and they are redirectin the water internally to India for its needs for domestic water/energy. About 75–80% of Pakistan’s total water supply comes from the Indus River system

Exceptionally rich in natural resources, ranging from vital waterways and vast mineral deposits to globally renowned agricultural products in Kashmir, and Major Rivers: The Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, and Ravi originate in or flow through Kashmir. These rivers are vital for the agricultural economies of both India and Pakistan, supporting over 200 million people, india blocks

Critical Minerals: A major discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium was recently announced in the Reasi district (Salal village), which is crucial for electric vehicle batteries.(Indian-administered portion of the disputed Kashmir region).