Superpowers & International Decision Making (Edexcel A Level Geography)

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Bridgette Barrett

Written by: Bridgette Barrett

Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn

Superpowers & Global Action

  • Superpowers and emerging nations play a key role in global actions including:

    • Crisis response

    • Conflict response

    • Climate change

Crisis response

  • During times of crisis such as floods or earthquakes countries provide help to other countries 

    • Superpowers and emerging nations pay a leading role in this

    • The aid can be in the form of finance, building materials and other resources

  • Aid is provided through International Governmental Organisations (IGOs) and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs)

  • At least 105 countries and 16 international organisations pledged help to Turkey and Syria following the 2023 earthquake, including significant resources from the USA and emerging superpowers

    • USA sent a disaster response team of 200 people and pledged $185 million in aid

    • China offered $10.3 million in aid to Syria and Turkey as well as sending three rescue teams totalling almost 600 people

    • The EU sent 31 rescue teams and 5 medical teams as well as committing €6.5 million

    • NATO deployed temporary housing to accommodate 4,000 people

    • UN released $25 million from its emergency funds 

    • The World Bank agreed to provide $1.78 billion in aid for relief and recovery

  • The countries have also taken a leading role during the Covid pandemic

Conflict response

  • In 1942 President Roosevelt proposed the concept of 'four policemen'

    • USA, UK, China and the former USSR would be the only ones to have arms

    • They would work together to maintain global peace

  • Although this did not come to fruition the USA and emerging superpowers do often act as 'global police'

  • Interventions have occurred in many incidences of growing tensions and conflicts around the world

    • NATO and UN intervention in the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina starting with the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1992

    • NATO military intervention in Libya in 2011

    • The USA led military intervention by a coalition of 35 countries when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990

    • In 2001 the USA with support from the UK, Australia, Canada, France and Germany led military intervention in Afghanistan to remove the Taliban from control

Climate change response

  • Global warming and climate change require an international response because it affects the entire globe

  • Superpowers and emerging nations have a significant role to play in the response

  • In 1988 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up to assess the 'risks of human-induced climate change

  • This was followed by several international agreements:

    • Earth Summit 1992

    • Kyoto Protocol 1997

    • Paris Agreement 2015

  • President Trump's decision to withdraw the USA from the Paris Agreement in 2020 was seen to be detrimental to their superpower status - the USA rejoined in 2021 after the election of President Biden

Superpower & Emerging Nation Alliances

  • In 1942 President Roosevelt proposed the global strategy of 'Four policeman'

    • The strategy involved the USA, UK, China and Russia being the only armed nations

    • The four would work together to maintain global peace

  • Although this did not happen the four nations would become the the permanent members of the UN along with France

  • The concept of alliances was not new and various alliances exist across the globe 

  • The alliances are focussed on:

    • Military

    • Economic

    • Environmental

    • Justice and peacekeeping

Military alliances

  • The existence of military alliances throughout much of human history has been important to ensure mutual protection

  • If one nation is attacked, the allied nations agree to defend them

  • The earliest, which is still in force, is the Anglo-Portuguese alliance of 1388

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US current military alliances

  • The USA's military alliances support its military strength across the globe and enable it to have:

    • A leading role in deciding on military operations 

    • Military bases in countries around the world - approximately 600 in total 

    • Global reach

  • North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was formed in 1949 

    • The purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of member nations 

    • Collective defence means that an attack on one nation is an attack on all NATO nations

  • Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty (ANZUS) formed in 1951

    • Original focus on co-operation on military matters in the Pacific Ocean region

    • Now relates to worldwide conflicts

  • Rio Treaty or Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance with Latin American countries

  • Mutual Defence Treaty with South Korea

  • Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security with Japan

  • Thanat-Rusk Communique with Thailand

Economic and political alliances

  • These are agreements between nations which promote trade through the removal of trade barriers such as:

    • Taxes

    • Tariffs

    • Quotas

  • Economic alliances tend to be regional rather than global

  • They are also political alliances

European Union (EU)

  • There are 27 member states

alliance-2
Members of the European Union
  • The EU aims to promote peace, its values and well-being of its citizens

  • The Euro currency is used by 19 of the members

  • A united Europe has far greater economic and political power than the individual nations, enabling

    • More power in trade negotiations

    • Greater access to markets

    • Greater protection for EU businesses and industry

  • Allows for freedom of movement for people (within the Schengen Area) and goods

  • It is also a political alliance with supranational and intergovernmental decision making

  • The UK left the EU in 2021; as one of the largest trading nations in the EU, this has impacted both the UK and the remaining EU nations

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

  • Established in 1994 creating a free trade zone between Canada, USA and Mexico

  • In 2008 all tariffs and quotas were abolished on US exports to Canada and Mexico

  • Has now been replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

  • One of the largest trading blocs in the world 

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

  • Established in 1967 by the nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, ASEAN aims to:

    • Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development

    • Promote regional peace and stability

    • Promote collaboration between nations

  • It now has ten member states

alliance-1

Environmental alliances

  • Increasing global environmental challenges have led to the creation of environmental alliances to tackle the global issues including:

    • Climate change

    • Deforestation

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

  • Established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)

  • Created to provide members with regular reports on knowledge and understanding of climate change, impacts, future risks and possible options for mitigation and adaptation

  • The IPCC currently has 195 members

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

  • Established an international environmental treaty to tackle the impact of human activity on climate

  • Signed by 154 states in Rio de Janerio at the Earth Summit 1992

  • Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings take place each year at locations around the world

United Nations

  • The United Nations is a complex organisation

  • Founded by 51 countries following the end of WWII, it aims to:

    • Maintain international peace and security

    • Develop relations between countries

    • Promote social progress, living standards and human rights

  • The UN is made of six principle divisions

    • General Assembly

    • Security council

    • Economic and social council

    • Secretariat

    • International Court of Justice

    • Trusteeship council

  • There are 193 member nations of the UN

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  • The UN includes many of the world's most powerful and influential intergovernmental organisations (IGOs):

    • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

    • World Trade Organisation (WTO)

    • Counter-terrorism committees

    • International Law Commission

    • Human Rights Council

    • United Nations Educational and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

    • World Health Organisation (WHO)

    • World Bank

    • International Labour Organisation (ILO)

    • Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (FAO)

    • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Security council

  • There are five permanent members of the UN Security Council which is the most powerful part of the UN

    • China

    • France

    • Russia

    • UK

    • US

  • The western countries (UK, USA and France) have an advantage as they are able to outvote Russia and China who frequently vote together

  • The five members have power of veto and can reject any proposal

  • The security council is responsible for maintaining peace and preventing conflict. one way this is achieved is peacekeeping missions

Peacekeeping missions

  • The UN is frequently involved in peacekeeping missions to try and promote sustainable peace such as in:

    • Sudan and the war in Dafur (2007-2020) and the second Sudanese civil war (2005-2011)

    • Ethiopia and Eriteria due to the conflict between the two countries (2000-2008)

    • The former Yugoslavia due to the Yugoslav wars (1992-1995)

    • Lebanon as a result of the Israeli invasion (1978)

International Court of Justice

  • International law is upheld by the International Law Commission and the International Court of Justice

    • The seat of the court is in The Hague

    • There are 15 judges who represent the global regions

    • Its role is to settle legal disputes and disputes between countries, as well as giving advisory opinions on legal questions

    • Its work includes international criminal tribunals for war crimes

Climate change conference

  • Every year a Conference of the Parties (COP) is held

  • This is the decision making body for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

    • It includes representatives of all signatory countries

  • In Paris 2015 every country agreed to:

    • Limit global warming to below 2oC and aim for 1.5oC

    • To make money available to adapt to the impacts of global warming

    • Make national plans which set out how they will reduce their emissions - these are known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

    • Review the progress every 5 years

  • This is known as the Paris Agreement

  • COP has two main purposes:

    • To assess the effects of the past measures that have been introduced to limit climate change

    • To reach agreement and set out plans for future ways to limit climate change

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Bridgette Barrett

Author: Bridgette Barrett

Expertise: Geography Lead

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.

Jenna Quinn

Author: Jenna Quinn

Expertise: Head of New Subjects

Jenna studied at Cardiff University before training to become a science teacher at the University of Bath specialising in Biology (although she loves teaching all three sciences at GCSE level!). Teaching is her passion, and with 10 years experience teaching across a wide range of specifications – from GCSE and A Level Biology in the UK to IGCSE and IB Biology internationally – she knows what is required to pass those Biology exams.