Synoptic: Superpower GeographiesEast Asian Neighbours

Wordle of advance info whole text

Wordle of advance info edited text

East Asia: The two key ideas

Geopolitics….

…is about global/regional scale political systems, allegiances and negotiations, including agreements often relating to resources and conflicts.

A superpower…

….shows dominance of a region (or the world) in four spheres; economic, military, political and cultural.

East Asia: Geographical overview

Physical factors:- Relief / Oceans- Climate (Tropical / sub-tropical)- Natural resources (water / energy / food)

Human factors:- Superpower status (military, economic, political, socio-

cultural)- Relationships and political allies / groupings- Development- Population structure / change- Urbanisation- Agriculture

Physical factors: Relief, rivers and tectonics

Much of China’s western interior is

mountainous, inhospitable

Tibetan plateau>tectonics/fold

mountains>population density

(fig.13)

Not many of China’s rivers connect the coast to its interior

>barrier to development?>expensive to create/use land links

Japan has a mountainous

interior>tectonics/ island arcs

>population density (fig13)

Physical factors: Natural hazards in China

Natural hazards in Japan and N/S. Korea

Physical factors: Climate zones and food

What is the link between the climate, oceans and natural

hazards in the region?

Physical factors: Energy resources

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2012/jun/14/bp-world-energy-statistics-production-consumption-reserves

Physical factors: Energy resources

Selected proved reserves as % of world total

Physical factors: Energy resources

http://www.eia.gov/countries/regions-topics.cfm?fips=ECS

Physical factors: Water resources

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity.shtml

Human factors: Population density

http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/gpw-v3-population-density/maps

What is China’s population

distributed like this?

Human factors: Vulnerable cities

https://support.rms.com/publications/OECD_Cities_Coastal_Flooding.pdf

This map links

population, developmen

t and natural

hazards in the future

Human factors: Development contrasts (HDI)

Human factors: Military influence

Dark blue = Blue water navyPale blue = Developing blue water navyGreen = Green water navy

Human factors: Relationships and energy

Human factors: Energy Pathways

Human factors: Energy Futures

Research ‘fracking’ (water intensive and has potentially serious side-effects/impacts)

Human factors: Cold War allegiances

Further research and definitions of Cold War / WWII:http://www.history.com/topics/cold-warhttp://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii

Human factors: Chinese ‘empire’

Human factors: Fall of Japanese Empire

Themes/ideas: Sustainability

Sustainable development

Environmental safeguarding/ improvement

Economic needs

Social needs

Development: Rostow’s model

Topic map of overall theme

Superpowers: East Asia

Futures

Physical / human

features

Players

Actions

Issues

EnergyOceans

Topic map of overall theme

Superpowers:East Asia

Futures

Features/ Characteristics

Players

Actions

Issues

Physical features

Resources

Politics

Climate

Human features

IGOs TNCs

Local

Population

Regional

Global

Treaties FDI

Urbanisation Developme

nt

Trade deals

How can I be

“synoptic”?

Use of broad geographical

themes

Links to areas of AS and A2

course

Use ‘new’ information from

researchParallel

examples

Globalisation Development

Inequality

UpdatesMediterranean

East AsiaUse of broad geographical

themes

Use ‘new’ information

from research

Parallel examples

Falklands

Sustainability

Going Global

Water Conflict

Links to areas of AS

and A2 courseEnergy

Security

Statistics Examples

Geopolitics

Development Gap Tech

Fix

USA / EU / Russia

Biodiversity

Parallel examplesGeopolitical tension/conflict over resources:

> Falkland Islands conflicthttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18425572http://www.cnbc.com/id/100537413

Superpowers (compare USA, EU and Russia with China):

> Make a table of economic, military, political and cultural aspects using the resource booklet and extra info.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Regional inequalities and conflicts:

> Mediterranean / Arab Springhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/

middle- east-protest-interactive-timeline

Parallel examples: Falklands conflict

Parallel examples: Arab Spring

Further research / updatesUN / World Bank classification of countries as HIC, MIC, LIC etc..www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/wesp_current/2012country_class.pdfwww.data.worldbank.org

Global military strength (compare China with USA and Russia)www.globalfirepower.com

China’s developing blue water navyhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10005395/Chinas-first-aircraft-carrier-preparing-for-first-long-distance-mission.html

Six Party Talks:http://www.cfr.org/proliferation/six-party-talks-north-koreas-nuclear-program/p13593

Japan (political, energy security issues, Senkaku islands)http://www.japanfpo.org/search/label/Energy%20Security

Ecological footprintshttp://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/key_initiatives/transforming_china/http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/key_initiatives/transforming_china/china_footprint/

Further research / updatesBeijing Olympics’ impact on China’s relationship with the world and internal policies:http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20010713friday.html

China’s relationship with N.Korea and USAhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/10041679/Bank-of-China-shuts-North-Korea-account.html

N Korea and US relations/missile tests (loads of good stuff in ‘related articles’ at bottom):http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22443305

EU-China trade tariffshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22445640

China’s relationship with ASEANhttp://www.asean.org/news/item/asean-china-dialogue-relations

Growth of Shanghaihttps://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/habitat/profiles/shanghai.asp

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2013/03/shanghais-spectacular-growth-one-photo/4999/

Some ideas for questions

1. Explain why there has been geopolitical tension in East Asia since the end of World War Two.

2. Examine the factors that have led to uneven development in the region of East Asia.

3. Examine the factors that have led to the emerging superpower status of China.

4. Assess the position of China as an emerging superpower.

5. Explain the contribution that globalisation has made to development and quality of life in East Asia.

6. To what extent does political tension threaten the future development of East Asia?

7. Assess the severity of potential sources of conflict in East Asia in future.

…continued on the next slide.

Some more ideas for questions

1. To what extent are the disputes in East Asia are a threat to the stability and continuing development of the area as a whole?

2. Explain the roles that a range of Players and Actions could take in helping East Asian countries to develop further.

3. Explain how the growing economic power of East Asia could lead to social and political tension within the region and beyond.

4. Assess the sustainability of continued development in East Asia.

5. Discuss the global and regional impact of China’s rise to superpower status in future.