Synoptic: Superpower Geographies
East 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)
Japan has a
mountainous
interior
>tectonics/
island arcs
>population
density (fig13)
Not many of China’s rivers connect the
coast to its interior
>barrier to development?
>expensive to create/use land links
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
What is China’s
population
distributed like
this?
http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/gpw-v3-population-density/maps
Human factors: Vulnerable cities
This map
links
population,
development
and natural
hazards in
the future
https://support.rms.com/publications/OECD_Cities_Coastal_Flooding.pdf
Human factors: Development contrasts (HDI)
Human factors: Military influence
Dark blue
Pale blue
Green
= Blue water navy
= Developing blue water navy
= 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-war
http://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
Social
needs
Economic needs
Development: Rostow’s model
Topic map of overall theme
Issues
Physical / human
features
Superpowers:
East Asia
Players
Futures
Actions
Topic map of overall theme
Resources
Climate
Oceans
Physical
features
Features/
Characteristics
Energy
IGOs
Urbanisation
Human
features
Population
Politics
TNCs
Issues
Superpowers:
East Asia
Global
Players
Regional
Development
Futures
Local
Treaties
Actions
FDI
Trade
deals
Use ‘new’
information from
research
Parallel
examples
How can I
be
“synoptic”?
Links to areas of
AS and A2 course
Use of broad
geographical
themes
Statistics
Falklands
USA / EU /
Russia
Use ‘new’
information
from research
Parallel
examples
Updates
Mediterranean
East Asia
Going Global
Water
Conflict
Links to areas
of AS and A2
course
Energy
Security
Biodiversity
Development
Tech
Gap
Fix
Examples
Use of broad
geographical
themes
Globalisation
Inequality
Geopolitics
Sustainability
Developmen
t
Parallel examples
Geopolitical tension/conflict over resources:
> Falkland Islands conflict
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18425572
http://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 Spring
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middleeast-protest-interactive-timeline
Parallel examples: Falklands conflict
Parallel examples: Arab Spring
Further research / updates
UN / World Bank classification of countries as HIC, MIC, LIC etc..
www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/wesp_current/2012country_class.pdf
www.data.worldbank.org
Global military strength (compare China with USA and Russia)
www.globalfirepower.com
China’s developing blue water navy
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10005395/Chinas-first-aircraftcarrier-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 footprints
http://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/chi
na_footprint/
Further research / updates
Beijing 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 USA
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/10041679/Bank-of-Chinashuts-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 tariffs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22445640
China’s relationship with ASEAN
http://www.asean.org/news/item/asean-china-dialogue-relations
Growth of Shanghai
https://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/habitat/profiles/shanghai.asp
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2013/03/shanghais-spectaculargrowth-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.