Geopolitical Relationships between Countries (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Geopolitics of Trade

Spec point — 4GE1-S3.065

• Geopolitical relations between countries are more important than ever due to globalisation

• The movement of trade, people and money involves large-scale interaction between many countries

• All countries want these movements/interactions to achieve more benefits than costs

• Some countries have greater power and influence than others over international trade

  • Power comes from:

    • level of economic development
    • military force
    • dominance of modern technology
    • educated population
    • wealth of resources
    • strategic global location and large physical presence

• Political agreements between countries are a way of controlling trade movements

Trade relationships

• Terms of trade are the most important factor in trade relationships

• Regional trading has increased over the last forty years with the help of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)

• There has been a rise in superpowers and global TNCs exerting their dominance over developing countries

  • This gives them an unfair advantage

• Trade blocs are when barriers to trade between member countries are reduced or removed

  • Outside trade is still subject to normal trade tariffs

• Examples of trade blocs include:

  • the European Union (EU)
  • NAFTA
  • ASEAN

• Protection of these trade relationships can lead to tensions and military intervention or support:

  • Tensions in the Middle East over oil production led, in part, to the Gulf War of 1991
  • Coalition forces were deployed to protect the oil fields of Kuwait and ensure continued oil production for OPEC and the rest of the world

• Terms of trade have come under criticism from many developing countries

  • They argue that agreements favour developed countries, resulting in uneven trading
  • This leaves them in a position of vulnerability, with not enough benefit being passed on to improve their trading arrangements

Geopolitics of Migration

Spec point — 4GE1-S3.065

• The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is an IGO that works to:

  • Assist in the 'orderly and humane' management of migration
  • Promote international cooperation on migration issues
  • Assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems
  • Provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people

• Economic migrants tend to flow towards a developed economy to benefit from its national prosperity

• Developed countries tend to have the political power to control the numbers of migrants attempting to enter through work or residential visa criteria

  • Some countries have a quota system and choose migrants with skills that are in short supply – Australia and New Zealand operate this system

  • The UK has, up until recently, operated under EU free border rules, where the movement of people from other member states is unrestricted

    • With Brexit, the UK took central control of the number of migrants wanting to cross its borders

• It is expected that all countries will offer sanctuary to refugees and asylum seekers

• However, there is an imbalance, with some countries admitting more than others:

  • Syrian refugees, for instance, tend to head towards Germany and the UK
  • Germany has settled over half a million refugees, with fewer than 20,000 in the UK
  • The UK argues that it prefers to settle the refugees closer to their home borders so that when hostilities end, they can return home more easily

• In regional disputes, some countries intentionally direct migration flows towards rivals to cause political strain

  • Migrants may become stuck in transit countries due to shifting geopolitical policies or changing border controls
  • This can lead to tensions with stricter visa policies and border restrictions

Exam Hint

• Brexit can be a contentious topic and you need to remember to be impartial (not supporting one view or another) in your approach to UK immigration and border controls
• Whilst you may or may not agree with the decision of the UK to leave the EU, the exam is not the place to air your opinions
• You need to focus on the relationship of the politics involved in migration and any agreements made

Geopolitics of Tourism

Spec point — 4GE1-S3.065

• Geopolitics is less of an obstacle to tourism, with many countries welcoming tourists

• Modern transport and communications have made travelling to faraway places cheaper and easier

• With the advent of the package holiday, costs have become significantly reduced, which has increased mass tourism

• Developing countries often benefit from tourism and encourage a flow of tourists from developed countries

• There are countries whose economy is based around tourism and therefore, have more permeable borders (easier to cross) to make access to the country for tourists easier

  • Jamaica, for instance, relies on tourism as the main source of income ($3.10bn); along with generating taxes, it is the main employment sector and foreign exchange (20% of GNP)
  • It is to Jamaica's advantage to reduce barriers to people travelling to and from the country
  • The Ministry for Tourism works to ensure ease of transit for its visitors

• The main offices of holiday companies are usually based in developed or politically powerful countries, creating economic leakage from the host country

• Tourists are exposed to different cultures, aiding in breaking down pre-conceived ideas

• Relationships between countries are positively boosted, particularly in developed countries where their reputation is a draw to the less powerful countries

Worked Example **State three geographical features that contribute to the geopolitical power of a country. **

(3 Marks)

• One mark for each identification from the following (up to a max of 3):

  • Large territory (1), strong military capability (1), high level of economic development** (1),** large, well-educated population (1), wealth of natural resources (1), advances in modern technology (1)