Financial IGOs

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IGOs and World Trade

Three IGOs established after the Second World War have controlled the rules of world trade and financial flows.

The institutions

The main three institutions are:
- The World Trade Organisation (WTO).
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- The World Bank (WB).

Aims of the institutions

The three IGOs have helped to maintain the dominance of 'western' capitalism as the dominant paradigm in the globalised economy.
They support free trade and economic development.
They initially established a fixed exchange rate system based on gold and the dollar, aiming to help increase international FDI and capital flows.
Increasing the funding and capital available to developing countries helped them to develop and grow.

The World Trade Organisation

The WTO aims to reduce the trade barriers between different countries.

Global agreements

The WTO tries to get all countries internationally to agree to the same terms that help to create free trade.
The latest round of talks began in Doha in 2001, but have not yet been concluded.

Tariffs

According to the WTO 'tariffs give a price advantage to local producers'. They are effectively a tax on imports.
The WTO tries to reduce barriers to trade (like tariffs). The WTO tries to persuade nations to reduce their tariffs on a range of goods and services.

The IMF and World Bank

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) promotes global economic and financial stability. The World Bank lends money to fund development.

The IMF

The IMF encourages developing countries to accept foreign direct investment (FDI) and open up their economies to free trade.
The IMF is often criticised for promoting a 'western' model of economic development that works in the interests of developed nations and TNCs.
In 1976, Britain had to borrow $3.9bn from the IMF when it faced an inflationary crisis.
In 2018, Argentina accepted a $50bn loan from the IMF after their currency, the Argentinian peso, weakened materially.

The World Bank

The World Bank lends money to the developing world to fund economic development and reduce poverty.
The World Bank has helped developing countries develop connections with the global economy.
It is sometimes criticised for having policies that prioritise economic development over social development.

Financial IGOs and the Developing World

Since the 1970s, tougher rules and strict conditions have been applied for large-scale lending, especially for developing countries. These have included the SAP and HIPC schemes:

SAPs

SAP stands for Structural Adjustment Programmes. They are usually made up of loans from the IMF and World Bank.
SAPs have made countries that receive lending follow specific routes to development, such as privatisation.
Africa Action, an NGO, is critical of SAPs, claiming that the assumption that the market leads to benefits for the rich and poor is flawed.
Ghana launched its structural adjustment plan in 1983. The IMF and World Bank say it is one of the most successful SAPs in Africa.

HIPC schemes

HIPC stands for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries. There are 37 nations in this group, including Ghana, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Senegal.
HIPC schemes aim to make sure that no country faces an unmanageable debt burden (amount of debt).
Under HIPC schemes, countries must reduce poverty over time and meet other criteria. If they meet all of these criteria, then they may have all their external debt cancelled.
- Chad achieved this in 2015.
Some people argue that SAPs and HIPCs mean the sovereignty of these nations is questionable - are they perhaps neo-colonial?

1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

1.1.1Tectonic Plates

1.1.2Distribution of Tectonic Hazards

1.1.3Theoretical Frameworks

1.1.4Earthquakes

1.1.5Earthquake Hazards

1.1.6Volcanoes

1.1.7Tsunamis

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Tectonic Processes

1.1.9Exam-Style Question - Earthquakes

1.2Natural Disasters

1.2.1Introduction to Natural Disasters

1.2.2Impacts of Hazards

1.2.3Comparing Hazards

1.2.4Development & Governance

1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies

1.3.1Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami

1.3.2Gorkha Earthquake

1.3.3Mount Merapi Eruption

1.4Trends & Patterns

1.4.1Disaster Trends

1.4.2Prediction

1.5Disaster Modification

1.5.1Hazard Management

1.5.2Modifications

1.5.3End of Topic Test - Natural Disasters

1.5.4Exam-Style Question - Disaster Modification

2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change

2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time

2.1.1Timeline of Glacial Change

2.1.2Natural Causes

2.1.3Ice Distributions

2.2Periglacial Landscapes

2.2.1Periglacial Processes

2.2.2Periglacial Landforms

2.3Glacial Processes

2.3.1Mass Balance

2.3.2Glacial Movement

2.4Glacial Landforms

2.4.1Landscapes

2.4.2Erosional Landforms

2.4.3Erosional Landforms 2

2.4.4Erosional Landforms 3

2.4.5Depositional Landforms

2.4.6Fluvioglaciation

2.5The Future of Glaciated Landscapes

2.5.1The Value of Glaciated Landscapes

2.5.2The Value of Glaciated Landscapes 2

2.5.3Threats to Glaciated Landscapes

2.5.4Managing the Threats to Glaciated Landscapes

3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change

3.1Coastal Landscapes

3.1.1The Wider Coastal Landscape

3.1.2Geological Structure

3.1.3Lithology & Vegetation

3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition

3.2.1Shaping Coastlines

3.2.2Coastal Formations

3.2.3Sediment Transportation

3.2.4Subaerial Processes

3.3Coastal Risks

3.3.1Sea Level Change

3.3.2Coastal Retreat

3.3.3Coastal Flooding

3.4Managing Coastlines

3.4.1Consequences of Coastal Recession

3.4.2Engineering Management Approaches

3.4.3Governance Approaches

4Globalisation

4.1Globalisation

4.1.1Intro to Globalisation

4.1.2Development of Globalisation

4.1.3Economic Policy & Globalisation

4.1.4Government Policy & Globalisation

4.1.5International Organisations & Globalisation

4.1.6Measuring Globalisation

4.1.7TNCs & Globalisation

4.1.8TNCs - Aramco & Anglo-Iranian Oil

4.2Negatives of Globalisation

4.2.1'Switched Off' Places

4.3Global Shift

4.3.1Global Shift for Developing Nations

4.3.2Global Shift for Developing Nations 2

4.3.3Global Shift for Developed Nations

4.3.4End of Topic Test - Globalisation

4.4Migration

4.4.1Megacities

4.4.2International Migration

4.4.3Country Interdependence

4.5Culture

4.5.1Global Culture

4.5.2Cultural Erosion

4.6Measuring Development

4.6.1Measuring Development

4.7Responses to Globalisation

4.7.1Tensions Caused by Globalisation

4.7.2Government Control of Globalisation

4.7.3Ethical Responses to Globalisation

4.7.4End of Topic Test - Migration, Culture, & Response

5Option 4A: Regenerating Places

6Option 4B: Diverse Places

6.1Population Structure

6.1.1The UK

6.1.2Population Characteristics

6.1.3Government & Change

6.2Past & Present Connections

6.2.1International Influence on Places

6.2.2Historic Influences on Places

6.2.3The Perception of Places

6.2.4Image & Identity

6.3Urban & Rural Spaces

6.3.1Perceptions of Urban Places

6.3.2Perceptions of Rural Places

6.3.3Evaluating Living Space

6.4Diversity

6.4.1UK Migrations

6.4.2Challenges

6.4.3Tensions & Conflict

6.4.4Wider Outcomes of Tensions

6.4.5Managing Tensions

6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies

6.5.1Stakeholders

6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets

6.6.1Background

6.6.2Characteristics

6.6.3Issues

6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple

6.7.1Background

6.7.2Characteristics

6.7.3Issues

7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)

7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local

7.1.1Global Hydrological Cycle

7.1.2Drainage Basin Hydrological Cycle

7.1.3Water Budgets

7.1.4River Regimes

7.1.5Storm Hydrographs

7.2Influences on the Water Cycle

7.2.1Causes of Drought

7.2.2Impacts of Drought

7.2.3Causes of Flooding

7.2.4Impacts of Flooding

7.2.5Climate Change & The Water Cycle

7.2.6Impacts of Climate Change

7.2.7End of Topic Test - The Water Cycle

7.3Water Insecurity

7.3.1Water Stress

7.3.2Causes of Water Insecurity

7.3.3Water Insecurity Risk

7.3.4Conflict Over Water

7.4Water Supply Management

7.4.1Hard Engineering Schemes

7.4.2Sustainable Management

7.4.3Water Treaties & Framework

7.4.4End of Topic Test - Water Insecurity & Management

8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)

8.1The Carbon Cycle

8.1.1Carbon Stores

8.1.2Carbon Stores 2

8.1.3Biological Carbon

8.1.4Atmospheric Carbon

8.1.5Burning Fossil Fuels

8.2Energy Consumption

8.2.1Consumption

8.2.2Access to Energy

8.2.3Energy Players

8.2.4Supply & Demand

8.2.5Pathways

8.2.6End of Topic Test - Carbon & Consumption

8.3Alternative Energy

8.3.1Unconventional Fuels

8.3.2Non-Fossil Fuels

8.3.3Non-Fossil Fuels 2

8.4Growing Demand for Resources

8.4.1Deforestation

8.4.2Water

8.4.3Climate Change

8.5The Future

8.5.1Future Uncertainty

8.5.2Adaptation Strategies

8.5.3Mitigation Strategies

9Superpowers (A2 only)

9.1Superpowers

9.1.1Introduction to Superpowers

9.1.2Superpowers - Economic Power & Size

9.1.3Superpowers - Political & Military Power

9.1.4Superpowers - Culture, Demography & Resources

9.1.5Geo-Strategic Location

9.2Hard & Soft Power

9.2.1Hard & Soft Power

9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry

9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power

9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil

9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia

9.2.6Emerging Powers - India

9.2.7Theories of Development

9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road

9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms

9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC

9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances

9.3.1Superpowers & IGOs

9.3.2Superpowers & TNCs

9.3.3Superpowers & Global Action

9.3.4Superpowers & Alliances

9.3.5Superpowers & the Environment

9.4Changing Global Influence

9.4.1Recent Tensions between Powers

9.4.2China in Africa & Asia

9.4.3Tensions in the Middle East

9.4.4Economic Problems for Superpowers

9.4.5Future Pattern of Power

10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)

11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)

11.1Globalisation & Migration

11.1.1Intro to Migration

11.1.2Trends in Migration

11.1.3Common Migration Patterns

11.1.4Causes of Migration

11.1.5Restrictions on Migration

11.2Consequences of Migration

11.2.1Intro to Culture

11.2.2Social & Demographic Tensions of Migration

11.2.3Political & Economic Tensions of Migration

11.3Nation States

11.3.1Intro to Nation States

11.3.2Borders

11.3.3Nationalism

11.4Responses to Global Migration

11.4.1Responses to Global Migration

11.4.2Global Organisations

11.4.3IGOs and World Trade

11.4.4Financial IGOs

11.4.5Environmental IGOs

11.5Sovereignty & Identity

11.5.1Sovereignty & Nationalism

11.5.2Complex Identities

11.5.3Challenges to National Identities

11.5.4Tensions within Nations

11.5.5Failed States

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