4.2.1
'Switched Off' Places
Why Are Some Places 'Switched Off' From Globalisation?
Why Are Some Places 'Switched Off' From Globalisation?
There are physical, political, economic, social and environmental reasons why some locations remain largely ‘switched-off’ from globalisation and the global economy.
Physical reasons
Physical reasons
- If a country is landlocked and has no access to a port, participating in global trade is difficult.
- If a country has a harsh climate and so struggles to grow crops, its exports can be limited.
- E.g. The Sahel region.
Political reasons
Political reasons
- If a country is run by a dictator who chooses to exclude the country from the global economy, it will be switched off.
- E.g. North Korea.
- If a country has a corrupt government or a high presence of organised crime or terrorist groups, this will reduce FDI and could lead to it being switched off.
Economic reasons
Economic reasons
- If a country is excluded from trade blocs or is disadvantaged by trade rules, it will be switched off.
- If a country has high levels of government debt and is not able to spend on infrastructure as a result, it will be switched off. High levels of debt may also stop other countries from investing there.
Environmental reasons
Environmental reasons
- If a country lacks energy resources to trade or use for manufacturing, it could be switched off.
- But nations that export a lot of raw materials like oil, can suffer from Dutch Disease, where their exports become uncompetitive because their exchange rate has 'appreciated too much'.
Examples of 'Switched Off' Places
Examples of 'Switched Off' Places
North Korea and the Sahel region in North Africa are two good examples of 'switched off' regions.
North Korea
North Korea
- North Korea is perhaps the best example of a truly 'switched off' location. It is switched off because of political reasons.
- North Korea is a communist dictatorship, run by one family who has total control over the population.
- The current leader is Kim Jong-un.
- People in North Korea are not able to access the internet, move abroad or benefit from most cheap goods that could be imported from abroad.
Sahel region
Sahel region
- The Sahel region (a group of countries including Mali and Niger) in North Africa is a 'switched off' region because of physical and environmental reasons.
- This region of the world is dry with severe water scarcity. There are regular droughts and famines. Because of this, conditions for agriculture are bad and the Sahel produces very few crops for export.
- The Sahel region includes landlocked countries that struggle to export goods without access to their own ports. This means they are switched off from global trade flows.
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
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
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
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
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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