Superpowers & Alliances

Military Alliance - NATO

Alliances increase interdependence as they allow several different countries to work together to achieve common goals. Alliances can allow nations to maintain their global influence.

Military alliance

NATO is a military alliance.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was formed in 1949 at the start of the Cold War.
The underlying principle is that an attack on one is an attack on all.
Currently, it has around 20,000 personnel on missions around the world. It is operating in Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Mediterranean.

Criteria

Part of the criteria for NATO is that you must spend 2% of your GDP on defence.
The USA spends 3.5% of GDP on defence, however, the median spend of NATO members was only 1.31% in 2017.

NATO's influence

Since the end of the Cold War NATO's influence had diminished and it did few international operations. However, the annexing of Crimea by Russia saw a renewed focus and purpose for NATO.
The future of NATO as a military alliance is uncertain. President Trump has publicly declared that the alliance is no longer relevant. He has threatened to withdraw from NATO- which would most likely see the whole alliance fall apart.
At the very least, he has asked all members to ensure they do meet the 2% spending agreement.

Other Global Alliances

Other military, economic and environmental alliances have emerged apart from NATO. All of these affect the global patterns of influence.

ANZUS - military alliance

The Australia, New Zealand, and the United States Security Treaty was set up in 1951.
It was set up to co-operate on military matters in the Pacific and to stop the spread of communism in this region.
In 2017 troops from the US and Australia took part in joint training exercises as tensions on the Korean peninsula saw the importance of ANZUS increase.
In 2011, President Obama announced that the US focus would ‘pivot' to Asia and this continues with ANZUS as an important part of that. It is the result of North Korea's nuclear testing.

EU - economic alliance

The European Union began as a free trade agreement in 1956.
However, over time, it has worked towards ever-increasing political union and is now much more than simply an economic alliance.
As a member of the EU, countries allow the free movement of people and 19 of its 28 members share a common currency.
The UK voted to leave the EU in 2016 and it remains to be seen whether any other countries will follow this path.
In 2018, it was unclear what the UK’s relationship with the EU will look like once it has left.

NAFTA - economic alliance

The North American Free Trade Agreement is an economic alliance between Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.
Unlike the EU, this trade bloc does not seek to move towards ever-increasing political union and so it does not allow the free movement of people.
In 2018 however, President Trump is calling for NAFTA to be renegotiated and calls NAFTA ‘the worst trade deal ever’.
Trump believes that NAFTA has wiped up manufacturing jobs in the US because it allowed companies to move factories to Mexico where labour is cheaper.
Arguably, this has benefited the US as it has meant that consumer goods are cheaper.

IPCC - environmental alliance

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was set up by the UN in 1988.
Every 5 years, scientists from all around the world meet and together, as part of the IPCC, they produce a report about the latest research on climate change.
The members of the IPCC represent over 120 countries.
To produce their report, they compile the evidence from peer-reviewed journal articles written over the past 5 years.

The UN is important for global geopolitical stability. The UN has several different divisions that include the Security Council, the International Court of Justice, its peacekeeping missions and its climate change conferences.

UN Security Council

This is the branch of the UN responsible for preventing conflict and keeping international peace.
The security council has 5 permanent members and these 5 have more influence than other members. They are the USA, the UK, France, China, and Russia.
- The 5 permanent members can veto any decision made by the council.
There are then another 10 members.
The UN Security Council is used by nations to defend their own interests. Russia vetoes any threat of action that could harm its global influence and status.
The UN Security Council decides when and where a UN peacekeeping operation should be deployed.

UN International Court of Justice

This is based in the Hague in the Netherlands.
It sorts out disputes between UN member countries and so does not deal with individual people or individual companies- it is for countries only.
It has 15 judges who represent the different global regions.

UN Peacekeeping missions

Currently, the UN has 14 peacekeeping operations in place across the globe.
These include locations such as Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Middle East.
The idea is to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace.

UN Climate Change conferences

These annual conferences aim to make progress with regards to tackling climate change.
They try to establish legally binding agreements for all developed countries to reduce carbon emissions.
The 2015 Paris Agreement was the result of several conferences and a large number of countries signed up.

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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