Superpowers & Global Action
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 9.3.3
Superpowers and Global Action
Superpowers and emerging nations play an important role in global action. They play a key role in international decision making when it comes to crisis response, conflict and climate change.
Global police
- The current superpowers and powerful countries act as ‘global police’ by responding to conflict around the world.
- An example of superpowers responding to conflict, was in Afghanistan in the early 21st century.
- There have been tensions in this region that have led to conflict for 40 years.
- The USA became involved following the 9/11 attacks.
- Some people believe the UN failed to intervene sufficiently in the Srebrenica massacre, which saw thousands of Bosniaks killed in Bosnia.
Environment
- Superpowers play an important role in international decision making when it comes to climate change.
- The major superpowers are the major emitters of greenhouse gases and thus they are under pressure to act.
- In 2017, Donald Trump, US President, withdrew the USA from the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Humanitarian crises
- When natural disasters hit developing countries. Superpowers and emerging nations offer a variety of support to these countries.
- Developing nations look to help from other countries as they lack the funds to do it themselves.
- For example, since the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the USA has given over $5.1 billion in aid. This has supported life-saving post-disaster relief as well as long-term recovery, reconstruction and development programs. There are 164 new clinics in Haiti and 72,000 children were immunised against various diseases in 2017.
Test yourself on Superpowers & Global Action
In 2017 which environmental convention did Donald Trump withdraw the USA from?
Which of the following outline US humanitarian actions in Haiti since 2010?