Assess to what extent the superpowers rising demand for physical resources has led to both environmental and political challenges PDF

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Imogen Goode

‘Assess to what extent the superpowers’ rising demand for physical resources has led to both environmental and political challenges.’ (12) There are numerous ways in which superpowers’ demand for physical resources has led to environmental and political challenges, although there are also positive results from more countries gaining access to physical resources. Firstly, there comes issues with the global dominance of TNC’s. In emerging superpowers, the largest companies are usually state owned, meaning that the whole or majority are owned by the government, for example Petrobras. But, in western superpowers, companies are publicly traded and can exert their dominance in a number of ways; they have enough wealth to invest in new technology, they can borrow money and invest to take advantage of globalisation, and free market capitalism can open up new markets allowing expansion. This creates challenges for emerging or developing countries as they will be able to economically progress more to outcompete smaller rivals, and as a result can access more physical resources. In addition, there are global environmental concerns of physical resources. From 1986 to 2011, all energy resources have increased in demand, especially coal. With countries still relying heavily on non-renewables, there will be a point where they are no longer available. China accounts for over half of the worlds coal consumption but only 19% of the world’s population. Although, in order to maintain a large economy, military machine with global reach and a wealthy population requires energy, land and water resources. Emerging powers seek to continue to urbanise, increasing demand for water and use pollutant chemicals in agriculture to increase yields. In return, China have committed to spend 612.23 billion dollars on water conservation over the next 10 years. Moreover, oil in the Artic is becoming increasingly contested for. Potentially, 30% of the world’s undiscovered gas and 13% of oil are in the Artic. This creates political challenges between countries on who has the right to use these resources. Much of the dispute centres around whether an area of ocean bed, known as the Lomonosov ridge is an extension of Russia’s continental shelf, or EEZ, or not. Three of the contesting parties, being USA, EU and Russia, all have nuclear weapons, which gives them hard power. In 2007, Russia panted their flag on the seabed of the North Pole, which ignited tensions between the countries. Although, organisations such as the World Trade Organisation allow agreements which promote open trade and reduces protectionism since 1995. This has allowed emerging countries such as China, to not be hindered by political challenges, with their entry in 2001 changed the face of global economy which allowed them to rise as a superpower. This shows how although there are challenges that come with rising in power, they allow countries to develop in many ways. So, globally there are political and environmental challenges which come with the demand for physical resources from rising superpowers, although

Imogen Goode

the access to these materials are allowing once developing countries to emerge and become stronger powers....