Exam December 2019, questions and answers PDF

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Exam Review QuestionsExplain how populations in the core and in the periphery will change over the next few decades. –differences in dynamics, age/sex structure, levels of urbanization, impact on the environment, etc. Core regions are those that dominate trade, control the most advanced technologies...

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Exam Review Questions Explain how populations in the core and in the periphery will change over the next few decades. –differences in dynamics, age/sex structure, levels of urbanization, impact on the environment, etc. Core regions are those that dominate trade, control the most advanced technologies, and have high level of productivity within diversified economies. Peripheral regions are characterized by dependent and disadvantageous trading relationships, obsolete technologies, and undeveloped economies with low productivity levels. Important determinant of these changes in status is the effectiveness of states in ensuring the international competitiveness of their domestic producers. Periphery countries are increasing population rapidly and expanding into global urbanization at a more severe rate than core. Pollution and garbage creation are much more severe in core countries as we buy products use them and throw them out. Periphery have quantitive overpopulation. Qualitative overpopulation Explain what you should consider when reading a map? –projection, type of data, scale/level of detail, etc. Selection- we can’t show everything Generalization- we can’t show every detail Created by people with intentions Projection- distortion can affect the size, shape, and directions Explain what is behind the conflicts in the Middle East? –historical roots, legacy of colonialism, cultural differences, geopolitical concepts that can help us understand them, etc. What is human geography Human geography is about recognizing and understanding the interdependence among places and regions, without losing sight of the uniqueness of each specific place. Helps contribute to local, national, and global development but also to understand and promote multicultural, international, and feminist perspectives on the world. Interdependency of living things and physical environments. Human geography deals with the spatial organization of human activities with people’s relationships to their environments. How physical environment influence and are influenced by human activity. Interdependencies of both cause and effect patterns. Relationship between people and places. Spatial relationship why is something where it is. Neocolonialism/Decolonization Decolonization occurred after WWII and it brought political independence to colonies, but they remained dependent on ‘mother countries. The control of less developed countries by developed countries through indirect means. Neocolonialism was first used after WWII to refer to the continuing dependence of former colonies on foreign colonies, broadened to refer to places where the power of developed

countries was used to an exploitation. Europe’s control over Africa. Core countries pressured former colonies into playing by the rules and made sure they kept periphery countries in a state of dependency. Paradox of plenty The paradoxical situation in which countries with an abundance of non-renewable natural resources experience stagnant economic growth or contraction. It occurs when countries focus on one industry such as oil or mining. The nation becomes overly dependent on the price of commodities and GDP becomes unpredictable. EX) Nigeria oil Dependency and why does it continue Former colonies (peripheral countries) have little control over their own resources. EX) Nigeria lack of capital, infrastructure, technology, skilled labour, means they must export their oil. No matter how low the price they must sell due to export dependency. As a result, peripheral countries can’t mobilize their resources for their own development and remain dependent. European expansion Europeans had an early start: they developed new technologies and industrialized early, they used their technology to conquer colonies, used resources and slavery of the colonies to fuel their own development, maintained and expanded initial advantage, grew rich and became core countries. Decolonization after WWII brought political independence to colonies but remained dependant on “mother country”. Neo-colonial relationship developed, rule were established by the former colonizers (core) for their benefit and continue to keep periphery in a state of dependency. Peripheral countries have to sell resources due to their export dependency. They can’t use their resources for their own development. Europe was insignificant compared to India and China. Europeans began to learn about spices and began to start an exploration. Portugal introduced the banana as slave food. Slaves were forced to grow their own food by planting bananas. Technology and economic head start allowed European exploration, discovery, colonialism, imperialism. Colonies in Africa became resource providers, captive markets for goods, settlement area for ‘surplus’ European populations. China focused on a closed society rather than expansion. Colonial exploitation allowed Europeans to ‘pull ahead’, colonial resources fuelled colonizers industrialization, colonies absorbed excess population, development in colonies was suppressed. The division has long lasting effects: the early start, paradox of plenty. The Climate Crisis Climate crisis emphasis is often warmer temperatures, but it’s much more: changes in rainfall parents, wind patterns, ocean currents, warming of oceans/loss of sea ice, extreme weather events, shifting of vegetation zones and animal habitats. Caused by fossil fuel burning, meat production, fertilizer, industry (fridges, ac). Global average temperature has had steep increase in last few years. Population and consumption levels have grown even faster than all

conservation efforts and renewable technologies. Climate crisis alters where people can live (sea level rise), where food can be grown (droughts, floods), where diseases spread (vector). Leads to ecomigration (migration for economic reasons). Effects of Climate change are distributed unevenly. Periphery stands to experience more detrimental effects than the core. Climate is warmer/dryer to begin, infrastructure is less developed, people are less wealthy. Yet periphery contributed much less to climate change than the core. Africa contributes least but suffers the most, Canada and Europe benefit the most (inequality & WST). CC worsens global inequality, will prevent periphery from developing, lead to a large-scale shift in global systems. CC is happening faster than at any point in last 55 million years. Ecosystems can’t adapt quick enough. Reaching irreversible state. China is world leader in renewable energy production. Renewables only provide 25% of energy demands. China produced most renewables but also the biggest polluter. China taking leadership in solar power. Change is possible but must happen son.

The changing role of China and their many interconnections did the facts and visuals on the slides illustrate? The problems associated with different types of maps and different map projections We want size of area, shape of area, distance, and directions to not be distorted. Choropleth maps are deceiving as the map maker can change the way data is classified which leads map to look different and send different messages. Cartogram requires awareness of what undistorted map looks like. It’s impossible to flatten the earth without distorting it in some way. Isoline (isopleth)- lines connect points of equal value. Continuous phenomena (temperature, rain, elevation) Dot map- used for raw values- Discrete phenomena. Exact locations are known. Proportional symbol maps- Symbol is proportional to the value of the phenomenon that is being mapped. Most intuitive type of map. Choropleth maps- used for derived values (percentages). Colouring book map. Cartogram- some thematic mapping variable (population, GNP) The development of the modern World System

Global inequality We are all globally interconnected through a continuing cycle of production, consumption, and recycling. Resource extraction can lead to conflict (oil, water). Pollution leads to climate change. We bear responsibility for our actions even if we don’t see the consequences (cheap t shirts, sea level rise). Inequality isn’t an accident, it’s a consequence of how the world’s economy was designed to run. Inequality is also a requirement for the global economy to flourish. Two ways of looking at inequality is the wealth difference between individuals and the wealth difference between states. 8 richest men own as much as poorer half of population. Global top one percent captured 82% of wealth. Originated from if a country was a colonizer, settle colony or a colony. Living conditions are getting better but the inequality between rich and poor is growing. Rich countries pulling ahead faster even though poor countries still improving. Global inequality is the result of rigging of the process of economic development by those states powerful enough to set the agenda. The gain of one group is achieved through the expense of another Population dynamics; globalization China one child policy was in effect between 1980 and 2016. Created gender imbalance (Female infanticide), lack of brides (barren branch), ageing population (4-2-1), undocumented births Political geography Hard borders are making a comeback, increasing nationalism (US trying to build wall, UK trying to leave EU). Current problems aren’t contained by borders, things like CC, pollution, terrorism, migration, is transnational or global. Capitalism is private ownership of all means of production (land, resources, factories). Communism is the state owns all means of production. Urbanization The number of cities and size of cities are accelerating all over the world. Periphery are increasing quicker than core. 80% of people in core countries live in cities, 50% of periphery people live in cities, 95% of urban population growth is occurring in periphery. Urbanization can lower ecological footprint as it has greater efficiency and transportation needs are easier to meet. Urbanization also has easier provision of health, education, and social services, governance, division of labour allows for specialization. Problems with urbanization is that it requires considerable infrastructure, higher transportation needs, dependence on specialists. 50 megacities > 10 million. 15 meta cities > 20 million. 3 cities > 30 million. In periphery, growth precedes infrastructure which leads to unplanned development (informal economy). In core, growth follows infrastructure. China is an extreme example of

planned urban growth. China wants to urbanize as it’s nearly impossible to raise standard of living in rural interior, better infrastructure efficiency, consumption levels are higher, political reasons. China and its unique history and development, its re-emergence as a global power, and its increasingly assertive role in global affairs. - 'Earth is a System.' Explain this statement, using terminology you learned in the course and making reference to some of the examples we discussed in class. - Choose three processes or mechanisms involved in Climate Change and explain how they are interacting in a feedback loop. - Explain the connection between future population growth and global resource consumption. Make sure you address both quantitative and qualitative aspects of 'overpopulation.'

- Explain the concept of World-System Theory An approach to analyzing the world history of mankind and social changes in different countries. Immanuel Wallerstein made the world system theory. The world is a globally integrated system in which states and corporations compete for resources, territory, and power. European countries had an initial advantage/early start and used it to conquer and exploit colonies. Core nations are powerful, wealthy, and highly independent. They have powerful militaries, lots of resources available, and at forefront of technological progress. Semi-peripheral nations have less developed economy and aren’t dominant in international trade. They are in middle for influence on economy but try to get into core position, past has proven it’s possible to move up. Peripheral nations are least economically developed. High percentage of uneducated people. Weak government. Some countries benefit while others are exploited. Emphasizes the social structure of global inequality. Pay less money for cheap labour and resources because peripheral countries need the capital. Started during the initial advantage/early start. Some countries were strong enough to colonize others and exploit their resources. Global inequality is product of competition for power and resources (instead of cooperation). Global economic system is skewed towards the need of the core. Core relies on cheap resources from peripheral.

Arab Springs

A term used in the media for the revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests, riots, and civil wars in the Arab world. Syria Syrian civil war was first war caused by climate change. Worst ever drought, grain harvest dropped by one-third. It was longer than WWII and more than 600,000 were killed. Over 6 million refugees (crossed border), over 8 million internally displaced persons. Protesters demanded that their president resigns. Iran and Russia supported government whereas Saudi and Qatar armed the rebels. Social Credit Score Private providers collect info on citizens such as credit score, purchased made, social media activity. Government combines that data with health, video, police files and integrates it into a social credit score. Score is accessible to banks, employers’ landlords and a low score can result in no passport, restricted government services (health insurance), no promotion, no preferred schools for children. In 2020, businesses will be subjected to a score as well based on compliance, financial behaviour. Low score will result in higher taxes, low market access, fewer public contracts. The system is welcomed by 80% of Chinese citizens as it can counter corruption and increases accountability. China has access to online games and smartphones and some school uniforms have GPS and facial recognition to interpret expressions. Globalization Growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures, and populations. Some effects benefit society as a whole whereas others are harmed. First wave of globalization was propelled after European expansion by steamships, railroads. During WWI and WWII globalization stopped but the second wave started again after WWII when US led efforts to revive trade and investments. The goal was to create a better world for countries willing to cooperate to promote peace and prosperity. Globalization encouraged specialization as production is more efficient and affordable. Competition encourages domestic producers to be better. It narrows inequality globally but domestically it’s rising. Globalization has displaced some workers while supporting high skill jobs. Overall payoff is much greater than costs to individual workers or groups who have lost out....