Enquiry question 3: What are the consequences of globalisation for global development and the physical environment and how should different players respond to its challenges?
3.7 Globalisation has led to dramatic increases in development for some countries, but also widening development gap extremities and disparities in environmental quality.
3.7a. Economic measures (both single and composite indices) of development (income per capita, economic sector balance) contrast with those focused on social development (Human Development Index (HDI), Gender Inequality Index (GII)) and environmental quality (air pollution indices). (7)
Development can be measured in many ways but broadly we can group them in economic, environmental and social factors.
Levels of development can be measured using single (e.g. GDP per Capita) and composite indicators (e.g. HDI or GII). They all vary in validity (how relevant), reliability (how accurate), and comprehensiveness (do they capture entirety?). |
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3.7b. Trends in widening income inequality, globally and nationally (measured using the Gini Coefficient), suggest globalisation has created winners and losers for people and physical environments between and within developed, emerging and developing economies. (8)
Wealth varies between and within nations. The Gini coefficient is a number between 0 and 100. The higher the value, the greater the degree of income inequality.
A value of 0 indicates that everyone in that country has the same income, whereas a value of 100 would mean a single individual receives all of a country’s income. Therefore, the higher the value, the more income inequality is indicated. Here is a link to an interactive version of the 2015 Gini Index map (left) - https://ourworldindata.org/income-inequality |
Globalisation has created major environmental issues including climate change and biodiversity loss. This creates both winners and losers.
The Effects Of Deforestation On The Penan -Tribe With Bruce Parry - BBC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f21BpLL_S_g
Global trade is key driver of deforestation - https://geographical.co.uk/places/forests/item/399-global-trade-is-key-driver-of-deforestation
COP21: Climate change deal's winners and losers - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-35086474/cop21-climate-change-deal-s-winners-and-losers
The Effects Of Deforestation On The Penan -Tribe With Bruce Parry - BBC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f21BpLL_S_g
Global trade is key driver of deforestation - https://geographical.co.uk/places/forests/item/399-global-trade-is-key-driver-of-deforestation
COP21: Climate change deal's winners and losers - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-35086474/cop21-climate-change-deal-s-winners-and-losers
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3.7c. Contrasting trends in economic development and environmental management between global regions since 1970 indicate differential progress that can be related to the outcomes from globalisation.
The Lorenz Curve
Previously you looked at the Gini Coefficient. The Gini coefficient is a number between 0 and 100. The higher the value, the greater the degree of income inequality. This number can be plotted on a Lorenz Curve (right). Use this website to help you: https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/glossary/lorenz-curve/ |
Variations can occur geographically, by age, gender, race, education levels etc. There are many reasons why Globalisation can result in different levels of progress from within a country. These can include physical location, accessibility and connectedness, the decisions of key stakeholders and historical development. See the graphs below:
3.8 Social, political and environmental tensions have resulted from the rapidity of global change caused by globalisation.
3.8a. Open borders, deregulation and encouragement of foreign direct investment has created culturally mixed societies and thriving migrant diasporas in some locations, but tensions have resulted elsewhere (ü Rise of extremism in Europe and trans-boundary water conflicts in south-east Asia).
Migration has always occurred. Throughout history human development has been punctuated with the movement of people (e.g. Normans into England in 1066 or English to North America in 1620). Migration has accelerated due to globalisation. The European Union is an example of this acceleration. This rapid movement can have both positives and negatives.
Case studies:
British Pensioners to Spain: https://komillachadha.com/2017/02/06/case-study-britons-migrate-to-spain/ Polish Workers to UK: https://www.brainscape.com/flashcards/international-migration-case-study-poland-5952246/packs/8987104 Here is an excellent interactive map that shows the diasporas of different nationalities through out the UK: https://maps.cdrc.ac.uk/#/metrics/countryofbirth/default/BTTTFFT/10/-0.1098/51.4814/ |
One reaction to increased migration and some of the negative impacts (both real and perceived) has been the rise of Nationalism in developed nations (e.g. Trump in USA).
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3.8b. Attempts have been made in some locations to control the spread of globalisation by censorship (ü China or North Korea), limiting immigration (ü UK or Japan) and trade protectionism. (P: role of government) (A: attitudes of pro- and anti-immigration groups)
There are three main ways that legislation can reduce globalisation.
Examples include: US Trade War with China https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-43512098 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45899310 US and Iran Pistachio Wars http://geographical.co.uk/people/cultures/item/3660-nut-wars Australian Migration points based system https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/reports/the-australian-points-based-system-what-is-it-and-what-would-its-impact-be-in-the-uk/ North Korea Censorship https://www.huffpost.com/entry/north-korean-censorship_b_58fe78afe4b086ce58981445 China Censorship https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/chinese-internet-censorship-images/index.html |
3.8c. Some groups seek to retain their cultural identity within countries and seek to retain control of culture and physical resources (ü First Nations in Canada), whereas others embrace its economic advantages.
Resource Nationalism - Resource nationalism is the tendency of people and governments to assert control over natural resources located on their territory.
Cultural groups within a country can take a strong position on whether global forces should be allowed to exploit their resources, particularly if the landscape is threatened.
Cultural groups within a country can take a strong position on whether global forces should be allowed to exploit their resources, particularly if the landscape is threatened.
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3.9 Ethical and Environmental concerns about unsustainability have led to increased localism and awareness of the impacts of a consumer society.
3.9a. Local groups and NGOs promote local sourcing (ü Transition towns) as one response to globalisation by increasing sustainability (A: actions of local pressure groups); this has economic, social and environmental costs and benefits.
Globalisation has enabled to the growth of consumer societies. Cheap products, available to buy at the click of a button from anywhere around the world means that the purchase of goods has become a social as well economic pursuit. This in turn has huge impacts on the environment and society itself. In particular issues such as:
Take the WWF questionare to see how large your carbon footprint is: https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/#/ |
Localism: a solution to globalisation’s problems?
The term 'Transition Town' refers to grassroots community projects that aim to increase self-sufficiency to reduce the potential effects of peak oil, climate destruction, and economic instability. Essentially it is a rejection of Globalisation and instead a welcoming of localism (supporting locally grown foods, shopping in locally owned shops, reusing and rebuilding goods rather than buying brand new replacements). There are 100s of localism projects throughout the UK. Examples can be found here: www.transitionnetwork.org |
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3.9b. Fair trade and ethical consumption schemes may reduce the environmental degradation, the inequalities of global trade and improve working conditions for some people. (A: actions of NGOs and pressure groups)
Fairtrade
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. There are some disadvantages: https://www.explainthatstuff.com/fairtrade.html |
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Buying local
More than half of our food now comes from abroad, mainly the EU, South America and South-East Asia. The further food travels, the greater the carbon footprint. Buying local can help to reduce the carbon footprint created by huge food miles but there are also some downsides: https://www.simpleminded.life/disadvantages-of-buying-local/
More than half of our food now comes from abroad, mainly the EU, South America and South-East Asia. The further food travels, the greater the carbon footprint. Buying local can help to reduce the carbon footprint created by huge food miles but there are also some downsides: https://www.simpleminded.life/disadvantages-of-buying-local/
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3.9c. Recycling has a role in managing resource consumption and ecological footprints, but its use varies by product and place (ü local authorities in the UK or local NGOs such as Keep Britain Tidy). (F: environmental consequences of different patterns of resource consumption)
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Recycling conserves resources
When we recycle, materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources which will help to protect natural habitats for the future. Recycling saves energy Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials. Recycling helps protect the environment Recycling reduces the need for extracting, refining and processing raw materials all of which create air and water pollution. As recycling saves energy it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change. Recycling reduces landfill When we recycle, recyclable materials are reprocessed into new products, and as a result the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites decreases which reduces emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. |
Recycling is not perfect. It is costly, and can be energy intensive. A more lasting approach is a shift from a linear economy to a circular one.
A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/what-is-the-circular-economy |