Who are the new players?

In the last 20 years new global players have emerged as we move from a bipolar world to a multipolar one
The BRICs
The expansion of the EU to 27 countries has led to an increase in power as a block

What is happening to the old powers?
Russian Gas and energy:
Natural gas has helped Russia become more significant because they can sell it for high prices to whoever they want. In 2006 Russia cut its gas supplies to Ukraine for 3 days

Preserving Prosperity:
USA and EU are becoming more dependent on China but they worry that Chinese workers have no loyalty to the home country. E.g. global technology players. Microsoft and Apple establish research policies in China and India. Growth of software exports by 2 - 17% in 1997-2004

Restructuring:
Since the 1970s USA have had to resort to moving away from their main manufacturing sector due to increased competition from Japan and China e.g. car manufacturing industry has moved to Japan and China. In 2008 the top 5 selling cars in USA were Japanese in origin

Space:
To begin with the space race was only completed by 2 countries, the USA and USSR. However now other countries are joining and threatening the might of NASA. China are planning their own space station to rival international space stations and also plan a visit to mars by 2040. NASA plans to do his by 2032

Territorial Tensions:
Diaogutai Islands - Japan controls them, China thinks they should
Chunxiao gas field - arguing over resource extraction
Economic line runs through Japan and China - disputes over where the line should be
As china grows it becomes greedy

	Created by Caitlyn Grayston over 7 years ago

A-Level Geography (A Level Superpowers) Note on What will the future look like?, created by Caitlyn Grayston on 04/06/2017.