Welcome to "Going Global"!
Hello! Welcome to your study notes for the Going Global chapter of your Edexcel International AS Geography course. While the "World at Risk" chapter looked at the physical side of global challenges (like volcanoes and climate change), this chapter is all about Human Geography.
We are going to explore how our world is becoming more connected, why some places are getting rich while others stay "switched off," and how the massive growth in global population and cities is changing the way we live. Don't worry if some of the big words like "Glocalisation" or "Time-Space Compression" sound scary—we'll break them down together using everyday examples!
1.4.1: Why are Global Connections Increasing?
Globalisation is the process of the world becoming more interconnected. Think of it as the "widening and deepening" of global links. It’s not just about trade; it involves commodities (goods), capital (money), information, and people (migrants and tourists).
Measuring Globalisation
Not every country is equally connected. Geographers use "indices" to measure this:
• KOF Index: Measures globalisation based on economic, social, and political criteria.
• AT Kearney Index: Looks at business activity and how "global" a city's economy is.
The "Shrinking World" and Technology
In the 1800s, it took weeks to send a letter across the ocean by steam-ship. Today, it takes milliseconds via the internet. This is called Time-Space Compression. It feels like the world is getting smaller because we can communicate and travel so much faster.
• 19th Century: Railways and the telegraph started the speed-up.
• 20th Century: Jet aircraft and containerisation (using huge standard metal boxes to ship goods cheaply) made global trade explode.
• 21st Century: The internet, mobile phones, and fiber optics mean we are "always on."
Quick Review: Globalisation is about speed and connection. It makes the world feel "smaller" through technology and faster transport.
Key Takeaway: Transport and communication technology are the "engines" of globalisation. Without ships and the internet, the global economy would stall.
1.4.2: The Major Players in Globalisation
Who is making all this happen? It’s not just "the world" acting on its own; specific organisations and governments drive the process.
TNCs: The Global Giants
Transnational Corporations (TNCs) are companies that operate in more than one country (like Apple, Nike, or Coca-Cola).
• Offshoring: Moving parts of the business to another country to save money (e.g., building a factory in Vietnam).
• Outsourcing: Hiring another company to do work for you (e.g., a UK bank using a call center in India).
• Glocalisation: This is a clever trick where TNCs change their products to fit local tastes. Example: McDonald's selling the "McSpicy Paneer" in India instead of beef burgers.
International Government Organisations (IGOs)
These act like the "referees" of the global economy:
• World Trade Organization (WTO): Tries to reduce trade barriers (like taxes on imports) to promote Free Trade.
• IMF and World Bank: Provide loans to countries to help them develop, usually encouraging them to join the global market.
The Role of Governments
National governments can choose to "open up" to globalisation by creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs)—areas where businesses pay lower taxes—to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Did you know? China’s massive growth started in the late 1970s when they created SEZs like Shenzhen, turning a small fishing village into a global tech hub!
Key Takeaway: TNCs, IGOs, and Governments work together to spread global trade, though their main goal is often economic growth rather than equality.
1.4.3: Winners, Losers, and Switched-Off Places
Globalisation doesn't benefit everyone equally. It creates winners (people and places that get rich) and losers (those who lose jobs or face pollution).
The Global Shift to Asia
In the last 40 years, the "economic center of gravity" has shifted from the West to Asia (especially China and India).
• Benefits: Millions of people have been lifted out of poverty and have better jobs and education.
• Costs: Rapid industrialisation has led to terrible air and water pollution in cities like Beijing.
The "Rustbelt" (The Losers)
While Asia gained factories, developed countries like the USA and UK lost them. This is deindustrialisation. Areas like the USA Rustbelt saw factory closures leading to unemployment, crime, and "dereliction" (broken-down buildings).
"Switched-Off" Places
Some places are hardly connected to the global web at all. This can be due to:
• Physical reasons: Being landlocked (no coast) or having extreme deserts/mountains.
• Political reasons: Harsh governments that ban the internet or trade (like North Korea).
• Economic reasons: High levels of debt or lack of skilled workers.
Memory Aid: Think of the world as a giant switchboard. Global Hubs (London, Tokyo) have all the lights flashing. Switched-off places have the lights turned off.
Key Takeaway: Globalisation creates a "two-speed" world. While Asia thrives and London remains a "Global Hub," other areas face decline or isolation.
1.4.4: Global Population Challenges
The world’s population is growing, but it’s changing in different ways depending on where you look.
The Dependency Ratio
Geographers look at how many people are working compared to those who are not (the young and the old).
\( \text{Dependency Ratio} = \frac{\text{Number of Dependents (0-14 and 65+)}}{\text{Working-age Population (15-64)}} \times 100 \)
• Ageing Populations: Countries like Japan or Russia have many elderly people. This puts a strain on healthcare and means there aren't enough workers.
• Youthful Populations: Countries like Nigeria or India have many children. This means they need lots of schools, but if they manage it well, they get a Demographic Dividend (lots of young workers to grow the economy) in the future.
Malthus vs. Boserup (The Resource Debate)
• Thomas Malthus (The Pessimist): He argued that population grows faster than food supply. He predicted we would run out of resources and face "misery" (famine/war).
• Ester Boserup (The Optimist): She argued that "necessity is the mother of invention." When we run low on resources, humans will invent new technology (like better fertilizers) to produce more.
Key Takeaway: Population growth puts pressure on food, water, and energy. Whether we survive this depends on if you agree with Malthus (we're doomed) or Boserup (we'll innovate).
1.4.5: Global Migration
People move because of Push Factors (things that make you want to leave, like war or poverty) and Pull Factors (things that attract you, like high wages or safety).
Types of Migration
• Elite Migrants: Highly skilled people (doctors, tech experts) who move to global hubs like London.
• Low-skill Workers: Often move to do "3D jobs" (Dirty, Dangerous, and Difficult).
• Internal Migration: Moving within a country, usually Rural-to-Urban (from the farm to the city).
• Refugees: People forced to flee due to conflict or disaster.
The "Brain Drain" and Remittances
• Brain Drain: When all the smartest people leave a developing country, leaving it without enough doctors or teachers.
• Remittances: Money sent back home by migrants. This is a huge benefit for source countries! Example: Migrants in the EU sending money back to families in Eastern Europe.
Key Takeaway: Migration helps fill skills gaps in rich countries but can lead to "brain drain" in poorer ones. It is one of the most difficult things for governments to manage.
1.4.6: An Urbanised World
For the first time in history, more people live in cities than in the countryside. We are becoming an urban species!
Megacities
A Megacity is a city with more than 10 million people (like Mumbai, Lagos, or Mexico City). These cities grow through migration and natural increase (more births than deaths).
The Challenges of Rapid Growth
When cities grow too fast, they face major problems:
• Slums/Shanty Settlements: People build their own houses because the government can't provide enough cheap housing (e.g., Dharavi in Mumbai).
• Environmental Health: Huge amounts of traffic lead to air pollution (Nitrogen Oxides and particulates), which causes lung diseases.
• Service Provision: It's hard to provide clean water, electricity, and trash collection to millions of new residents.
The Solutions
Cities try to manage this through:
• NGOs and Community Action: Small groups helping slum dwellers improve their own homes.
• Eco-cities: Planning "ideal" cities that use renewable energy and have great public transport (though these are rare and expensive).
Quick Review: Megacities are centers of opportunity but also centers of pollution and poverty. Managing them requires cooperation between the government and local people.
Key Takeaway: Urbanisation is unstoppable, but the quality of life in cities depends on how well the "housing crisis" and pollution are managed.
Final Encouragement
You’ve made it through the core ideas of Going Global! Remember, Geography is all about connections. When you think about a TNC like Nike, think about how it links a factory in Vietnam to a shop in London, and how that move affects the environment and the people in both places. You're doing great—keep reviewing these key terms and you'll be ready for your exam!