Changing Relationships between developing nations and superpowers

Changing Relationships between developing nations and superpowers

1. Middle Eastern Conflict

   • Taliban supported by the West until 9/11
     • 9/11 killed nearly 3000 people
     • After 9/11 the USA led an international military coalition against the Afghan Taliban, seeking to destroy training camps and kill militant leaders
   • Iran regarded suspicious by Western Governments as opposed to Western backed Sunni government in Afghanistan
   • 35% people live below poverty line
   • Since the dissolution of the USSR, Russia no longer shares a border with the Middle Eastern conflict countries
     • Soviet Departure left a power vacuum during the 1990s
   • Afghan communist party seized power in 1978, supported by the USSR
     • Created conflict between USA and USSR
   • India fears incursion and destabilisations by Islamists after previous Islamist attacks, wants Western supported governments in Afganistan
   • China is less concerned than India but its large Muslim population fears Islamist threats
   • Middle Eastern region is strategically important for trade routes into central Asia and Russia

2. China in Africa

   • China's increased economic growth has increased its demand for resources so it has increased its trade relations with the developing world, particularly Africa
   • Involvement with Africa focused on trade and investment in infrastructure
     • eg. transport links such as railways for exporting raw materials
   • By 2015 China had become Africa's largest trading partner
     • US $60 billion in Chinese FDI boosting mining, agriculture, banking and IT
     • African exports to China
       • 65% mineral fuel/ lubricants
       • Crude material 19%
       • Manufactured goods 12%
     • Chinese exports to Africa
       • 41% Machinery/ transport equipment
       • Manufactured intermediary goods 31%
       • Manufactured consumer goods 18%
   • Over 1 million Chinese (mostly labourers and traders) have moved to Africa since 2005
   • Despite providing employment, China's decision to move some industries to Africa eg steel and cement has caused concern owing to air and water pollution
   • One Belt, One Road strategy
     • Develop connectivity between China, Eurasia and Africa
     • One belt countries extend from Russia and Mongolia through Central Asia to Western Europe
     • One road countries extend influence into South East Asia and India, then to the Middle East and East Africa

3. Taiwan

   • Communist China maintains its territorial claim to Taiwan as a Chinese province
   • Chinese civil war established the communist People's Republic of China, with the opposition government retreating to Taiwan
   • Since 1949 there have been tensions between the Chinese government and the opposition government, each claiming to be China's legitimate government

4. Tibet

   • Diaspora in Tibet seek political separation from China
   • One reason is religious differences with Beijing's atheist government refusing to acknowledge the Dalai Lama as the traditional spiritual and political leader of Tibet
   • By encouraging ethnic Chinese migrants to move to Tibet, China has raised tensions

5. Japan

   • Despite long-standing tensions between China and Japan, they are now major trading partners
   • Historic tensions stem from stationing of US troops in Japan during the Chinses civil war and the adoption of a capitalist, westernised economy by Japan following the second world war

6. India

   • Tense relations between India and China have been based on border disputes
   • Both maintain a military presence along their Himalayan borders and India is suspicious of China's good relationship with Pakistan
   • China is concerned about India's military interest in the South China Sea

7. Contrasting cultural ideologies

   • Political tensions
     • Israel is a contentious state with the Muslim middle East, which opposes its creation. Therefore, its major supporter (the USA) struggles to maintain a positive influence in the Arab world
   • Cultural tensions
     • This includes religious and ethnic tensions stemming from historic tribal or religious divisions of the region eg. between Shia Iran and Sunni Iraq
   • Economic tensions
     • The Middle East region is an essential supplier of oil. The rise of ISIS in Iraq has focused Western interests on defending the countries oil reserves
   • Environmental tensions
     • Past conflicts have often resulted in damage to oil installations with environmental consequences eg. following the invasion of Allied forces in Iraq in 2003