A level Geography

Y12

Study Notes
Topic 3: Globalisation

Contents
Nine Key Ideas about Globalisation
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Lesson 1: Introduction to Globalisation .................................................................4
Lesson 2: The Development of Globalisation..........................................................6
Lesson 3: Political and Economic Players in Globalisation....................................9
Lesson 4: Globalisation in China..........................................................................13
Lesson 5: TNCs and Globalisation........................................................................14
Lesson 6: Measuring Globalisation .....................................................................17
Lesson 7: Impacts of the Global Shift...................................................................20
Lesson 8-9: Globalisation and Deindustrialisation (Mann Whitney) ...................22
Lesson 10: Rural-Urban Migration.......................................................................26
Lesson 11: International Migration and its Impacts...........................................28
Lesson 12: Cultural Erosion and Anti-Globalisation.............................................30
Lesson 13: Globalisation and Cultural Diffusion..................................................31
Lesson 14: Globalisation and the Development Gap............................................33
Lesson 15: Globalisation and Income Inequality (Lorenz Curves and Gini Coefficient) 35
Lesson 16: Globalised Diaspora and Tensions.....................................................37
Lesson 17: How Can Globalisation be Controlled?..............................................39
Lesson 18: Can Globalisation be Sustainable?.....................................................41
Lesson 19: Localism, Transition Towns and Ethical Consumerism.....................43
Globalisation Definitions...................................................................................... 46

Key Ideas

Topic 3: Globalisation

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3.1 Globalisation is a long-standing process which has accelerated because of rapid
developments in transport, communications and businesses.
3.2 Political and economic decision making are important factors in the acceleration of
globalisation.
3.3 Globalisation has affected some places and organisations more than others.
3.4 The global shift has created winners and losers for people and the physical
environment.
3.5 The scale and pace of economic migration has increased as the world has become more
interconnected, creating consequences for people and the physical environment.
3.6 The emergence of a global culture, based on western ideas, consumption, and attitudes
towards the physical environment, is one outcome of globalisation.
3.7 Globalisation has led to dramatic increases in development for some countries, but also
widening development gap extremities and disparities in environmental quality.
3.8 Social, political and environmental tensions have resulted from the rapidity of global
change caused by globalisation.
3.9 Ethical and environmental concerns about unsustainability have led to increased
localism and awareness of the impacts of a consumer society.

Lesson 1

Introduction to Globalisation Skills in this lesson

Proportional Flow
Learning Objectives Lines
 To define globalisation.

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  To evaluate different global flows.
Key Words
Starter
Globalisation
How far has the water in this bottle travelled?
What are the impacts of that journey? Flow
Is this ‘globalisation gone mad’? Commodities
Interdependence
History of Globalisation
Globalisation is the latest chapter in a long story about how people and places have been
connected on our planet.
Past examples include: Columbus and his men traded bells,
 Trade tin whistles and other trinkets with
 Colonialism the native people when they arrived
in the Americas, in return for large
amounts of more valuable produce
such as vanilla pods and tobacco.
Introduction to Globalisation
The umbrella term globalisation is used to describe a variety of
ways in which places and people are now more connected with
one another than they used to be. Globalisation is viewed in a
positive light by some groups of people. ‘Hyper-globalisers’ applaud the fact that millions of
people have escaped dollar-a-day poverty since the 1970s. They celebrate the ways cultures
are mixing and, at the local scale, often becoming more diverse.

However, there are downsides to globalisation too. A world in which people have greater
freedom to migrate across political borders – as it the case for European Union members – is
not to everyone’s taste. There are fears too that Transnational Corporations (TNCs) are
responsible for a growing trend towards cultural homogeneity (uniformity) on a global scale.
As a result, many people are sceptical about the merits of globalisation.

Definitions of Globalisation
There are several definitions of globalisation from different players that vary quite
considerably:

 ‘The growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide through increasing

volume and variety of cross-border transactions in goods and services, freer
international capital flows, and more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology’
(IMF).
 ‘Globalisation is a process enabling financial and investment markets to operate
internationally, largely as a result of deregulation and improved communications’
Collins Dictionary.
 ‘The process by which business or other organisations develop international influence
or start operating on an international scale’ Google.
‘This is the integration of economies, industries, markets, cultures and policy-making
around the world. Globalisation describes a process by which national and regional
economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through the global network
of trade, communication, immigration and transportation’ Financial Times Lexicon.
 ‘Globalisation is the ongoing process that is linking people, neighbourhoods, cities,
regions and countries much more closely together than they have ever been before.
This has resulted in our lives being intertwined with people in all parts of the world
via the food we eat, the clothing we wear, the music we listen to, the information we
get and the ideas we hold’ UNESCO.
Examples of Globalisation

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Length, Depth and Speed of Global Connection
Since the 1940s, the world’s connectedness has
increased almost exponentially.
Here’s how…
• Lengthening of connections between people
and places as goods and services are transported
all around the world. People travel further too.
• Deepening of connections, as our sense of
other places begins to penetrate our lives via
global food we eat, movies we watch, and friends
we make.
• Faster speed of connections as people can
now talk in real time using the internet, or travel
quickly between continents on planes.

Global Flows and Networks

Connections between places represent different kinds of network flow.
These flows are movements of:
 Capital
Money flows are routed on a global scale through the world’s stock markets. Pension
funds and investment banks buy and sell money in different currencies to make
profits.
 Commodities
Valuable raw materials (fuel, food, etc.) have been traded by nations for thousands of
years. Flows of manufactured goods have increased in recent years, fuelled by low
production costs in developing economies such as Bangladesh and Vietnam.
 Information
The internet has brought real-time communication between distant places. Goods and
services can be bought online and social networking has ballooned. On demand TV
has increased data further. Information is stored in enormous ‘server farms.’
Facebook’s main data centre is in Sweden – where cold temperatures reduce the cost
of cooling hard drives.
 Tourists

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 Many of the world’s air passengers are tourists. Budget airlines have brought distant
places within reach of high-income nations. Emerging economies travel abroad too
and China is now the world’s biggest spender on international travel.
 Migrants
Of all global flows, movement of people faces the greatest number of obstacles due to
immigration and border controls. Most governments embrace trade flows but resist
migrant flows uncles there is a special need for immigrants (such as Qatar’s
encouragement of Indian construction workers). Many migrants send remittances
home.

The combined effect of these global flows has made places more interconnected and
increased interdependence.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.1a Globalisation involves widening and deepening global connections, interdependence
and flows (commodities, capital, information, migrants and tourists).

Lesson 2

The Development of Globalisation Skills in this lesson

Use of isochronic
maps

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Learning Objectives
 Identify the factors accelerating globalisation.
 Understand the role of communications and
transport in time-space compression. Key Words
Containerisation
Transport and Trade in the 19th and 20th Centuries Shrinking world
Developments in transport and trade went hand-in-hand during the Time-space
nineteenth and twentieth centuries. While transport improvements compression
have allowed the value of trade to increase, it is also the case that
major trading powers such at the USA, seek to maintain their competitive edge through
continued transport innovation. This feedback loop is the result.

Transport Innovations
As transport developments occur, TNCs prosper too.
In the 1900s, large manufacturing companies, such
as Ford and General Motors, were able to export
products more widely.
Over time, connectivity allowed multiple sites of
production to be established, both to reduce
transport costs and to take advantage of cheap sites
of production where wages were lower.

Innovations in Transport

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Time-Space Compression
Heightened connectivity change our
conception of time, distance and potential
barriers to the migration of people, goods,
money and information. This perpetual
change is called time-space compression.
As travel times fall due to new inventions,
different places approach each other in
‘space-time’: they begin to feel closer
together than in the past. This is also
called the shrinking world.

Practise Exam Question

Define the term ‘a shrinking
world. (2 marks)
A shrinking world: the time taken to navigate the globe

Isochronic Maps

This isochrone world map (above right) created by Rome2Rio shows how long it takes
to get from London to anywhere in the world in 2016.
It was based on a 1914 map (above left) by cartographer and geographer John George
Bartholomew. The most noticeable difference is how much less time it takes to get
anywhere in 2016 vs 1914.
In 1914, the quickest journeys could be completed within 5 days, whereas in 2016 the
slowest journeys take just over 1.5 days.
ICT and Mobile Use

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Containerisation
Containerisation has been a facilitator of
globalisation, like the development of the internet
and
introduction of long-haul flights. Globalisation
has resulted in shifting of employment among
cities,
regions and countries. It has also lowered costs
to consumers and enabled delivery of a much
wider
varieties of goods to many markets. Globalisation
has affected not only economies but the
environment,
politics, and culture. The shipping container, a simple technology intended to speed the
loading/unloading of goods, has played an important part in those changes.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.1b Developments in transport and trade in the 19th century (railways, telegraph, steam-
ships) accelerated in the 20th century (jet aircraft, containerisation), contributing to a
‘shrinking world’.

3.1c The 21st century has been dominated by rapid development in ICT and mobile
communication (mobile phones, internet, social networking, electronic banking, fibre optics),
lowering communication costs and contributing to time-space compression.

Lesson 3

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Political and Economic Players in Key Words
Globalisation
Free trade Tariff
Learning Objectives FDI Quota
 To examine the role of the main IMF Start-ups
political and economic players in World Bank WTO
globalisation. Free market TNCs
 To understand the role of national
Economic liberalisation Privatisation
governments and trade blocs in
managing globalisation.

Key Players in Globalisation

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is a global

organisation which sets the rules for how countries
trade with one another. The Organisation believes in
free trade and countries that are members pay reduced
tariffs (taxes) when buying or selling from each other.
The WTO has 164 members and is the largest
economic organisation in the world.

Pakistan joined in 1995 and one of the rules of

membership forced it to open up its fishing grounds to
foreign competition. This means that huge trawlers
from India now take most of the catch. In 2013, the
charity ActionAid published a report on Pakistan’s fishing industry, called, ‘Taking the Fish.’
It found that coastal villagers felt that their right to fish had been taken away and many had
been forced to give up. This is a common story. Decisions that affect people on a local scale
are increasingly being made by global organisations who have no accountability. These are
the players in globalisation.

How did these players come into power?

After WWII, the USA and other war-ravaged, economically weak Western countries felt
threatened by the advance of Communism from the Soviet Union, China, Korea, Vietnam etc.
They felt the best way to combat the growing Communist influence was economic
development. Three global organisations were established to promote this: The World Bank
(WB), The International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organisation (WTO.

Mini Case Study – Ghana’s Cocoa Trade

During colonial times, Ghana was the world’s largest producer of cocoa and Britain set the
prices. However, after its independence in 1957, Ghana’s cocoa trade has become more
unstable.
Farmers in Ghana are struggling for three main reasons:
Global competition from other cocoa growers. Commodity traders also source cocoa
from the Ivory Coast, Indonesia and Nigeria.
Tariffs have been set by the EU on processed cocoa beans, but not on raw cocoa
beans. This prevents Ghana from adding value to their products by processing them
into chocolate before selling it to countries in the EU.
Unequal power. As a member of the WTO, the government in Ghana is banned from
providing subsidies to its farmers (even though the USA and EU pay subsidies to their
own farmers!) As global competition keeps prices of cocoa low on the free market,
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 some farmers are unable to make a living from farming. In Ghana, many rice and
tomato farmers have given up.

Individual National Governments

The UK
 In the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher removed government subsidies from industries
which were no longer profitable due to cheaper overseas imports (EG. coal mining)
 The Conservative government gave tax breaks to foreign companies wishing to
relocate to London Docklands and Canary Wharf – this has helped to establish the
location as a global centre of finance.
 The Conservative government also gave subsidies and grants to encourage foreign
companies to set up new manufacturing plants – IE Toyota’s factory in Derbyshire.
 By 2015, the UK was the world’s fourth largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI)
China
 After decades of political isolation, China introduced the ‘Open Door’ policy in 1978,
which allowed international businesses to locate there.
 The government set up Special Economic Zones (SEZs) along its coastline, which
offered tax incentives and huge pools of cheap labour.
 Since then, China’s economy has grown rapidly, and it is now the world’s largest
recipient of FDI.

International Trading Blocs

Most support their members by:
 Removing tariffs between member states
 Creating barriers for non-member states by placing tariffs on imports. IE on processed
cocoa from Ghana. This increases the price of imports and helps protect their own
industries.

The European Union

The decision taken by European
governments to hand over power to
the European parliament was not
taken lightly. Two world wars
prompted countries to seek political
unity to prevent further conflict.
Membership of the EU provides
member states with funds to help their
economies develop. Farmers receive
subsidies, issued under the CAP
(Common Agricultural Policy). The EU
awards -prestigious titles, such as
‘Capital of Culture.’
The EU is the only group of nations that grants all citizens freedom of movement.

ASEAN

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The Association of South East Nations has ten
members and was founded by the richest
nations in the region – Singapore, Indonesia,
Malaysia and the Philippines.
Like to the EU, it has eliminated tariffs between
member states; allows some free movement of
labour and capital; and promotes peace (its
members have promised not to have nuclear
weapons).
ASEAN is a trade bloc of 10 nations with an
aggregate economic size of $2.3 trillion.
• ASEAN is a middle-income region but with big differences in per capita incomes
• Countries such as Singapore and Brunei enjoy a very high GDP per capita at
around $49,000 and $39,000, respectively, on par with the top tier of developed-
market economies.
• In contrast, Myanmar and Cambodia have a GDP per capita (PPP adjusted) of just
below $900.
• The ASEAN region has a population of over 600 million, roughly half that of
China's or India's and around 9% of the world's total.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.2a International political and economic organisations (P: role of World Trade
Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB)) have
contributed to globalisation through the promotion of free trade policies and foreign direct
investment (FDI).
3.2b National governments are key players in terms of promoting free trade blocs (P: role
of European Union (EU), The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)) and
through polices (free-market liberalisation, privatisation, encouraging business start-ups) (P:
role of governments in economic liberalisation).

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 Lesson 4

Globalisation in Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs)

Learning Objectives
 Understand the political and economic decisions that have driven
globalisation in new global regions.

Starter – Definitions Quiz 1

1. World Bank
2. containerisation
3. flow
4. outsourcing
5. tariff
6. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)
7. economic liberalisation
8. interdependence

Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

 China, India and Indonesia have embraced
global markets by establishing SEZs.
 This highlights a change in attitudes to FDI
(Indonesia used to be communist and China
still is).
 This has helped accelerate globalisation.
Indonesia
In the late 1960s, President Suharto turned his
back on communism and opened up Indonesia’s
markets. American and European TNCs
collaborated with the Indonesian government to
build an attractive new legal and economic
framework for foreign investors – with low taxes.
Offshoring in Indonesia became popular with
TNCs like Gap and Levi’s. However, human rights protesters expressed concern about
sweatshop conditions.

Government Subsidies
These are grants given to businesses to help them thrive. It can protect them from overseas
competition.
An example is the Common Agricultural Policy which gives subsidies to farmers in the EU.
Another example is the British coal-mining industry, which received subsidies until they
were axed by Margaret Thatcher in the 80s.

FDI
Foreign Direct Investment is an injection of cash from a foreign business.
An example is ‘offshoring,’ where big companies build new factories in other countries –
typically those where wages are lower and tax breaks are available, EG. Fender in Mexico.
Another example is a ‘foreign merger,’ which is when two firms join to become a single
trans-national corporation (TNC).
Finally, a foreign acquisition is when a company is bought by one in another country. EG. In
The UK, Virgin Trains has recently been bought by Trenitalia.

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China and its 1978 Open Door Policy
 Prior to 1978, China was ‘switched-off’ from the global economy.
 After a famine which killed millions, people were ready for change.
 Deng Xiopeng began the radical Open Door reforms in 1978, which allowed China to
embrace globalisation, whilst remaining under one-party authoritarian rule.
 China began to focus on urban growth and 300 million people left rural areas in
search of a better life in cities (the largest mass migration on earth). An urban mega-
region has grown around the Pearl River Delta.
 Initially, urbanisation fuelled the growth of sweatshops, but by 2015, Chinese workers
were earning US$40 a day, making quality goods such as iPhones.
 Today, China is the world’s largest economy and supports the theory that economic
growth can cure poverty.

Some doors are still closed in China

 Google and Facebook are banned.
 Only 34 foreign films are shown per year in China
 There are strict controls on TNCs – the government blocked Coca-Cola’s acquisition of
Huiyan Juice in 2008.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.2c Special economic zones, government subsidies and attitudes to FDI (ü China’s 1978
Open Door Policy) have contributed to the spread of globalisation into new global regions (P:
role of governments in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI)).

Lesson 5

TNCs and Globalisation

Learning Objectives Key Words

Glocalisation
Offshoring
Outsourcing 14
  Explain the role played by TNCs in spreading globalisation
 Explain the factors that give TNCs influence understand how TNCs
operate
 Evaluate the degree to which TNCs adapt to local markets

It would be fair to say that Disney is a truly global company. Their presence in terms of
retail, media, TV, merchandise and franchise opportunities is vast (see Figure 4). The spread
of other ‘Disney-like’ leisure facilities the world over is proof of the success of their brand.
Some areas are still more ‘switched-off’ to an extent, largely due to the lack of internet, TV
and film impregnation.

How do TNCs grow and how does it increase globalisation?

Helps a TNC expand Leads to increased globalisation

Motive • Reduction in costs due to • New markets have developed

economies of scale due to capitalism.
• Taking over competitors • Product ranges have expanded
via mergers and to suit global needs
acquisitions • TNC drive to push costs down
has meant that new labour
markets have formed.
Means • Flows of FDI and investment
have increased
• Reverse colonialism has led to
increased global flows of
capital
Mobili • Places are linked through
ty global production networks
• Global communication flows
have increased via rising
media

Offshoring is when TNCs move part of their production process (factories or offices) to other countries to
reduce labour or other costs. This is also known as a spatial division of labour.

Global Production Networks

A global production network is a chain of connected suppliers. It can serve the need of a
large TNC such as Tesco.

Outsourcing is when TNCs contract another company to produce goods and services they
need rather than do it themselves. This can result in complex supply chains.

The Problem with Outsourcing

• Natural hazards can disrupt supply chains, EG. the 2011 Japanese tsuanami.
• UK supermarkets were stunned to discover horsemeat in their products in 2013.
• It is harder to control working conditions – IE. The Rana Plaza collapse, 2013.
• Many are now re-shoring their manufacturing closer to home.

Glocalisation

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Glocalisation refers to changing the design of products to meet local taste or laws.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.3b TNCs are important in globalisation (P: role of TNCs) both contributing to its spread
(global production networks, glocalisation and the development of new markets) and taking
advantage of economic liberalisation (outsourcing and offshoring).

Lesson 6

Measuring Globalisation
Learning Objectives
 Explain the role played by TNCs in spreading globalisation.
 Explain the factors that give TNCs influence understand how TNCs
operate.
 Evaluate the degree to which TNCs adapt to local markets.

Starter – Definitions Quiz 1 – Attempt 2

1. World Bank
2. containerisation
3. flow
4. outsourcing
5. tariff
6. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)
7. economic liberalisation

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8. interdependence

NASA’s ‘Earth
Lights’ map gives
a good general
picture of:

- The pattern
of urban
areas
across the
globe.
- Which
countries/
continents
have access
to
electricity
and can
afford to
use it to
light up
their living
spaces.

These are both great indicators of globalisation.

KOF Index vs AT Kearney Index

Reasons for the differences in rank order on the KOF and AT Kearney could include:
• Both ranking systems use slightly different indicators as part of the calculations. For example, the KOF
Index uses postal communications and the number of Ikea and McDonalds, whereas the A T Kearney Index
utilises treaty engagement and migrant remittances.
• The weighting and form of calculation of the overall ranking systems are different – i.e. different indices
will have different levels of importance.
• The A T Kearney Index includes more holistic sets of indicators, so is perhaps more representative in some
ways (e.g. the number of internet web servers rather than simply amounts of data exchange).

Switched Off Places

North Korea
North Korea has been ruled as an autocracy by King Jong-Un and his family for over 70 years.
They have chosen to remain politically isolated
Ordinary citizens do not have access to internet or social media
There are no undersea data cables connecting North Korea with other places
People do not listen to international music or watch Hollywood movies

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Sahel
The Sahel contains LDCs – some of the world’s least developed countries.
They face development challenges, often due to physical factors such as lack of coastline and arid
landscapes, getting drier due to desertification
Some challenges have been exacerbated by colonial rule in the past.
There is limited infrastructure – roads, ICT electricity, access to water etc.
People in these countries have shallow connections with the outside world. They may sell their crops to
TNCs in other countries, or accept food aid from international charities.
Mali’s folk musicians are becoming famous online!
Ethiopia is landlocked and has no territorial access to the sea. This has likely resulted in remoteness and
isolation from world markets. Their sea borne trade unavoidably depends on transit through other countries,
with whom political relations may be fraught. Additional border crossings and long distance from the market
substantially increase the total expenses for the transport services.
Mountainous regions mean that many parts of the country are cut off from the rest of it and people likely
live in isolated farming communities, out of touch with the outside world.
Located in central Africa where temperatures are high, so it may be affected by droughts which would
impact negatively on agriculture and prevent economic growth.
The map shows a ‘rift valley,’ which means that this is a zone of tectonic activity. Tectonic hazards could
have caused disasters, which affect the economy.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.3a Degree of globalisation varies by country and can be measured using indicators and
indices (AT Kearney index, KOF index). (2)
3.3c There are physical, political, economic and environmental reasons why some locations
remain largely ‘switched off’ from globalisation (ü North Korea or Sahel countries). (3)

Lesson 7

Impacts of the Global Shift

Learning Objectives
 Explain the benefits and costs of globalisation for people and the environment
in developing countries.

Global Outsourcing in China

China first gained its reputation as the ‘workshop of the world’ in the 1990s. Cities like
Shenzhen and Dongguan offered foreign investors a massive pool of low-cost migrant labour.
At this time, it was common to hear stories of Chinese workers suffering in factory conditions
similar to those of Victorian England.

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BUT
The global shift of manufacturing has played an important role in reducing poverty. Chinese
extreme poverty rates fell from 60% in 1990 to 16% in 2005.

Evaluating China’s ‘workshop of the world’ status

There have been some costs for China’s people and environment due to global outsourcing.
Workers have been exploited in sweatshops, working long hours for little pay. Yongkang
gained a reputation as the ‘dismemberment capital’ of China because around 2500 metal
workers lose a limb or finger each year. In cities, air pollution has become very damaging to
human health, with high average levels of particulate matter settling deep in the lungs,
causing cancer and strokes. On the other hand, people have benefitted because wages have
risen overall. Many people can now afford smartphones and fridges which make their lives
easier. Small businesses have adopted the technologies of TNCs and have improved profit
margins. China’s own TNCs are also growing, EG. smartphone manufacturer, Xiaomi.

Changing economic centre of

gravity
The main reason for this is rapid
urbanisation in developing countries,
in particular China. As people are
moving into cities many are becoming
richer, driving further economic
growth. Most of this growth will not
occur in much-hyped megacities,
such as Mumbai or Shanghai, but in
what the authors call
"middleweight cities". Few in the rich
world would be able to identify these
on a map. Ever heard of Foshan or
Surat, for instance? (Hint: the former is China's 7th-largest city, the latter India's capital for
synthetic textiles.)

The Story of the Global Shift

• Investment in transport infrastructure to boost access for exports/imports, people and tourists, especially in
China (high speed trains and airports).
• Strong governance with measures designed to boost the economy, e.g. the 1978 ‘Open door policy’ and
1990 ‘Indian Open Door Policy’, encouraged FDI in to certain areas (SEZs).
• Increased FDI from the USA and European nations.
• Development of the manufacturing sector in China, and outsourcing (high-tech
software/telecommunications industries) in India.
• Former political links with European markets (e.g. India and Britain) allow for ease of business (language,
skilled workforce).
• A young demographic (positive population dividend) of skilled workers which has made them much
cheaper than other areas of the world.
• Faster shipping and communications technologies, allowing trade to develop rapidly

Case Study – Impacts of The Global Shift in China

Benefits Costs
Investment in infrastructure The loss of productive farmland
 Has developed long highway  Farmland is polluted by heavy
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 and high-speed railway industry
networks
 Is building hundreds of new
airports
Reductions in poverty An increase in unplanned settlements
 Over 300 million Chinese are  Rapid industrialisation has led to
now ‘middle class’ (this is the rapid urbanisation and an increase
same population as the USA in unplanned settlements
 Sales of consumer goods have
rocketed
Increase in urban incomes Pollution and health problems
 Those who have migrated to  Air pollution – caused by coal-fired
urban areas can earn high power stations
wages  Lakes and rivers are polluted
 Average income in 2019 -  Many cities suffer extreme water
$12,472 shortages

Better education and training Land Degradation

 Education is free and  China has a large population but
compulsory between 6 and 15 very little fertile farmland.
 94% of children over 15 are now  The situation is made worse by
literate – compared to 20% in deforestation and over-grazing,
1950 which lead soil erosion
Over exploitation of resources
 Due to its large population, China’s
resources cannot keep up with
demand
Loss of biodiversity
 Habitat loss and degradation of
natural environments have caused a
loss of 50% of China’s terrestrial
vertebrates since 1970

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.4a The movement of the global economic centre of gravity to Asia via the global shift of
manufacturing China) and outsourcing of services (India) can lead to changes in the built
environment that can bring benefits (infrastructure investment, waged work, poverty
reduction, education and training) but also costs (loss of productive land, unplanned
settlements, environmental and resource pressure).
3.4b Some communities in developing countries have experienced major environmental
problems (including air and water pollution, land degradation, over-exploitation of resources,
and loss of biodiversity), which impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

Lesson 8-9

Skills in this lesson

Globalisation and Deindustrialisation
Mann Whitney U
Learning Objectives Test

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  Understand the problems of globalisation for people and Key Words
the environment in developed countries.
Dereliction
 Apply the Mann
Whitney statistical Deprivation
Last lesson, we learned about the impacts of the global
test.
shift on China - a country to which much of the western
Starter – Definitions Quiz 2
world’s industry was moved.
1. remittance
But what about what was left behind?
2. hub city
Many cities in the UK (and across the western world)
3. deindustrialisation
were shattered by the loss of industry.
4. megacity
Deindustrialiation caused dereliction, depopulation,
5. cultural erosion
deprivation and decay.
6. cultural diffusion

Manchester’s Story
Manchester was the first of western Europe’s industrial boomtowns – but the city underwent
a catastrophic process of deindustrialisation following the Second World War. Between 1971
and 1981, Manchester lost almost 50,000 full-time jobs and 17.5 per cent of its population.
Whole areas were described as “emptied”, characterised by social exclusion, crime and
deteriorating living conditions: landscapes soundtracked by Joy Division. The world’s first
industrial city seemed to be in terminal decline by the 1980s. A huge economic disparity
subsequently opened up between London and declining industrial cities like Manchester.
This uneven development was driven by the forces of globalisation and facilitated by the
British state. In the late-1970s, governments ceased trying to spread economic growth more
widely among British cities. The most significant policy decision was the so-called “Big
Bang” of 1986: the deregulation of London’s financial markets, enabling its emergence as
the world’s most distinguished financial centre.
Manchester’s city leaders have since employed new economic strategies to re-define its role
and improve its position in the global market. The turnaround witnessed in recent years has
been extremely successful, but for other deindustrialised regions, problems are still
widespread.

Redcar’s Story
Redcar is a seaside town in North Yorkshire, England. The town's main employer in the post-
war era was the nearby Teeside Steelworks.
However, after a few struggling decades, more than 2,000 workers lost their jobs with the
closure of Redcar steelworks in 2015, which brought to an end more than 140 years of
steelmaking on Teesside.
Dereliction - Vast swathes of land once worked by the steelworkers was left abandoned.
Dozens of industrial buildings stand empty and streets that were once bustling with vehicles
are silent.
Depopulation and Contamination - With the loss of jobs, many residents of Redcar have been
forced to move out of the area, leaving streets empty and vulnerable to vandalism and fly
tipping.
Unemployment - 2016 Tees Valley data show an unemployment rate of 8.3 per cent, against
5.3 per cent nationally.
Deprivation - In health terms, Redcar is now one of the 20% most deprived districts in
England and about 25% of children live in low income families. Life expectancy is lower than
the England average by 10.0 years for men and 5.7 years for women.
Deprivation Enquiry
Redca
For the next part of the lesson, we will be
r town
using a statistical test to find out:
centre
Is Redcar more deprived than Milton
Keynes?
Milton Keynes is a new town which was built
in the 1960s and has therefore never been
affected by deindustrialisation.
21
In comparing these towns, we would presume to find out that Redcar is more deprived.
This is where the Mann Whitney U Test comes in…
Mann Whitney U Test Milton
What is it? Keynes town
 Test to compare two sets of data based on the mediancentre
(unlike Spearman’s Rank which
is based on the mean)

When should you use it?

 When the data set has between 5 and 20 values
 When the data sets do not have the same number of values.
 When the data is not normally distributed (but it also works when it is)

Key points to remember

 There is a significant difference if the U is smaller than the critical value (the opposite
of Spearman’s)
 Uses a null hypothesis (just like Spearman’s)
 There are lots of steps so prone to human error
 Works best when the data is independent of each other.

IMD Deprivation Data

A combination of systematic and stratified sampling were used to select this data:
The centre of each town was selected based on the location of the central train station.
The data was collected from the central LSOA and each of the LSOAs that bordered it.

Mann Whitney Instructions

Step 1 – Hypothesis
Write down your test hypothesis and your null hypothesis.

Step 2 – Order the data

Rank ALL the values together! Not just for each data set – make sure you know which data set each
value belongs to though

Step 3 – Calculate the total rank of each data set

Step 4 – Calculate the U values for both data sets

Step 5 – Compare the U value to the critical value table

The smallest U value is used to compare to the critical value table. Remember that you reject the null
hypothesis if the U value is smaller than the critical value

22
Step 6 – Describe the outcome and explain your choice.

23
Where does this lesson fit into the specification?
3.4c Some deindustrialised regions in developed countries face social and environmental
problems as a result of economic restructuring (dereliction, contamination, depopulation,
crime and high unemployment)

Lesson 10

Key Words
Rural-Urban Migration
Push factor
Learning Objectives Milto
Pull
factor
n
 Examine the push and pull factors of rural-urban migration.
Rural-urban migration
 Explain the challenges resulting from rapid urban growth.
Megacity
Causes of Rapid Urban Growth

Push Factors Pull Factors

• Poor employment opportunities, • Better employment opportunities,
usually in the primary sector often with TNCs in the secondary
(agriculture, mining). This is often (manufacturing) or tertiary (service)
due to mechanisation. sectors.
• Poor schooling and few prospects for • Greater opportunities for young
young people. people and the chance to attend
• Poverty. school.
• Disasters such as droughts and • A perceived higher standard of living.
floods.

24
 Megacity growth over time (millions of people) 2011-
2015

Challenges of Rapid Urban Growth – A Case Study of New Delhi, India

Social Environmental
 Slums grow in size due to rapid  Pollution (water and air especially)
growth. grows due to lack of waste
 National and regional governments management, overcrowding,
cannot build/maintain/improve industrial processes and increased
infrastructure at a rate that matches transportation.
population growth rates. This leads to  Water supplies under threat due to
significant urban problems. over-abstraction and pollution.
 Pressure on education due to  Lack of urban planning results in the
overpopulation of city areas. • Poor outward sprawl of the city.
drainage/sewerage systems leads to  Deforestation occurs to make room
significant health issues. for housing and infrastructure.
 Growth of the informal economy  Energy demand rises – leads to
results in a fall in local tax revenue, increased emissions of GHGs.
which has an impact on the ability for
the welfare state to support those on
low incomes.
 Rising crime and increased
vulnerability of females on transport.

25
Example 12 mark answer
Using an example, assess the challenges of rapid megacity growth.
Esaay Example 1
A megacity is an urban area with a population of over 10 million.
High levels of rural to urban migration in Mumbai has meant that the slum area of Dharavi
houses 600,000 people in one square mile. Houses are illegally constructed on government
land with extremely poor sanitation. Open drains run thick with untreated human and
industrial waste and diseases such as cholera and typhoid often lead to deaths. Crime is very
high and there are no police patrols in the slums. The government along with charities and
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) face the challenge of building appropriate and
affordable housing to improve the lives of Dharavi’s residents. Rapid population growth in
the rest of Mumbai has also led to urban sprawl and traffic congestion.
All of these challenges pose a great threat to the wellbeing of the city’s residents and the
environmental sustainability of the whole urban area. Whilst in-migration has brought a
cheap, willing labour force it also brought overcrowding, disease and a whole generation of
youngsters who require education and support in order to allow them to break poverty cycle
associated with slum living.

Essay Example 2
In Mumbai, high levels of rural-urban migration have caused rapid growth. The most
significant challenges are environmental. For example, most new arrivals end up in the slum
area of Dharavi, which houses 600,000 people in one square mile. Here, houses are illegally
constructed on government land with extremely poor sanitation where open drains run thick
with untreated human and industrial waste. The government along with charities and non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) face the challenge of improving infrastructure (water
and sewage) to slums such as Dharavi. They also face the overwhelming task of building new
appropriate and affordable housing to improve the lives of Dharavi’s residents. Rapid
population growth in the rest of Mumbai has also led to urban sprawl and traffic congestion,
which also cause significant environmental challenges.
Social challenges are perhaps less significant, but also pose a threat to the city’s future. For
example, diseases such as cholera and typhoid (spread from open sewers) often lead to
deaths. Additionally, crime is very high and there are no police patrols in the slums. Large
scale in-migration has led to overcrowding, disease and a whole generation of youngsters
who require education and support in order to allow them to break poverty cycle associated
with slum living.
In Mumbai, the environmental and social challenges are closely linked, but the
environmental challenges are of greater significance because it is only through solving
issues such as slum housing and that social change may begin to be seen.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.5a Rural-urban migration (push and pull factors), and/or natural increase, are responsible
for the growth of megacities (ü Mumbai, Karachi); rapid urban growth creates social and
environmental challenges.

26
 Lesson 11

Skills in this lesson

International Migration and its Impacts
Proportional Flow
Learning Objectives Diagrams
 Consider international migration as an example of
a global flow, deepening interdependence.
 Identify social, political and environmental costs and benefits of
migration for source and host countries.
Key Words
Starter – Definitions Quiz 2 – Hub city
Attempt 2 Elite migration
1. remittance Low-wage
2. hub city
migration
3. deindustrialisation
4. megacity Source location
5. cultural erosion Host location
6. cultural diffusion Brain drain
Brawn drain
Remittance
Proportional Flow Diagrams
Xenophobia
This diagram shows the flows of
migrants around the world.
27
Flows have the same colour as their origin and their width relates to the amount of people.

What is a Hub City?

Global hubs are switched-
on places possessing
qualities that make other
places want to connect
with them and many
people want to migrate
there.

Types of International Migration

Low wage migrants – People who move to find work, to places where wages are higher.
These are often construction workers.
Elite migrants – Skilled and wealthy. Many move to London for high end jobs in the
knowledge economy (quaternary sector).

Interdependence
Over time, international migration makes places interdependent.
 This can be beneficial is strengthening political ties between the countries. EG.
Between the UK and India.
 This can be troublesome if the country which is being relied upon for income (IE
remittance payments from the UK to Eastern Europe) develops its own economic
problems. For example, if an economic recession adversely affects a host country for
migrant workers, then the economy of the source country may shrink too.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.5b International migration has increased in global hub cities and regions, deepening
interdependence between regions (elite migration Russian oligarchs to London; mass low-
wage economic migration India to UAE, the Philippines to Saudi Arabia).

3.5c Migration has economic, social, political and environmental costs and benefits for both
host and source locations.

28
 Lesson 12

Cultural Erosion and Anti-Globalisation

Learning Objective
 Understand the opposition to globalisation from a range of stakeholders
Cultural Erosion - The changing and loss of culture in an area, such as the loss of language
or traditional food
Anti-globalisation - opposition to the increase in the global power and influence of
businesses, especially multinational corporations
A Case Study – Cultural Erosion in Bhutan
Bhutan, a small landlocked country between India and China which has never been colonised
and has thus managed to retain much of its individuality. However, in recent years,
globalisation has begun to erode some aspects of its culture.
• Changes to the built and natural environments – Roads are being built, which fuels
more road building as more and more people get cars; there are plans for regional
airports; electricity is beginning to arrive; employment in agriculture is falling and
jobs in industry are becoming more common as hydropower projects are being built.
• Changes to communities – Mass migration from rural areas to cities is causing loss of
community vitality and breakdown of communities; exposure to tourists causes young
people to desire more western lifestyles; monks using smartphones.
• Impacts on ecosystems – Road networks are encroaching on forested areas.
Anti-globalisation groups are concerned that languages around the world are being lost as
the use of English continues to spread. They believe that ecosystems and nature are being
devalued as capitalism becomes a top priority. In this sense, consumerism is at odds with
sustainable development.

29
Pro-globalisation groups believe that values such as equality and freedom of expression
are spreading and that there has been reduced discrimination on the basis of disability,
sexuality and gender.

An Example of a Negative Reaction to Globalisation

The Attitude of an Anti-Globalisation Group

Occupy London (2011-12) brought together concerned citizens to fight for a new political
and economic system that puts people, democracy and the environment before profit.
Camping out on sites around the capital (including one next to St Paul’s Cathedral) some of
the protesters remained there for almost a year until they were evicted.

Here are some of the issues that they wanted the government to discuss:
• “We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources
must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or
the rich.
• The present economic system pollutes land, sea and air, is causing massive loss of
natural species and environments, and is accelerating humanity towards irreversible
climate change. We call for a positive, sustainable economic system that benefits
present and future generations.
• We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions
of our government and others in causing this oppression.”

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.6b In some locations, cultural erosion (loss of language, traditional food, music, clothes,
social relations loss of tribal lifestyles in Papua New Guinea) has resulted in changes to the
built and natural environments (de-valuing local and larger-scale ecosystems).
3.6c Concern about cultural impacts, economic and environmental exploitation has led to
opposition to globalisation from some groups (A: attitudes of pro- and anti-globalisation
groups, environmental movement).

30
 Lesson 13

Globalisation and Cultural Diffusion Key Words

Learning Objectives Brand
 Define cultural diffusion and global homogenisation. Westernised
 Evaluate the impact of cultural diffusion on Cuba. Global culture
 Reflect on the idea of a ‘westernised’ global culture.
Glocalisation
Cultural diffusion
Cultural Diffusion and Global Homogenisation
Cultural diffusion is the spread of one culture to another by various means, for example, food
or music. Cultural homogenisation is when the culture of places become increasingly similar.
Cultural diffusion can contribute to cultural homogenisation, i.e. the spread of Western TNC
food chains found on high streets around the world.

A Case Study - Cultural Diffusion in Cuba

Benefits for Cuba Problems for Cuba
 Citizens can access US/global news,  Potential loss of language as more
film, media, etc, so they can expand Cubans learn English
their global awareness  Demand for western style tourist
 Can enjoy overseas cuisine, music, resorts has caused environmental
culture etc as imports increase damage
 Businesses can embrace capitalist  New architectural designs in
ideas, and compete. buildings means towns and villages
lose their identity and cultural
heritage is diluted
 Shifting attitudes and values

Is ‘Westernised’ global culture having a mostly positive or mostly negative impact

on people and the environment around the world?
31
An Example – “Western values such as equal rights for women, the LGBT+ community, and
people with disabilities are an example of the positive effect of cultural diffusion. However,
there is still a long way to go for women’s rights in the Middle East; gay relationships are
still punishable by death in eleven countries; and in China (which has over one fifth of the
world’s population) only 25% of disabled people are able to find employment. Ultimately, it is
the negative impacts of westernisation that seem more poignant. Western capitalism is
spreading out its influence through music, film and television and young people from remote
communities are beginning to value materialism over community and tradition. The image in
Figure 13.14 is particularly relevant as it shows a child in tribal costume drinking Coca Cola.
With the change in people’s desires, comes impacts on the environment, and Bhutan is an
example of a place where roads are beginning to cut through once pristine forest; serving as
a metaphor for the deep wound that globalisation is making in places that have until now,
been able to resist the force of the West.”

The Cultural Continuum

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.6a Cultural diffusion occurs as a result of globalisation; TNCs, global media corporations
(P: role of TNCs), tourism and migration create and spread an increasingly ‘westernised’
global culture, which impacts on both the environment and people (changing diets in Asia).
The spread of a global culture has also led to new awareness of opportunities for
disadvantaged groups (Paralympic movement), particularly in emerging and developing
countries (P: opportunities for these groups).

32
 Lesson 14

Globalisation and the Development Gap Key Words

Human Development
Learning Objectives
 To contrast economic measures of development Index
with those focused on social development and Gender Inequality Index
environmental quality.

Indicators of Development
Development is a complex matter and can be measured and contemplated in a huge variety
of ways.

A map from [Link]

Economic Measures of Development Social Measures of Development

GNI (Gross National Income) - Value of Life Expectancy – The average age
goods and services earned by a country, inc. Adult literacy rate – Percentage of adults
overseas earnings. who can read and write
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) - The same Number of years in education
33
 as GNI, but excluding foreign earnings. HDI (Human Development Index)
PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) - Average (composite) – Includes GDP, education and
earnings related to local prices and what health. Shows how far people are
they can buy. This reflects ‘spending power’ benefitting from economic growth.
and cost of living. GII (Gender Inequality Index) (composite) –
Income per capita – GNI divided by Includes indicators relating to reproductive
population size. health, empowerment, education and
employment. Shows how equal women are
Economic Sector Balance (composite) – The to men.
percentage contribution of primary,
secondary, tertiary sectors to GNI.

Single indicators – use one set of data (in normal font above).
Composite indicators – use several sets of data (in italics above).

The Development Gap

 Economic growth has accelerated across the world, but more so in advanced western
economies and newly industrialised Asian economies. The economy of Sub-Saharan
Africa has increased the slowest.
 This has led to a widening gap between the wealthiest and poorest nations.
 Another gap exists in countries between the elite super-rich and the rest of the
population.

Example Results Set

Indicat Turkey United Kingdom Zimbabwe

or

HDI 1995 2005 2015 1995 2005 2015 199 200 2015
5 5
0.60 0.68 0.76 0.83 0.89 0.91 0.4 0.4 0.516
4 7 7 9 0 0 65 08
GII 1995 2005 2015 1995 2005 2015 199 200 2015
5 5
0.63 0.56 0.32 0.23 0.20 0.13 0.5 0.5 0.540
1 4 8 7 6 1 98 89
Air 2014 2014 2014
pollutio
n 35 12 24

Description of the data set

• The air pollution data shows a higher score for Turkey than for Zimbabwe and the UK.
• The UK and Turkey both have increasing HDI scores with the increase being 163 and
71 respectively.

Analysis of the data set

• Turkey’s GII almost halved over the 20 year period, whilst in Zimbabwe the change is
only small. This indicates that women are gaining equality faster.
34
 • In general, the figures show a trend for improving lifestyles in all three countries, with
the only exception being that the HDI for Zimbabwe dropped in 2005, which could
suggest a temporary reduction in life expectancy linked to war or an outbreak of
disease.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

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).

Lesson 15

Globalisation and Income Inequality (Lorenz Curves and Gini

Skills in this
Coefficient)
lesson
Learning Objectives Lorenz curves
and the Gini
 Evaluate spatial and temporal trends in widening income
inequality, globally and nationally. Coefficient.
 Examine differential progress resulting from Key Words
globalisation.
Income
inequality
Starter – Definitions Quiz 3 Lorenz curve
[Link] Inequality Index (GII)
Gini Coefficient
2. sustainability
3. ethical consumption
4. deregulation
5. Human Development Index (HDI)

Globalisation and Income Inequality

Last lesson we studied data which showed a gap between economic growth rates of
countries at different levels of development. There is however, also an increasing gap
between income of people living in different parts of each country.
For example, someone in China working in the quaternary sector and living in a gated
community in Shanghai earns a great deal more than a goat herder living in the mountains
in the region of Tibet.
These income gaps within countries can be measured using the Gini Coefficient.

The Gini Coefficient

The Gini Coefficient is a number
between 0 and 100 which
represents income equality within a
country. It shows income disparity.

35
A high Gini value shows that wealth is concentrated among a few. A low Gini value shows
more equitable wealth distribution.
0 = Perfect equality (everyone has the same income)
100 = Perfect inequality (one person has all the income)
This is useful for countries which have a big development gap between certain different
regions and/or groups within the population. China is a good example, as it is a large country
with some very poor rural areas and some much richer urban areas, as shown in Figure 7.
Along its coastline, and particularly at ‘A,’ incomes are way above average. This may relate
to the Special Economic Zones which have been developed there since the 1960s. In its
internal eastern regions however, most notably in Tibet, Gansu and Guizhou, incomes are
much lower than average. These places are mountainous and sparsely populated, mostly by
farmers.

Lorenz Curves
To compare income inequality within countries, the Lorenz Curve is useful to show the
differences.
The data which is plotted shows how much of income is earned by: the poorest tenth of
society, the second poorest tenth, the third poorest tenth; and so on.
Lorenz curves can also be used to plot other data. This Lorenz curve shows electricity
consumption:

A Lorenz Curve Showing Electricity Consumption in Five Countries

Kenya - On this graph, 85% of people in Kenya are earning less than 5% of the electricity,
which means that the remaining 15% have access to 95% if it! This indicates corruption and
widespread poverty. (Note, this is old data [2005], so figures have likely changed).

Norway – Norway’s curve is fairly smooth and stays close to the straight line which indicates
that their electricity distribution is fairer.
Use this data to draw a Lorenz Curve for wealth distribution in the UK:

36
Where does this lesson fit into the specification?
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)
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
of globalisation.

Lesson 16

Globalised Diaspora and Tensions Key Words

Learning Objectives Open borders
Deregulation
 Explain the social, political and environmental
tensions resulting from open borders, deregulation Diaspora
and FDI. Extremism

As a result of many centuries of immigration, London has become a multicultural city, where
one in three residents have been born abroad. London is
considered to be a melting pot, whereby native Londoner's
mix with those of many backgrounds but are all united by
the city's common culture. The city's ethnically diverse
population draws many to settle in London. What makes
London so significant; is this cosmopolitan nature.

Impacts of flows of people

Open flows • Young people in Balham, London, are worried that young Polish
immigrants have increased the crude birth rate beyond the capacity
of local primary schools.
• Poor behaviour of some young Brits has caused strained relations
with locals in Spanish towns, such as Calella.
• Some British citizens voted for UKIP in the 2015 elections because
they felt that in-migration rates were getting out of control.

Restricted • Leaders of TNCs have stated that migration restrictions in the UK

flows have threatened their competitiveness.
• Chinese and Brazilian TNCs may be less likely to choose London if it
becomes harder to transfer staff to the UK.

37
Where does this lesson fit into the specification?
3.8a Open borders, deregulation and encouragement of foreign direct investment have
created culturally mixed societies and thriving migrant diasporas in some locations, but
tensions have resulted elsewhere (rise of extremism in Europe, trans-boundary water
conflicts).

Lesson 17

How Can Globalisation be Controlled?

Learning Objectives Key Words
Censorship
 Evaluate methods of controlling globalisation. Trade
 Examine the role of government in managing protectionism
globalisation. First Nations
 Examine opportunities and threats presented by globalisation on a local scale.

Starter – Definitions Quiz 3 – Attempt 2

[Link] Inequality Index (GII)
2. sustainability
3. ethical consumption
4. deregulation
5. Human Development Index (HDI)

Methods of controlling globalisation

1. Censorship – Limit citizens’ access to information online. EG. In China, the BBC
website is blocked.
2. Limiting migration – EG: Syrians and Somalians to Europe.

3. Trade protectionism – EG: honey from Australia to New Zealand; trade embargo
between US and Cuba during the Cold War; in 2005, the EU banned imports of cheap
Chinese textiles, dubbed ‘the bra wars’ by the media.

It could be argued that censorship is against the ‘spirit’ of globalisation because:

 People are prevented from having the freedom to choose their level of access to global
products/cultures/ideologies.
 Opportunities to experience alternative cultures are reduced unless citizens get the
chance to travel beyond their home nation or freely use the Internet.
 Prevents ideas (e.g. expertise on world issues) from being contributed towards.
38
  Society develops in a somewhat sheltered form, unaware of issues, ideas and ‘the
outside world’.
 Some might view this as a restriction on one’s human rights (having the right to “free
speech and belief”) – a core element of the UN.

A Case Study - Jumbo Valley

Some groups seek to retain their cultural
identity within countries and seek to retain
control of culture and physical resources
whereas others embrace the economic
advantages of globalisation.

Opportunities
 In the short-term, there will be jobs in
construction.
 In the long-term, there will be employment in
the tourism sector.
 Tourism will improve the local economy.

Threats
 Jumbo Valley is a wilderness which at present
is tranquil and undisturbed - one of the few
that remain in the western world.
 The indigenous (first nation) people of the
region, the Ktunaxa, claim that the area
(which they call Qat’muk) is of profound
spiritual and cultural importance to their
heritage.
 If the resort were built, it would block the
free movement of the grizzly bears that live
in the region.
 The glaciers in the region are already melting
due to global warming and it is predicted
that they will have melted in four decades.
 The community – which includes local
residents, visiting hikers and back country
skiers, all oppose the development.

The Stakeholders
For Against – Local community groups and
NGOS

Oberto Oberti – designer of the proposed Ktunaxa First Nation residents who
development believe the land is sacred
Government ministers who support the Wildsight – Environmental advocates
development
Local businesses that could benefit from Back country skiers and snowboarders
more tourists

How can it be stopped?

39
 Locals have protested the development
 A documentary was made to spread awareness of the issue
 Members of the public are encouraged to sign petitions and donate to the cause

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.8b Attempts have been made in some locations to control the spread of globalisation by
censorship (China, North Korea), limiting immigration (UK, Japan) and trade protectionism
(P: role of government) (A: attitudes of pro- and anti-immigration groups).
3.8c Some groups seek to retain their cultural identity within countries and seek to retain
control of culture and physical resources (First Nations in Canada), whereas others embrace
the economic advantages of globalisation.

Lesson 18
Key Words
Localism
Can Globalisation be Sustainable?
Transition town
Learning Objective Sustainability
 To reflect on the sustainability of globalisation. Fair trade
Ethical
Dollar Voting consumption
“What we spend our money on is a more powerful method of voting Recycling
than voting in elections.” Discuss. Ecological
footprint

Exam Question
“Assess actions taken by NGOs and local government in promoting ethical and
environmental concerns about unsustainability.” (12)

Mark Scheme
AO1 - Knowledge

• Ethical concerns could focus around opting out of many globally sourced commodities,
around issues of unsustainability of transport and the social agenda of ‘sweatshop’
production.

• Environmental concerns could focus on the need to cut carbon emissions and issues re
virtual water, emphasising the unsustainability of food miles (NGOs). Further environmental
concerns could focus on issues of waste and the need to recycle (local government).

Hints: The AO2 tariff of 9 marks is achieved for the application of knowledge and
understanding, by assessing the actions of local governments and NGOs, perhaps by
evaluating successes of recycling strategies, or by looking at the positives and negatives of
initiatives such as Fairtrade (social sustainability) or ethical shopping (social and
environmental sustainability) as well as Transition towns.

AO2 – Application of knowledge and understanding

 Transition towns are an NGO and local government initiative.

40
 Positive Feature Negative Feature
They bring economic, social and Although the scheme works well locally
environmental benefits by reducing and encourages and promotes both
waste by repairing and reusing items, ethical and environmental concerns, it is
reducing pollution (cycling, green power difficult to scale up to cities where food
schemes), and meeting local needs supply chains are more complex.
through local production. There are
nearly 50 examples of Transition towns
in the UK, and the movement has spread
globally to over 50 countries.

 Fairtrade aims to overcome ethical concerns by returning a bigger proportion of the

revenue to producers and growers. All goods are certified with a Fairtrade mark as a
guarantee of ethical production, and that a fair price has been paid to the producer.

Positive Features Negative Features

 It helps thousands of farmers and their  Fairtrade products cover
families around the world, especially co- only a small percentage of
operatives. all products and tend to be
 It usually promotes environmental more expensive, so are not
protection. accessible to all consumers.
 It now covers an increasing range of
products.

 Ethical shopping has spread to many retail chains, such as M&S, who sell only
Fairtrade teas and coffees, and naturally dyed clothes as well as sourced local food.

Positive Negative Features

Feature
It can be  Organic products are often included, and while they can be
beneficial, good for the environment (less use of fertilisers and
and the idea pesticides) more land and labour are needed to produce the
has spread to crops.
many  Fairtrade crops in some areas have spread so rapidly
products and (cocoa/chocolate) that there is overproduction, which has
stores. resulted in a downturn of price. Also, sometimes commodities
are grown at the expense of food crops.
 Buying local minimises food miles, helps local economies and
improves health and welfare of workers, but consumers still
use cars to go shopping and end up using more energy.
 There are abuses in the system so consumers may be duped.

 Waste and recycling is now a major part of most developed countries’ policies.

Positive Feature Negative Feature

All European countries now recycle and compost Recycling amounts do vary
40% of their waste, with Germany reaching 60%. from nearly 70% in Oxfordshire
Even with a rising population, English local but under 20% in many London
authorities now manage less waste to dispose of boroughs so clearly there is
with tremendous benefits (fewer landfills). more work to be done.

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Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.9a Local groups and NGOs promote local sourcing (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.

Lesson 19

Key Words
Localism, Transition Towns and Ethical Consumerism Localism
Learning Objectives Transition town
Sustainability
 Examine the concept of localism.
Fair trade
 Evaluate the role of transition towns as one
Ethical
response to globalisation.
 Explain how fair trade and ethical consumption consumption
schemes may reduce the negative impacts of Recycling
globalisation. Ecological
footprint

Ethical Consumption
Buying clothes from large international chain stores means that we get the cheap prices
associated with economies of scale, but also that we are disassociated with the whole
production line. When we pick a t-shirt from the rack in Primark, it is impossible to know
whether a child has stitched on the buttons; if it was made in sweatshop conditions; or if the
workers have been labouring in dangerous conditions.
Rana Plaza
On 23rd April, 2013, cracks had appeared in the roof of the
Rana Plaza textiles factory and it was evacuated. But the
next day, workers were told that conditions were now safe
and they must return to work or they could face losing a
month’s wages. Rana Plaza collapsed on 24th April, killing
1,134 garment makers.

Firms such as Gap and Nike now prohibit worker

exploitation in their own foreign factories, but it is hard to
monitor the working conditions of every single supplier
they buy from.
This is especially hard because global production networks
are complex and work is often outsourced and then
outsourced again (see diagram, right).

Fairtrade

Fairtrade is about better prices,

decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of
trade for farmers and
workers in the developing world.
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 • Fair trade ensures money goes directly to farmers e.g. Divine Chocolate
• Helps to improve and provider better health/education/ diet
• Was started as a reaction to TNCs driving down prices and so was needed to
reduce exploitation E.g. The Banana Wars
• Fair Trade Premium empowers farmers and allows them to improve local
transport/storage/ education
• It may provide guaranteed wages so irons out commodity price fluctuations e.g.
from climatic variability / ENSO impacts
• Helps to reduce sweatshop conditions in certain countries and reduces the 2
speed world that has become associated with globalisation
Localism
One solution to the many uncertainties we face when shopping is to buy locally sourced food
and commodities. To do this, shoppers boycott supermarket products with high food miles.
The Eden Project is a popular tourist site in Cornwall that houses plants from all over the
world in two enormous biomes. For the 600,000 meals that are provided annually for
visitors, 90% of the produce is bought from local suppliers in Cornwall and Devon.

Is Localism a middle class luxury?

Locally sourced produce is sometimes more expensive than globally-produced items. From
an economic viewpoint, it is not ‘rational’ behaviour to purchase expensive items when
cheaper ones are available.
Pressure groups and NGOs such as Greenpeace counter this argument by saying that cheap
imports of food and goods are not really cheap. This is because rising greenhouse gas
emissions will generate long-term costs to society.
For many people on low incomes however, this is not necessarily a compelling argument.
They may view locally sourced food as a ‘middle class luxury’.

Transition Towns
• Reducing consumption by repairing or reusing items
• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental damage
• Meeting local needs through local production (eg. food from local growers)
• Supporting new enterprises

In Todmorden, various town-wide initiatives are

promoting the transition town approach:
 These have been developed by the ‘Incredible
Edible’ project aims to make the town fully
self-sufficient by 2020.
 The garden of a disused health centre was
taken on by local volunteers to create a
vegetable garden for the community.

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  There are now ‘help yourself’ vegetable gardens all around the town, including some
at care homes for elderly people, which have been designed so that the residents can
pick their own herbs.

 A 50m-long polytunnel has been set up to grow bigger amounts of food and vegetables
on a site just outside the town.

 Eight local schools have joined in and only serve locally produced food to children for
their school dinners.
 The local social housing landlord, Pennine Housing, has given out more than 1,000
starter packs of seeds and growing troughs, and invited tenants to cooking and
gardening classes.
 Local workshops include a foraging course, on which participants learn how to find
food for free, and then how to make preserves, jams and chutneys with their findings;
and a controversial workshop on how to kill and pluck your own chickens.
 Pextenement Cheese Company has developed the first ever Todmorden cheese.
 A proof of the scheme’s success is that people have begun growing vegetables in their
own homes.
 The ‘Incredible Edible’ idea has spread to other localities, including Levenshulme in
South Manchester.

Where does this lesson fit into the specification?

3.9a Local groups and NGOs promote local sourcing (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.
3.9b Fair trade and ethical consumption schemes may reduce the environmental degradation
and the inequalities of global trade and improve working conditions for some people (A:
actions of NGOs and pressure groups).
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, local NGOs such as Keep
Britain Tidy) (F: environmental consequences of different patterns of resource consumption).

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Topic 3: Globalisation Definitions

Enquiry Question 1
What are the causes of globalisation and why has it accelerated in recent decades?
Commodities are a basic goods used in commerce that is interchangeable Commodities
with other commodities of the same type. EG: grains, metals, livestock, oil,
cotton, coffee. Their value is linked to supply and demand (market price).
The development of standardised metal containers for cargo, which can be Containerisation
transferred between train, lorry and ship carriers. This revolutionised
haulage by replacing large numbers of labourers with crane technology.
The lessening of government regulations and restrictions in an economy Economic
with the goal of expanding the role of private and foreign investment. liberalisation

A financial injection made by a TNC into a nation’s economy, either to FDI (Foreign Direct
build new facilities (factories or shops) or to acquire, or merge with, an Investment)
existing firm already based there.
The movement people, money, resources, goods and services, etc. Flow
between places.
A system in which the prices for goods and services are determined by Free market
supply and demand, and free from any intervention by the government.
Trade taking place between countries free of any barrier such as taxation, Free trade
tariffs or quotas.
The spread of economic, cultural and social ideas across the world. Globalisation

The adaptation of a global product for a local market place. The word Glocalisation
comes from an amalgamation of the words globalisation and localisation.
EG: McAlooTikka Burger in Indian McDonalds’.
An international organisation consisting of 189 countries working to foster IMF (International
global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate Monetary Fund)
international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic
growth, and reduce poverty around the world.
If two places become over reliant on financial/political connections with Interdependence
one another, they have become interdependent. For example, if an
economic recession adversely affects a host country for migrant workers,
then the economy of the source country may shrink too.
TNCs move part of their production process (factories or offices) to other Offshoring
countries to reduce labour or other costs.
TNCs contract another country to produce goods and services they need Outsourcing
rather than do it themselves.
The change of ownership of a firm or industry sector from government to Privatisation
private hands.
A limit to production or trade. May be determined by volume or value. Quota

Due to technology, distant places start to feel closer and take less time to Shrinking world
reach.
Newly emerged businesses aimed at market demand. Start-ups
The taxes that are paid when importing or exporting goods and services Tariff
between countries.
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 Time-space compression refers to the set of processes that cause the Time-space
relative distances between places (i.e., as measured in terms of travel compression
time or cost) to contract, effectively making such places grow ‘closer’.
An international financial institution that provides loans to countries of the World Bank
world for capital projects.
Topic 3: Globalisation Definitions Organiser

Enquiry question 2
What are the impacts of globalisation for countries, different groups of people and cultures and the
physical environment?
The emigration of highly trained or qualified people from a particular place Brain drain
or country.
A type of product manufactured by a particular company under a particular Brand
name.
Young people have been leaving agricultural areas in search of secondary Brawn drain
and tertiary employment in urban areas, leaving children and the elderly to
tend the fields and farms.
The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group of people Cultural diffusion
to another. The mixing of world cultures through different ethnicities,
religions, and nationalities has only increased with advanced
communication, transportation, and technology.
The uniqueness of different cultures gradually being eroded away. For Cultural erosion
example, in tribal Africa many people have begun to wear western clothes
and traditional dress is only worn on special occasions.
The decline of regionally important manufacturing industries. This can be in Deindustrialisation
terms of either workforce numbers or output of manufactured goods.
Land or buildings which have fallen into disuse and disrepair. Dereliction

A situation where quality of life is below that of what can be expected for a Deprivation
particular place at a particular time.
The movement of highly skilled workers (such as doctors) from one place to Elite migration
another.
A group of human beings whose members identify with each other, on the Global culture
basis of distinctiveness measured by combinations of cultural, linguistic,
religious, behavioral and/or biological traits.
The place where migrants go to. Host location

A city which is a focal point for activities with a global influence; eg. Trade Hub city
in Shanghai or London.
Those on low wages moving to another country where they will be paid Low-wage migration
much higher wages for a similar job. Eg. Many have moved to Dubai and
Qatar for this reason.
A city with a population of more than 10 million. Megacity

Reasons people move to a place. Pull factor

Reasons to move away from a place. Push factor

Money that migrants send home to their families. Remittance

People moving from sparsely populated, remote places to densely Rural-urban migration

46
 populated urban places.

The place where migrants come from. Source location

When a country, person, or system adopts the cultural, economic, or Westernised

political norms of Europe and North America.
Topic 3: Globalisation Definitions Organiser

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?
The suppression of words, images, or ideas that are considered ‘offensive’ Censorship
by a particular government or group.
The removal of rules, regulations and laws previously imposed on an Deregulation
industry. Often welcomed as the removal of monopoly rights which improve
competition and opportunity, they can also lead to the weakening of
protection for workers and consumers.
The dispersion or spread of a group of people from their original homeland. Diaspora

The ecological footprint measures human demand on nature, i.e., the Ecological footprint
quantity of nature it takes to support people or an economy. It
A type of consumer activism that is based on the concept of ‘dollar voting,’ Ethical consumption
which means that every time you spend your money you are in effect
‘voting’ on the type of society you would like to live in.
Someone having beliefs that most people think are unreasonable and Extremism
unacceptable.
A way of buying and selling products that makes certain that the people Fair trade
who produce the goods receive a fair price. It brings a better standard of
living for poor farmers in developing countries.
The indigenous people whose ancestors lived in Canada before the arrival of First Nations
Europeans.
A measurement of gender disparity that was introduced in 2010. It Gender Inequality
considers the reproductive health, empowerment and economic status of Index
women.
G= ½ Σ(Xi -Yi) Gini Coefficient
Xi and Yi are two sets of data expressed as a percentage. The coefficient
shows how alike they are from identical (0) to as unidentical as they could
be (100).

Devised by the United Nations to show how far people are benefitting from Human Development
economic growth. Links GDP to education and health. Criticised for Index
measuring ranking rather than absolute idea of development, plus probably
too biased in favour of wealth-dependent factors.

The extent to which income is distributed in an uneven manner among a Income inequality
population.
Generally, localism supports local production and consumption of goods, Localism
local control of government, and promotion of local history, local culture
and local identity.
A line graph that portrays the (un)evenness of a geographical distribution. Lorenz curve
The vertical axis is cumulative percentage of the variable being examined.
The horizontal axis is the rank order of the values. A perfectly even
distribution will give a 45˚ line rising left to right. The more the line diverges
from this, the more uneven, or more highly concentrated, the variable is.
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A border that enables free movement of people between different Open borders
jurisdictions with limited or no restrictions.
The re-use of materials that would otherwise be deemed rubbish. Recycling

Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an Sustainability

ecological balance. Also relevant to other aspects of geography, for
example a sustainable building will have design features that ensure its
longevity and little negative impact on the environment. A sustainable city
will have mixed use spaces where unemployment rates are low and
community spirit is thriving.
The placing of barriers to trade (tariffs and taxes) used by a government to Trade protectionism
try and promote domestic products over imports.
A settlement where individuals and businesses aim to make their Transition town
community more sustainable and less reliant on global trade.

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