Social, political and environmental tensions (Edexcel A-Level Geography): Revision Notes

Social, political and environmental tensions

🔗 People moving with globalisation has created culturally mixed societies, some of these are thriving as a result, while others unfortunately suffer from tensions

Open Borders

🔗 Some countries are very welcoming towards immigration due to the need for an unskilled/skilled workforce, and this movement has been made easier by globalisation

Deregulation and FDI

🔗 Some governments loosen regulations regarding financial and resources flow to help attract FDI or trade

🖇↳ This helps to attract some migrants such as the wealthy elites or TNC managers to world cities such as London

•                                                                             FDI *
  

Tensions

• Immigration results on pressures on services
• Immigrants find it hard to integrate into local cultures
• A feeling that the government has lost control of global movements
• People become worried about the survival of national culture - dilution is a risk
• People become worried about their jobs and use of their taxes

Controlling the Spread of Globalisation

The following methods have been used to control the spread of globalisation:

• Strengthening laws to limit the numbers of economic migrants
• Censorship
• Trade protectionism - giving the locals jobs first
• Resource nationalism - individual countries seek to limit access to rare minerals within their borders

Maintaining Cultural Identity & Embracing Change

🔗 Some indigenous communities seek to maintain their cultural identity. This is done by:

• Forming groups which can negotiate and apply pressure on national governments to slow or reduce change
• Utilising global media and celebrities to support their cause Protection of culture:
• Campaigning
• Form global alliances with groups such as Greenpeace
• Use legal processes such as seeking compensation through lawsuits with the help of international environmental groups or organisation

•                Embracing Change*
  

Embracing economic change:

• If commercial resources are located on tribal land then tribal authorities can try to get a share of the wealth
  • This can be used to improve services for indigenous people
• Can also negotiate contracts with commercial companies to get work linked to the extraction of resources providing wages which can help to improve QOL