7.5B Superpowers and emerging nation alliances

• alliances are focussed on:

  • Military
  • Economic
  • Environmental
  • Justice and peacekeeping
• Military alliances

  • The existence of military alliances throughout much of human history has been important to ensure mutual protection
  • If one nation is attacked, the allied nations agree to defend them
  • The USA's military alliances support its military strength across the globe and enable it to have:
  • A leading role in deciding on military operations 
  • Military bases in countries around the world - approximately 600 in total 
• North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - was formed in 1949 

  • The purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of member nations 
  • Collective defence means that an attack on one nation is an attack on all NATO nations
• Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty (ANZUS) formed in 1951

  • Original focus on co-operation on military matters in the Pacific Ocean region
  • Now relates to worldwide conflicts
• Economic and political alliances:

  • These are agreements between nations which promote trade through the removal of trade barriers such as:
  • Taxes
  • Tariffs
  • Quotas
  • Economic alliances tend to be regional rather than global
  • They are also political alliances
• EU:

  • aims to promote peace, its values and well-being of its citizens
  • The Euro currency is used by 19 of the members
  • Allows for freedom of movement for people (within the Schengen Area) and goods
  • It is also a political alliance with supranational and intergovernmental decision making
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

  • Established in 1994 creating a free trade zone between Canada, USA and Mexico
  • In 2008 all tariffs and quotas were abolished on US exports to Canada and Mexico
  • Has now been replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
  • One of the largest trading blocs in the world 
• ASEAN:

  -> Established in 1967 by the nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, ASEAN aims to:

  • Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development
  • Promote regional peace and stability
  • Promote collaboration between nations
• Environmental alliances:

  -> Increasing global environmental challenges have led to the creation of environmental alliances to tackle the global issues including:

  • Climate change
  • Deforestation
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

  • Established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
  • Created to provide members with regular reports on knowledge and understanding of climate change, impacts, future risks and possible options for mitigation and adaptation
  • The IPCC currently has 195 members