Overview

• Global systems and globalisation:

  • many systems are supported by large political organisation aiming to provide stability and consensus across nations
  • however these political organisations are still led by more powerful nations of the world > inequality, injustice and conflict
  • less developed nations limited in how they can respond
• What is interdependence?

  • nations depend on each other econ, politically, soc and env
  • many contemporary societies are classes as interdependent as they rely heavily on the decisions of other countries so would struggle without them
• How are countries interdependent?

  • Political
  • economic
  • social
  • environmental
• How are countries interdependent > political:

  • countries rely on other countries to intervene if there is political unrest e.g. nations intervened when there was Serbian state-sponsored ethnic cleansing
  • e.g. Ukraine > USA sent $120 bn which is 0.6% of GDP
  • international political issues require countries working together in order to solve issues but has to be unanimous decisions
• How are countries interdependent > economic:

  • countries dependent in flows of labour, products and services entering country in order for economy to grow
  • labour provides a workforce
  • products and services mean countries develop and make more money
  • e.g. USA > main country for international migrants since 1970 and USA is largest source of remittances
• How are countries interdependent > social:

  • migration caused social interdependence as now more diasporas that are dependent on the place they live in
  • African diaspora > large pop are brought against their will to the Americans through the insti of slavery
  • countries rely on each other for leisure activity e.g. TV programmes produced in other countries > friends broadcasted in 100 countries
• How are countries interdependent > environmental:

  • nations are affected by other nations' GGE, nuclear waste emissions etc meaning all countries rely on each other to protect the env e.g. nuclear fallout from Chernobyl in Ukraine reached UK and France
  • conference of the Parties (COP) is one of main decision making bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC)
  • COP 30 in Brazil at Belem (Nov 2025)
• issues with interdependence:

  • issues for dependent countries due to unequal flows e.g. labour, capital, ideas and tech unequal not equal around the world
  • unequal flows can benefit a country socially and economically