Natural resources (quiz 1-3)
What is the main finding of Ide and Getge's article? a. I don't know the answer. b. Positive, water-related interactions can contribute to more peaceful relations between two states. c. Water scarcity deteriorates the relationships between states. d. Positive, water-related interactions do not contribute to a broader improvement of the relationship between two states.
. b Positive, water-related interactions can contribute to more peaceful relations between two states.
Arctic Council ?
Arctic council: Arctic five (with borders) : Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, US. + Finland, Iceland and Sweden.
Arctic five (with borders) : ?
Arctic five (with borders) : Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, US.
Which of these three statements is true? a. Armed rebel groups are usually interested in any potential source of funding, b. Armed rebel groups are usually not interested in natural resources as source of funding, c. I don't know the answer. d. Armed rebel groups are usually only interested in natural resources as source of funding,
Armed rebel groups are usually interested in any potential source of funding,
Bradshaw and Boersma, 2020 ?
Bradshaw and Boersma, 2020 pipelines huge stakes of geopolitics ; demand and supply security because fixed nature of infrastructures and independencies created. Core countries Russia, China.
Bridge and Le Billon, 2017 = ?
Bridge and Le Billon, 2017 stakes of securing the supply, some sources are more controversial/"dirty". Oil security means diff things to everyone regarding criteria of availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability.
What is the "resource curse"? a. Leaders of natural resource rich countries are more likely to be toppled violently. b. Natural resource rich countries are more likely to get involved in interstate wars. c. Many natural resource rich countries are less prosperous, less free, and less politically stable than comparable countries without natural resources. d. I don't know the answer.
C) Many natural resource rich countries are less prosperous, less free, and less politically stable than comparable countries without natural resources.
Classic Malthusianism (An Essay on the Principle of Population, 1798) Neo-Malthusianism =>
Classic Malthusianism (An Essay on the Principle of Population, 1798) population has a limitation to reach in terms of natural resources and food production ("people grows faster than food supply can grow") Neo-Malthusianism => declining availability of renewable natural resources such as freshwater or soil) leads to violent conflicts.
Cornucopians what is it?
Cornucopians = Environmental Optimists Advances in technology go faster than population growth • No natural limits to growth, innovation goes faster • There will always be enough resources for the worldpopulation
Cornucopians =
Cornucopians = advances in technology go faster than pop growth, there are no natural limits to growth and innovation goes faster so there will always be enough resources for the world's pop // strong sustainability
Dannreuther reading = ?
Dannreuther Liberalism/realism/radicalism in IR can be applied to the politics of energy and minerals (Dannreuther) => realism ; strategic interests to secure some resources and danger of conflicts and wars about it / liberalism ; markets lessen risks of conflicts and wars and ensure a global security / radicalism ; highlights the continuing forms of imperialism and colonization regarding resources, inequalities. Oil (or other) companies from emerging states and close to their home state lead to debates, more interventionist role of the state in the capitalist system. "Arc of crisis", Fred Halliday, 1981 ; conflicts about resources high-risk and political instability. Also favorable developments (Africa, Egypt, ...).
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF LAND AND FOOD Hall, 2013 "land grab" ?
Hall, 2013 => stakes of land acquisition - large corporations buy or lease land across national borders, "land grab". Also a way for Southern countries to participate to transnational production networks. Influence of national regulation.
Natural resources should be taken way more into account for analyzing wars (Lebillon)
Lebillon: motivational factor + factor for warfare itself, strategy (sometimes just by anticipation). Also linked to marks of status, objects of trade. Abundance/scarcity, unpredictability conditioned warfare. Resource control linked to state-formation, trade. Big stakes during WWI, WWII, Cold War, Suez crisis, Arab Oil embargo, Iranian revolution, ... Increasing global interdependence. Concept of "environmental security"
What is LNG terminal?
Liquid natural gas (Liquefied natural gas terminal)
"The geographical pivot of history" Mackinder, 1904
Mackinder 1904 eastern Europe crucial territory to control and you can control the world.
Malthusianism and Neo-malthusianism
Malthusianism is the idea that population growth is potentially exponential while the growth of the food supply or other resources is linear, which eventually reduces living standards to the point of triggering a population die off. Neo-Malthusians: -> Environmental scarcity: declining availability ofrenewable natural resources such as freshwater or soil. (1) supply-induced scarcity: caused by thedegradation and depletion of an environmentalresource (e.g. erosion of cropland)• (2) demand-induced scarcity: population growthwithin a region or increased per capitaconsumption of a resource, either of whichincrease the demand for the resource• (3) structural scarcity: unequal social distributionof a resource that concentrates it in the hands ofrelatively few people while the remainingpopulation suffers from serious shortages.
Why do external countries or companies often only lease land for their projects in other places instead of buying it? a. Many countries do not allow the acquisition of land by foreigners b. It is fiscally more attractive. c. I don't know the answer. d. The risk is lower.
Many countries do not allow the acquisition of land by foreigners
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF LAND AND FOOD Melanie Sommerville, Jamey Essex, Philippe Le Billon, 2014
Melanie Sommerville, Jamey Essex, Philippe Le Billon, 2014 long-established agricultural surplus policies + sudden price shifts and political upheaval. Threat of low and high food prices.
What is Neoliberalism?
Neoliberalism is contemporarily used to refer to market-oriented reform policies such as "eliminating price controls, deregulating capital markets, lowering trade barriers" and reducing, especially through privatization and austerity, state influence in the economy.
The legal framework and - Space Mining ?
The legal framework leaves it to private companies to start spacemining. The case against space mining• Incredibly expensive • No safe return on investment • Would lower the marketprice of commodity • Even Elon Musk thinks thereis no business case for it.
Vlaksamp, 2020 => contestation of the organizing principle of transparency to support the norm of good governance in the natural resource sector and how the EU coped with it bc of the priority of the economic development (and we believe good governance is a result of economic development) + use of the sovereignty principle to justify the non-implementation of some procedures (i.e. argument we should find our own national way to do it) + contestation of some procedures by companies (for extraction, justified by economic freedom and sovereignty). The principle of transparency is never contested directly, national and global "soft contestation". I.e. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the EU.
Vlaksamp, 2020 => contestation of the organizing principle of transparency to support the norm of good governance in the natural resource sector and how the EU coped with it bc of the priority of the economic development (and we believe good governance is a result of economic development) + use of the sovereignty principle to justify the non-implementation of some procedures (i.e. argument we should find our own national way to do it) + contestation of some procedures by companies (for extraction, justified by economic freedom and sovereignty). The principle of transparency is never contested directly, national and global "soft contestation". I.e. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the EU.
Is WTO (World trade organization the only rule dealing with the rules oftrade between nations
Yes he World Trade Organization(WTO) is the only global internationalorganization dealing with the rules oftrade between nations
What statement is correct? a. The value of natural resources in geopolitics depends on the time and context. b. Natural resource scarcity always leads to conflicts between states. c. Natural resource abundance always leads to cooperation between states. d. I don't know the answer.
a) The value of natural resources in geopolitics depends on the time and context.
On what principle build many international initiatives to address the resource curse? a. Transparency and Accountability b. Punishments c. Effective Multilateralism d. I don't know the answer.
a) Transparency and Accountability
What meant the (outdated) idea that a country needs "Lebensraum"? a. A nation needs a lot of space to grow and prosper. b. I don't know the answer. c. Environmental protection is important. d. Land is not important to the power of a nation.
a. A nation needs a lot of space to grow and prosper.
To what extent is the European Union dependent on energy imports? a. The EU imports around half of its energy from abroad. b. The EU uses almost exclusively energy from abroad. c. The EU only imports a small share of its energy from abroad. d. I don't know the answer.
a. The EU imports around half of its energy from abroad.
How do most countries in the Global South receive transnational large-scale land acqusitions? a. The receptions are mixed. Some countries see them as a way to modernize their agricultural sector. Other countries, however, fear that these projects may affect the livelihood of domestic farmers severely. seek to attract these projects proactively, while other countries want to b. I don't know the answer. c. Very positive. They see them as a way of modernizing their agricultural sector. d. Very negative. They see them as neocolonialim.
a. The receptions are mixed. Some countries see them as a way to modernize their agricultural sector. Other countries, however, fear that these projects may affect the livelihood of domestic farmers severely. seek to attract these projects proactively, while other countries want to
According to Dannreuther's text, how are natural resources and geopolitics connected with each other? a. States need access to (specific) natural resources for their military strength and/or economic prosperity. b. I don't know the answer. c. Having natural resources is a matter of national prestige, d. Having natural resources makes a county more interesting for foreign investors.
a. States need access to (specific) natural resources for their military strength and/or economic prosperity.
How can an increased demand for biofuels cause conflicts in the places where they are grown? Select one or more: a. It can lead to water scarcity. b. I don't know the answer. c. It can lead to land scarcity d. It can affect food security.
a. It can lead to water scarcity. c. It can lead to land scarcity d. It can affect food security.
Which of these points is in the EU's Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials (2020)? Select one or more: a. Reduce the EU's dependency on primary critical raw materials b. Create stronger ties with Russia c. I don't know the answer. d. Diversify sourcing from third countries
a. Reduce the EU's dependency on primary critical raw materials d. Diversify sourcing from third countries
Select one or more: a. The European Green Deal is expected to cause more demand for lithium (and other critical minerals) from Europe. b. The European Green Deal is expected to cause less demand for oil from Europe. c. The European Green Deal is expected to make Europe more dependent on resource imports. d. I don't know the answer.
a. The European Green Deal is expected to cause more demand for lithium (and other critical minerals) from Europe. b. The European Green Deal is expected to cause less demand for oil from Europe.
Which of these broader trends has made many raw materials critical? You can choose more than one option. a. The Transformation to a Green Economy b. I don't know the answer. c. The Great Recession d. The fourth industrial revolution.
a. The Transformation to a Green Economy d. The fourth industrial revolution.
What geopolitical interests are at stake in the Arctic? Select one or more: a. Trade routes b. I don't know the answer. c. Natural resources d. Military interests
a. Trade routes c. Natural resources d. Military interests
According to Wilson, when can raw materials become a threat to international security? You can choose more than one option. a. When the demand is inelastic. b. I don't know the answer. c. When the producing countries have the institutional capacity to use the supply of the raw material as instrument for their political aims. d. When the current and future market power is concentrated.
a. When the demand is inelastic. c. When the producing countries have the institutional capacity to use the supply of the raw material as instrument for their political aims. d. When the current and future market power is concentrated.
Tobias Ede argues that in cases of resource scarcity, conflicts can get violent under a number of conditions. The structural conditions are negative othering between the different groups and low power differences. What is often the trigger event, according to him? a. Extreme weather conditions. b. Recent political changes. c. I don't know the answer. d. External resource appropriation.
b) Recent political changes.
What is the main argument of so-called Environmental Optimists (Cornucopians)? a. Our planet has unlimited resources. b. I don't know the answer. c. Technological innovation can make sure that resource scarcity will not become a problem. d. International institutions can prevent conflicts about resource scarcity.
b) Technological innovation can make sure that resource scarcity will not become a problem.
What statement is correct? a. Natural resource wealth always strengthens government institutions. b. If a country has already weak institutions, natural resource wealth can deteriorate them further. c. I don't know the answer. d. Natural resource wealth usually makes government institutions less corrupt.
b. If a country has already weak institutions, natural resource wealth can deteriorate them further.
What is the "Dutch disease"? a. Resource wealth leads to more health problems. b. If an economy focuses on resource revenues, the manufacturing sector declines. c. The extraction of natural resources can make water more scarce. d. I don't know the answer.
b. If an economy focuses on resource revenues, the manufacturing sector declines.
According to Petersen-Perlman and his co-authors, what is crucial to avoid conflicts between states about water? a. Connecting water to energy and food issues. b. Investing in institutional capacity. c. I don't know the answer. d. A water-hegemon in the region.
b. Investing in institutional capacity.
Which of these three statements is true according to Keen's text? a. The warring parties in civil wars are always willing to do whatever it takes to win the war, b. Sometimes, the warring parties in a civil war do not even want to "win" the war, because they are better off with a continuation of the war. c. I don't know the answer. d. The Taliban funds itself mainly with the production of coca.
b. Sometimes, the warring parties in a civil war do not even want to "win" the war, because they are better off with a continuation of the war.
What policy options are discussed in Europe and North America to address the issue of critical raw materials? Remember that you can choose more than one answer. a. I don't know the answer. b. (Re-)open mines c. Decrease consumption through technological innovation d. Recycle more products to reuse the raw materials
b. (Re-)open mines c. Decrease consumption through technological innovation d. Recycle more products to reuse the raw materials
Which of these statements are correct? a. I don't know the answer. b. The mineral resources of seabed are legally a "common heritage of mankind" c. All mineral resources of the Arctic are legally a "common heritage of mankind" d. The Moon and its natural resources are legally a "common heritage of all humankind"
b. The mineral resources of seabed are legally a "common heritage of mankind" d. The Moon and its natural resources are legally a "common heritage of all humankind"
What country is the largest producer of critical raw materials? a. I don't know the answer. b. Brazil c. China d. Australia
c) China
"The actors in the war are state actors. The war is about geopolitical interests. The armed groups fight direct military battles to win the war. They are funded by taxes." How would Mary Kaldor classify such a conflict? a. As a Gray War. b. I don't know the answer. c. As an Old War d. As a New War.
c. As an Old War
How would Homer-Dixon call this form of environmental scarcity? "Overharvesting has affected the food production of a country so severely that it struggles with feeding all mouths now." a. Demand-induced scarcity b. I don't know the answer. c. Supply-induced scarcity d. Structural scarcity
c. Supply-induced scarcity
Europe imports considerable amounts of gas from the Caspian Sea. If there was political unrest in Turkey, a country the pipelines cross, what type of security would this affect (according to Bradshaw and Boersma)? a. Security of demand b. Security of supply c. Transit security d. I don't know the answer.
c. Transit security
What phenomeon is sometimes called "Green Grabbing"? a. Large-scale land acquistitions in Africa by Gulf countries b. Large-scale acquistitions of forests c. Large-scale land acquistitions for environmental ends d. I don't know the answer.
c. Large-scale land acquistitions for environmental ends
Does water scarcity always lead to conflict between countries? a. Yes, in most cases it leads to conflicts. b. I don't know the answer. c. No, in many cases it has even lead to more cooperation. d. Yes, it is the root cause of most wars in Africa and the Middle-East.
c. No, in many cases it has even lead to more cooperation.
What legal problems encounter many local farmers in subsaharean Africa when international actors want to buy/lease their land? a. They have no access to domestic courts. b. They have a special legal status. c. They do not posess any formal land titles. Land ownership is regulated by customary law. d. I don't know the answer.
c. They do not posess any formal land titles. Land ownership is regulated by customary law.
How did European Commission President von der Leyen define her Commission? Select one or more: a. A "force for good" b. I don't know the answer. c. A "geopolitical Commission" d. A global Commission for Europe
c. A "geopolitical Commission"
Can a company start deep-sea mining at any moment? Select one or more: a. No, exploration and exploitation activities must get approved by the UN Security Council. b. Yes, if they have the money to do so. c. No, exploration and exploitation activities must get approved by the International Seabed Authority. d. I don't know the answer.
c. No, exploration and exploitation activities must get approved by the International Seabed Authority.
What is understood under "Arctic exceptionalism"? Select one or more: a. There are no geopolitical interests at stake in the Arctic. b. I don't know the answer. c. The Arctic is generally a zone of peace and cooperation. d. The Arctic is a zone of permanent conflict.
c. The Arctic is generally a zone of peace and cooperation.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, until what point can countries exploit exclusively raw materials in the sea? Select one or more: a. They can exploit raw materials wherever they want in the sea. b. Until the end of the Coastal Waters (3 miles) c. Until the end of the Exclusive Economic Zone (200 miles) d. I don't know the answer.
c. Until the end of the Exclusive Economic Zone (200 miles)
What is the Rentier effect
countries live off oil rents - it creates a patronage system, develop an effective security apparatus. I.e. Arab spring ; political changes and democratic transitions after protests depended on natural resource wealth. There are rent-seeking policies weakening institutions bc it increases one's share of wealth instead of creating new wealth, no transparency and honest processes, lack of accountability, less influence by electorates (leaders are not dependent on taxes). Effects on institutions and bureaucracy (especially on the fiscal scale and when governments are strongly involved in the petroleum industry).
Water Security does not stand on its own. In class we discussed the.... a. I don't know the answer. b. ....water-order-peace nexus c. ....water-security nexus. d. ....water-energy-food nexus.
d. ....water-energy-food nexus.
In their book chapter, Bridge & Le Billon, describe different ways of looking at energy security. What are these components? a. I don't know the answer. b. Political power, economic power and/or legal power over producing countries. c. Domestic Energy Security, Regional Energy Security and Global Energy Security. d. Availability, Accesibility, Acceptability and Affordability.
d. Availability, Accesibility, Acceptability and Affordability.
Why are critical theory scholars, skeptical about the idea of "food security"? a. I don't know the answer. b. Because all countries should be able to feed their own populations with modern agriculture methods. c. The term security should only be used in a military context. d. Some countries may have a sufficient supply of food, but there may be still people starving due to social inequalities.
d. Some countries may have a sufficient supply of food, but there may be still people starving due to social inequalities.
What was the main trigger for the steep increase in transnational land acqusitions in the past 15 years? a. Misharvests in the Global North b. I don't know the answer. c. Decreasing land prices in the Global South d. Several food price crises
d. Several food price crises
What region or continent defined Commission President von der Leyen as "close neighbor and our most natural partner"? Select one or more: a. South America b. I don't know the answer. c. Central Asia d. Africa
d. Africa
What is fracking? How does it work?
fracking is the extraction of natural gas through hydraulic fracturing pumps water at high pressure to break rocks to release natural gas
The Dutch disease
gas discovery in Northeast Netherlands in the 50s, rapid increase in the production of raw materials can cause a decline in other sectors of economy.
"Lebensraum" concept in Germany in 19th century
space for prosperity, food for a country
What is the 'Tragedy of the Commons?
the tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted because people act from self-interest for short-term gain. "Allmänningens dilemma eller allmänningarnas tragedi är ett uttryck som har med situationer att göra där ett antal personer skall samarbeta, men där det handlingssätt som är bäst ur ett individuellt perspektiv är dåligt ur det gemensamma perspektivet"