World Regional Geography
Is East Asian Realm monocentric or polycentric and Why
Based on the historical data, East Asia is a monocentric realm. This is because East Asia is widely dominated economically, physically, and culturally (historically) by china. Physically, china has vast ocean such as the Pacific Ocean, which extends for more than 11,000 miles as well as numerous island nations of japan and the Korean peninsula. China is the third-largest country in the world. Moreover, China has a great variety of climate, topography, and vegetation. For instance, in the eastern region, there are fertile alluvial plains sourced from china’s great river systems as well as extensive grasslands for nomadic people.
Economically, Chinese activities in East Asia have stood out, they have not only presided over the commercial realm but also they have cash crops agriculture and well-organized mining production. Additionally, China has symbolic capital and instruments of spiral marketing as well as excellent credit, which in turn, gives china a comparative advantage over other trading groups. China has undergone extraordinary ordinary economic growth, moving it from a footnote in the world’s economy to a key player moving markets, thus extending its economic dominance in East Asia. Culturally or historically, china was the heartland of East Asia culture long before and after the Tang dynasty. Therefore, this culture strongly influenced its neighbors, particularly Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.
Both Vietnam and Korea derived much of their civilization from china, which includes philosophies, writing systems, and political institutions. Hitherto, during the Tang rule, there was increased immigration of Persians and Arabs, which in turn facilitated multicultural exchange, which benefited china. Most countries in East Asia have copied the Chinese religion of Buddhism; thus, magnifying dominance of culture by china. In conclusion, China has proven to be a monocentric realm in East Asia.
Discuss at least five primate cities in different countries
Primate cities are significant cities that serve the political, financial, and population center of a country, and it is not outdone in any of the aspects mentioned earlier by any other city in that realm. Based on the underlying literal review, a primate city need to be at least as crowded as the second biggest city in the sphere. Therefore, there are several primate cities across the globe, which include London and Paris. Consequently, the greater London population is nearly 10 million, translating to four times that of the UK’s second-biggest city (greater Manchester).
Moreover, Leeds and Birmingham’s cities are comparable in size to that of Greater Manchester. Similarly, Paris has an estimated population of about 2.2 million in the town proper twelve million in the metro area, thus, twice as more significant as France’s main secondary cities such as Marseille. Mexico City is a prelate city because it has a population that is more than twofold Guadalajara’s population, thus, not qualifying its people to be under a rank-size rule. Bangkok, possibly more than any other main world’s metropolis, has translated to be a primate city. The city is 40 times bigger than Chiang Mai, 35 times larger than Nakhon Ratchasima. Due to the consideration of the aspects above, Saint Petersburg and Moscow can be considered as primate cities.
In Russia, in contrast, the two cities follow Zapf’s Law with their population bigger than the subsequent six largest cities. In summary, countries with the above primate cities share common characteristics discussed below. These countries have cultures, carry out transport activities, economic activities as well as governmental needs for the rest of the country. Therefore, this leads to the rise of primate cities that bear the responsibilities mentioned above.
Discuss the generalized relationship between climate and population distribution. Does this relationship vary across countries, how and why
Based on the historical data, the climate is the backbone of population distribution. Climate may affect population distribution either directly or indirectly through its effects on vegetation, relief, humidity, altitude and latitude, soil as well as agriculture that have direct bearings on population distribution patterns. For instance, high altitudes influence population distribution by imposing the ultimate physiological limit upon human existence due to reduced oxygen content and atmospheric pressure. It is well evidenced that 80% of the world’s most inhabitants exist within 500 meters from sea level while 56% reside within 200m from sea level. Additionally, high altitudes provide appropriate conditions for human inhabitance. This relationship varies in different countries across the world; for instance, mountains in Latin America and Africa are much healthier compared to plains, big cities have sprung up at these high altitudes.
Results from autoregressive population models indicate that population density has been affected by the strength of the local temperatures. Countries with arid and semi-arid climates experience low population n densities due to increasingly warm temperatures, which trigger a decline in the population of both plants and animals. According to population distribution maps used by geographers, it is evident that most people foster on settling in areas with proper rainfall distribution, near large water bodies near big mountains with good alluvial deposits and along rivers. For example, it’s the population density in River Tigris and Euphrates in the Asian continent, with good alluvial deposits and reliable sources of water. Therefore, this shows the population distribution of animals and plants is directly linked to the variability in climatic conditions such as temperature, latitudes and altitudes, and soil.
Can we observe a relationship between the length of being independent and the development level for countries with a colonial history, why
Researchers and development philosophers have long postulated whether the personality of the colonizers or colonial supremacy mattered for succeeding development. Therefore, the results from 63 ex-colonial federations for 39 years indicated that British colonizers performed considerably better compared to their counterparts Spanish and French. The length of colonization affects the nations positively and significantly. For instance, South Africa, which was colonized for a couple of years, is more developed compared to other nations in Africa. During the prolonged colonization period, countries advanced their civilization as well; many languages were adopted, which gave them more advantages to communicate in the current globalized world. Therefore, this stimulated growth and development in these nations.
In contrast, some countries couldn’t achieve stable growth and development even after they gained independence. For instance, the democratic republic of Congo and Cuba are currently neo-colonized since it had little knowledge to keep the nation-state going. Consequently, both nations have recorded slow growth and development despite the gaining of independence. Even after independence, many ex-colonies were left unprepared to function in the current nation-system and highly vulnerable to outside pressure and influence. Also, many European colonizers took away most of the resources like agricultural products, diamonds, primary products, and golds, which could act as stimuli to growth and development after independence. In conclusion, growth and development are dependent on both periods of autonomy and effect of colonizers after they left the nations to rule themselves.
Discuss how foreign aids affect developing countries’ development. Are China’s recent projects in Africa examples of Neocolonialism? Why?
Foreign aid has remained to be an indispensable tool for the socio-economic development of developing nations since the early 1960s. Based on the underlying historical data, foreign assistance can be designated as financial, commodity flow, and technical support to the republics that are recorded in the Development Assistance Committee. Also, the developing nation’s foreign aid has been an essential tool in eradicating poverty; thus, increasing economic growth. This was achieved through millennium Development goals launched in 2000 with a core goal of supporting developing countries. From a review of the literature, it is noted that foreign aids do not have a significant influence on GDP growth. Still, it has considerable effects on foreign direct investments and unemployment in developing countries. Apart from achieving its core purpose of development and poverty reduction in developing countries, external aids allow governments to purchase products made by companies found in the donor countries. Moreover, foreign aid has led to the development of a reliable and efficient security system. It has allowed these nations to purchase upgraded security appliances from donor nations to curb unceasing security issues.
Aid has diverse effects on the socio-economic sector as it improves agriculture through the financing of farmers in developing nations, and this enables these countries to have sustainable food security for its population. Foreign aid has enhanced globalization. World Bank and IMF have blended tools and strategies whereby the treasury unit imposes financial plans favorable to multinational corporations and Wall Street stakeholders on impoverished developing nations. Also, foreign aid promotes growth by supporting notions that bring new ideas and technology; in that way, returns are increased for the economy rather than one-off advances from the comparative gain logic.
In contrast, foreign aid has led to rising of dysfunctional governments as they pay less when political figures use agricultural, service, and industrial sectors to easy ride for themselves as well as their associates, allowing state-guaranteed monopsonies and monopolies. This, in turn, affects the economy and development in developing nations. Moreover, foreign aid has adversely affected domestic resource utilization and enlistment. Governments from developing countries have become over-dependent on foreign aid, and this has diverted to regime consumption as they reduce their exertions at market reforms, which would enhance tax and production income in the entire economy.
Chinas projects in Africa can be termed as a form of colonialism whereby it has invaded Africa with its traders, lenders, investors, developers, builders as well as laborers. Neo-colonialism is that foreign capital that is charted abuse instead of developing them. To justify neo-colonialism by china in Africa, investment has increased rather than decreasing the gap stuck between the rich and poor. Additionally, china’s economic stake in Africa has hovered from $1 billion in 1980 to $200 billion in 2015, and it’s predicted to rise to $400 billion by the end of 2020. Therefore, this justifies the phrase by Kwame Nkrumah of increased investment, slightly decreasing margins between the rich and poor. Chinese immersion in a country like Kenya has shown some slick of neo-colonialism as china holds half of Kenya’s external foreign debt. Moreover, there has been a couple of ghost projects implemented in Kenya by Chinese, such as a Chinese bridge built in western Kenya worth $10 million and collapsed a few weeks later. Also, both Ethiopian and Kenyan railways are examples of whole chain export, from construction to financing, designs to equipment procurement, supervision to maintaining of the railways, Chinese banks, and companies have monopolized the entire chain translating to a system of neo-colonialism.
Is democracy essential to development and prosperity? Why? Explain why democracy failed in some countries.
Over the past years, the government’s primary concern was economic growth while ignoring democracy, equity, quality, and dignity of human life. Recently, economic growth and food supply matters are no longer considered necessary compared to justice though they remain crucial issues globally Peev, E., & Mueller, D. C. (2012). Nations have confirmed democracy as an essential condition for prosperity and development. Hence, in comparison to the gross domestic product, it has gained more significance. Democracy is assumed as a kind and beneficial thing.
Democratic governments always offer better lives to their citizens compared to those from nondemocratic nations Peev, E., & Mueller, D. C. (2012). Peoples of democracies enjoy political stability, freedom from violence, liberty, quality life, and rarely suffer from famine. Democracies drive a political dynamic that favors the needs of marginalized citizens Peev, E., & Mueller, D. C. (2012). Besides, it brings about a popular participation in the government since it endows all citizens with the power to lead governments Peev, E., & Mueller, D. C. (2012). Institutions facilitate media that monitors and broadcast corruption and inefficiency to the citizens.
Generally, democracy can provide a robust foundation for holistic development due to its involved basics like fair elections, participation in decision making, and civil societies. Its method of policymaking is affiliated with enhanced prospects for equitable and sustainable growth Singh, J. P. (2020). Some individuals would argue that being democratic or not does not play a key role and that what matters is the type of policies set and the civil stability of a regime Peev, E., & Mueller, D. C. (2012). Conversely, the democracy system offers a nurturing ground for growth that will precede longer and be maintainable. Therefore it’s beneficial to development Singh, J. P. (2020).
Democratization in China has, however, been absent, and it still enjoys its economic growth Sicular, T. (2017). When viewed from a political dimension, democracy embraces the notion of freedom that gives people a chance to elect officials hence affect policymaking policies. Singh, J. P. (2020). Democratization in China would, therefore, mean a disruption of their one-party system v. Such a party does not face objections from the public. Conclusions are quickly drawn and implemented within a short period due to nonexistence of debates Sicular, T. (2017). The political organization is nevertheless flawless. Those in authority tend to exploit their powers because no one can challenge them. Up to this era, China still operates its economy in the absence of democratization Sicular, T. (2017).
References
(Sicular, T. (2017). Redefining State, Plan, and Market: China’s Reforms in Agricultural Commerce. In Chinese Economic History Since 1949 (pp. 594-622). Brill.
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), pp. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001282/128283e.pdf.
Peev, E., & Mueller, D. C. (2012). Democracy, economic freedom, and growth in transition economies. Kyklos, 65(3), 371-407.
Singh, J. P. (2020). Political Economy, Markets, and Institutions: Preference Formation as a Point of Entry. Global Perspectives, 1(1).
UNESCO (2002). The Interaction between Democracy and Development. Paris: United.