Global Networks Lesson Aims: To understand how the world’s economies, peoples and environments are connected to form ‘networks.’ To understand why some places are ‘switched on’ whilst other places are ‘switched off’

What are Global Networks? The term ‘Global Networks’ refers to the links between different countries in the world. These links include the flows of capital (money), traded goods and services, information and even (to a lesser extent) people. Some areas are well connected and these tend to be high income areas, whilst other areas are poorly connected and these tend to be low income areas.

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Switched on places are nations, regions or cities that are strongly connected to other places through the production and consumption of goods and services. Switched on places

Provide a focal point for activities with a global focus e.g. Major cities or other settlements with a global reach (Cambridge, Silicon Glen etc) Often grow up as a global hub on account of ‘natural’ or ‘human resources.’ Serve as core regions for a country’s economy, stimulating further economic growth as a result of the wealth circulating in that area i.e. ‘Multiplier Effect.’ Global Hubs Key term

Achieving connectivity Countries have become more closely linked to one another thanks to developments in technology (NB. This refers to developments in transport technology as well as ICT) e.g. Telephones:- The Internet:- The introduction of telephones allowed for instantaneous communications between countries, revolutionising how business was conducted and laying the foundations for the emergence of TNCs with the advent of broadband, large amounts of information can be moved quickly and efficiently through cyberspace. Again, has revolutionised the way in which businesses operate, allowing people to work from home and even in different countries. 91 globe

Achieving connectivity Air Travel:- GIS and GPS:- Thanks to these developments in technology, distant places effectively feel closer and take less time to reach. This gives the impression of a ‘shrinking world.’ Aerospace technology continues to evolve, with faster aeroplanes being produced in larger numbers and more quickly, with greater capacity. Travelling by air is no longer restricted to elites with the growth of budget air lines offering cheap flights There are now 24 GPS satellites in orbit, continuously broadcasting position and time data to users throughout the world

Switched off places are nations, regions or cities that are not strongly connected to other places. Switched off places

Very poorest nations in the world are relatively switched off. May lack a global hub or any strong flows of trade and investment with other countries. What integration with the rest of the world that does exist tends to be shallow e.g. Overseas aid or providing agricultural products to TNCs (i.e. Will generate very little money and workers will have negligable spending power) As a result there is no real market potential (people can’t afford products so there is no little business sense in trying to operate there) Reasons for such poverty are varied – e.g. mismanagement of resources. Gap between switched on places and switched off places is growing; Richest 1% of world population own 40% of wealth; poorest 50% own 1% of wealth. Switched off places Page 94 globe

Case studies Use the Globe text book (pages 93 and 94),the Fish book (page 86,87,88 and 89) the resource sheets and your own research to complete the writing frames on China and Gambia. These are key case studies that we will return to again – so read around the issues!

Is Africa a disconnected Continent? Read pages of the Fish book Explain in detail why Africa has not made the economic progress that other parts of the World have made. What impacts has debt had on countries –draw a flow chart to show this In groups of 3 use the examples of Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya to explain the spiral of decline affecting each country. Exam question-Using examples,explain how some countries have been affected by debt, and the impacts that this has had on them (10 marks)