1. Synoptic: Bridging the Development Gap Central America

3. Central America: The key ideas
Development….
Inequality…
Opportunities/Threats/Barriers…
Players….
Actions….
Futures….

4. Central America: Factors that affect development

5. Central America: Geographical overview
Physical factors:
- Relief
- Climate
- Natural resources (water / energy)
Human factors:
- Population density
- HDI
- Colonial legacy and political allies / groupings
- Development

6. Physical factors: Relief and tectonics
Much of C.America’s interior is highland, but wet and fertile
> Tectonics / fold mountains / volcanic activity
> High population density
C.American coast is low but wet
> Lower population density
Easy to connect the coast to interior
> Enables development
> Easy to create/use land links, canals etc..

7. Physical factors: Tectonic hazards

8. Physical factors: Hurricanes

9. Physical factors: Climate

10. Physical factors: Energy resources

11. Physical factors: Water resources

12. Human factors: Population density
What is the link between climate, population density and natural hazards in the region?
How does it relate to development?

13. Human factors: Development contrasts (HDI)

14. Human factors: Colonial legacy

15. Human factors: Political allegiances
US involvement in canal building:

16. Human factors: Role of tourism
Eco-tourism in Costa Rica

17. Themes/ideas: Sustainable development
Social needs
Environmental safeguarding/ improvement
Economic needs

18. Development: Rostow’s model

19. Development: Friedman

20. Development: Myrdal and cumulative causation

21. Topic map of overall theme
Physical / human features
Issues
Development Gap: Central America
Players
Futures
Actions

22. Topic map of overall theme
Water
Climate
Urbanisation
Development
Features/ Characteristics
Physical features
Volcanoes
Human features
Population
Energy
IGOs
TNCs
Development Gap:
Central America
Issues
Global
Players
Futures
Local
Actions
Regional
Trade blocs
Projects
Aid

23. How can I be “synoptic”? Use ‘new’ information from research
Parallel examples
How can I be “synoptic”?
Links to areas of AS and A2 course
Use of broad geographical themes

24. Central America Suez Statistics Galapagos
Use ‘new’ information from research
Ecotourism
St Lucia
Kenya
Parallel examples
Updates
Mercosur/Caricom
Central America
Inequality
Going Global
Use of broad geographical themes
Geopolitics
Links to areas of AS and A2 course
Water Conflict
Sustainability
Climate change
Globalisation
Energy Security
Biodiversity
Superpowers
Tech Fix

25. Parallel examples
Regional inequalities and conflicts (with link to weak governance):
> Kenya
Ecotourism
> Kenya safari and coastal tourism
Trade blocs
> Mercosur
> Caricom
Major infrastructure projects (top-down)
> Kenyan railway
> Suez canal
> Trans-Amazon highway? (Brazil)

26. Further research / updates
UN / World Bank classification of countries as HIC, MIC, LIC etc..
UN Millennium Development Goals:
World Bank data on the countries:
CIA world factbook:

27. Further research / updates
Hazard profile of region:
EMDAT country profiles:
Panama canal expansion:
Nicaragua canal protests:
Suez canal:
Mesoamerica hotspot:

28. Further research / updates
Chinese investment:
New railway in Kenya
Role of TNCs in development (Dole/Fyffes + banana plantation issues):
Imports/exports:
Pacific Alliance (trade bloc):

29. Further research / notable gaps
Appropriate technology/ tech fix/ electricity production
Sustainable development in Costa Rica:
Eco-tourism in Costa Rica
Tourism and link to development/environment:
- Kenya (safari and marine) e.g. Masai Mara (safari) and coastal tourism
- Ngorongoro:
Galapagos and invasive marine species:

30. Some ideas for questions
Explain the variations in current levels of development in Central America.
Explain how the physical, economic and political factors of the region have limited development to date.
Outline how physical and human factors have promoted development in Panama and Costa Rica.
Examine the factors that have led to uneven levels of development in Central America.
Account for the recent changes in levels of development in the Central American region.
Evaluate the contribution that globalisation has made to development and quality of life in Central America.
To what extent will trade continue to be important in the development of the Central American region?
…continued on the next slide.

31. Some more ideas for questions
To what extent has conflict in Central America been a threat to the stability and continuing development of the region?
Assess the role of a range of Players in the past and future development of the Central American region.
Assess the sustainability of the four projects in Fig. 11.
Evaluate the costs and benefits of the four projects in Fig. 11.
Examine the roles that a range of Players and Actions could play in helping Central American countries to develop further.
Assess the sustainability of continued development in Central America.
Evaluate the social, economic and environmental threats to further development in Central America.