Physical Influences on Global Interactions (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Resource Availability
A key factor on the ability of a country to develop and interact globally is its physical environment
Countries with natural resources are more globally interactive, with the potential for trade
However, they are not necessarily more globalised
Some countries are resource-rich but cash poor, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The DRC is considered the world's richest country in terms of wealth in natural resources
Most of the deposits are untouched and worth an estimated $24 trillion
Deposits include the world's largest coltan reserves and considerable amounts of cobalt
Despite this, the DRC is the 4th poorest country in the world
The World Bank estimated that 76% of Congolese people lived on less than $2.15 a day in 2023
Countries that are rich in resources and continue to exploit and export them include South Africa, Australia and Canada
HICs like the UK and Germany have used and exported the bulk of their natural resources and have had to diversify to continue their global interactions
MICs and LICs rich in raw materials, such as Brazil and South Africa, follow a similar path, using the wealth from exporting their raw materials to develop but they have also diversified and have a broader based economy
Countries with a heavy reliance on a single resource, called commodity dependence, such as Ghana and cocoa exports, are vulnerable to weather extremes, disease, currency fluctuations and competition as they lack an alternative way to earn overseas money
Geographical Isolation
Isolation from global interactions is a barrier to development
Landlocked countries have:
Increased time and transport costs reduce access to markets and profitability
Pay extra tariffs to export their goods
South Sudan has to pay Sudan or Kenya to get its oil to the coast
Pay for the use of another country's airspace
Geographically isolated regions have limited flows of knowledge, which can reduce effective production innovation
Other physical factors contributing to geographical isolation include mountains, oceans and a lack of suitable coastlines for ports
Many geographically isolated areas are globally unconnected and struggle to establish trade links with other countries
Or the costs and benefits of linking outweigh each other
Leaving regions underrepresented in global decisions and discussions
Unlike regions such as Singapore, which developed its ports due to its strategic location on the Malay Peninsula, the area is a natural stop-over and hub for global ocean trade
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