Physical Influences on Global Interactions (DP IB Geography)

Revision Note

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

Last updated:

You've read 0 of your 10 free revision notes

Unlock more, it's free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Jacque Cartwright

Author: Jacque Cartwright

Expertise: Geography Content Creator

Jacque graduated from the Open University with a BSc in Environmental Science and Geography before doing her PGCE with the University of St David’s, Swansea. Teaching is her passion and has taught across a wide range of specifications – GCSE/IGCSE and IB but particularly loves teaching the A-level Geography. For the past 5 years Jacque has been teaching online for international schools, and she knows what is needed to get the top scores on those pesky geography exams.

Bridgette Barrett

Author: Bridgette Barrett

Expertise: Geography Lead

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.