Geopolitics Economic Trade

Introduction

　　Geopolitics is a connotation coming from a combination of English words-Geography and politics. In essence it implies the study of politics, history, social set ups and geography of a particular region, country and even at international levels. Therefore geopolitics is a close scrutiny of the importance of geography, politics and the geo-economics of a particular society. It can also be said to be closely related to political ideologies of nations, for example, the capitalist state of affairs in Kenya compared to the socio-capitalism of Uganda and socialism of Tanzania. Brennan. M. K (2005).

　　This last case is supported by the fact that in peaceful nations the effects of such ideologies does not prevail over economic activities such as trade, trade routes, transport and other cross border activities because nations are physically close to one anothers.The effects of geopolitics has however had its influence on political ideas and culture differences of nations involved. Literally, the simply implies the link between politics and the geography of the political arena. Granta Ball.T. (1993). So far we have not given a conclusive definition of geopolitics.

　　Oyvind Osterud (1988), in his book, the Uses and Abuses of Geopolitics he defined it conventionally as an underlying interconnection and cosmetic interlocks flanked by political and geographic space; by and large it is often viewed as an axiom of thought that takes a stab at unambiguous premeditated recommendations based on the comparative significance of territorial supremacy as well as maritime dominancy in the world history. The geopolitical convention had some concerns, as the geopolitical similarities of autonomy in world politics, the classification of transnational core regions, as well as the relationships between naval and terrestrial capabilities. Granta Ball.T. (1993).

　　Geopolitics can also be looked at as a branch of human geography dealing with study of the effect of spatial uneven results in political development and the way in which geography affects politics. In this case scholars of geopolitics will be dealing with political geography. Political geography for convenience is structured in three ways involving the study of one’s nation, locations and international relations {geopolitics}.In essence this sub division involves the relationship of the people their country within a certain territory. Armand C. G., J. (1973).

　　We now turn and focus on a brief history of geopolitics. During the days of ancient civilization nations were related to each other in terms of military superiority. The emperors and kings concentrated more on building military basis. Therefore the results of this military basis were meant to suppress nations, territories and kingdoms. This indicates that there was a closer relationship between nations, territories and states. Military activities helped kingdoms to expand into neighboring territories which were later legitimized, as was the case of the expansion of the German Third Reich in 1932. Geopolitics developed well during the advent of the Second World War and the cold war. During this period nations were preoccupied with who controlled a large territory.

　　This is exemplified the famous Heartland which was the land covering Eastern Europe and Western Russia and was claimed that whoever controlled the Heart land would control the whole world. The treaties such as the Treaty of Versailles between Germany and Russia were signed to prevent any of them from occupying the Heartland. Geopolitics in the Korean Peninsula. Armand C. G., J. (1973).

　　Korea is one country that has been greatly affected by geopolitics. The war on Iraq waged by United States and her allies destabilized the economy of the Korea. The instability in the Middle East between the Palestine and the Jewish state of Israel has created geopolitical risk in Korea as a result of the US foreign policies. The domestic political climate {risk} has increased due to these policies.

　　The geopolitical risk has negatively affected the private consumption in addition to hindering proper economic growth and therefore under these circumstances the currency has been greatly depreciated. The South Korean Won is a strong currency and its depreciation has also greatly affected the economy of her sister country, North Korea which is economically poor. Granta Ball.T. (1993) America and North Korea have for along time engaged in war of words over the later‘s alleged construction of a nuclear plant. This is due to Americas pursuant of a foreign policy called the unilateralism has shown the Bush administration as pursuing its own agenda. This has given Americans an upper hand in use of military advancement to suppress nations.

　　North Korea has since been warned to stop construction of the plant or face suppression by military action. Despite this it is felt that it has taken extremely long o reach a resolution and as time there are probabilities that North Korea will become stronger. Armand C. G., J. (1973). Even with that there has existed a strong enmity between the north and the south with the two sister states dividing. The therefore have had along period of independent development with the South developing more rapidly than the north. North is insisting that it will continue with the nuclear project as this will help her develop, thus this has created an even bigger rift between the two nations. Granta Ball.T. (1993).

　　Contrary to the above, the South has had a strong government for along time and she has been able to evade the ever present geopolitical surrounding which are unpredictable and so has been the political environment. The strong opposition has hampered any effort by the government of president Rho to form any meaningful reforms to curb insecurity and also combat social instability and also the geopolitical uncertainty. Armand C. G., J. (1973). In terms of economic development South Korea has been greatly influenced by the geopolitical, political and social instability. The instability which has a direct effect on the economic growth in that it works to weaken private consumption which in turn weakens private investment. Armand C. G., J. (1973).

　　The Korean peninsula also has the geopolitics of energy. This region has a lot of energy with Russia to the north east and containing about two thirds of the world’s natural gas reserves. Despite this Russia has been unable to supply this resource to the ever increasing oil demands on the peninsula by giving some to Korea and China. Russia insists that their must be a grid which will favor the distribution of the resource in the region. Glassman, J. (1999). The Korean peninsula has been shown as a region with remarkable interaction between the energy crisis and geopolitics. The region has an acute shortage of energy which does not match with the economic development in the region. North Korea has acute shortage of energy which it has been experiencing over the last.

　　This has come out strongly as the reason as to why she had to embark on the controversial nuclear energy plant. The energy shortages have greatly crippled the economy of North Korea. Glassman, J. (1999). The controversial nuclear plant made the Americans move in with speed only to ensure that it did not succeed and consequently the project has been weakened with time especially after the formation of the six committee. The importance of this committee is that it helped North Korea to establish a warm relationship with the external world. The major problem with the committee is that it has never been able to resolve the energy crisis still impoverishing the economy of North Korea.

　　However some agreements have been made and the North Korea grid will have to be connected to the rest of the grids in the region. Furthermore, the main nuclear will be substituted with one thousand megawatt plant proposed under the agreed framework. This part of the temporary measures meant to help North Korea overcome its energy shortages. Armand C. G., J. (1973). It can be confidently be said that the geopolitics in the far East is bound to continue with the increased level of economic development. Nations like China and Korea South are set to an increased level of economic development. Parker. G. (1998).
 

References

　　Agnew, J.A & Corbridge, S. (1995). Mastering Space: Hegemony, Territory, and Inter-national Political Economy. London; Route ledge.

　　Granta Ball.T. (1993). Power. A companion to Political Philosophy. Oxford; Blackwell.

　　Glassman, J. (1999). State power beyond the territorial trap; The internationalization of the state Political Geography.

　　Armand C. G., J. (1973). The Imperatives of Territory. Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia.

　　Parker. G. (1998); Geopolitics; Past, Present and Future. Reader’s Digest and American Identity. University of Minnesota Press.

　　John Agnews (2003). Geopolitics: Revisioning World Politics, second edition; Routledge, London New York, pp 154-157

　　Holmes, et.al (2004); China, a Unified Korea, and Geopolitics; Paper presented in a symposium during a political and science association.

　　Brennan. M.K (2005). The United States and Africa: shifting Geopolitics in time of Terror. Modern Africa 53:1 Africa.