Running Head: Geography 1

Geography Assignment Two

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 Geography 2

Question One

For the past 200 years, South America has tested various ideas that regard regional

integration. During the 20th century, Pan-Americanism went ahead to dominate the model of

integration, while the US economic it progressively imposed itself on the region. These models

have contributed to the huge disappointment towards the South America whereby the arrivals of

the strong leftist leaders together with the improved economic situation it led to the creation of

the formation of new forums of cooperation which clearly tend to find the Bolivarian dream.

Since the twenty-first century, there was emergence of a new model of the regional

integration in Latin America which excluded the western powers that allowed the genuine

autonomy of the region. This new era of regionalism in South America was triggered by the

growing discontentment towards the Pan-American model of integration together with the

general disillusionment with the neoliberal economic ideology which got championed by the

United States. Since the new wave of regionalism began it did not necessarily portray a strict

geo-political divorce from the United States instead it demonstrated a promise of rebalancing the

relationship between South America and its neighbors to the north.

During the late twentieth century, they were attempts at the regional integration in the

South America which were marked by the strong presence of the United States, both physically

and ideologically, whereby they were created in both regional and sub-regional organizational

areas. The growth of dissatisfaction towards the neoliberal policies has caused the rapid change

in the strategy towards the regional organizations; however they began experimenting with more

Latin American-centric policies. They were new regional organization that developed over the
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past decades which rejected the US model of integration towards both political and economic

affairs.

These organizations seemed to contribute towards the development during the first

decade of the 21st century, when there was formation of new paradigm of the regional integration

for the South America. Well there is hope in the past decades which demonstrate a new and

positive rebalancing which regards the relationship between the Latin American countries and

the United States. For example, for the past several years, the OAS policies have turn out to be

less aligned with US interests, due to the result of increased pressure from the South American

leaders, since the strengthening of the economies of the South American countries tend to be

giving more clout. The current system tends to make collaboration and have a mutual defense

among its members and also have assurance towards peace and justice throughout the South

America. The OAS got to expand over time whereby it included all the nations in the Western

Hemisphere becomes the continental forum for all political, social, economic and legal

hemispheric issues.

Question Two

Having a fertile land is considered as a basic necessity for mankind since it helps provide

nutrients for crops on which it depends for its survival. However, more than 24 billion tons of

Earths soil gets lost every year because of erosion, over-grazing, pollution and natural disasters.

In sub-Sahara Africa, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility is considered as the main causes of loss

of unsustainable land use. Therefore researchers have called for a meeting in order to make

orientation in agriculture policy in order to preserve land fertility. This is majorly important

towards Africa whereby the governments together with international aid agencies are making
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contributions towards the increase in agriculture productivity and without destroying the

environment. We should always consider converting our agriculture into organic since its

environment friendly and is also economically sustainable.

Agribusiness is a unique culture in our world today although it is faced with challenges

which must be faced and the rewards are very clear. Before one considers making any investment

or even getting personally involved in this industry its always important to consider the major

pros and cons of the agribusiness in order to make an empowered decision. One of the pros of

the agribusiness is having an alternative asset class whereby the agribusiness gets to provide

major income, plain and simple. It also gets to provide a solid income source towards individuals

who are working within the industry. There is also low correlation for the assets which are in the

mainstream like equities, fixed income and properties so that one can get what you intend to see.

It also get to provide something that people always need like during the challenging

seasons it may provide the best investment opportunities because there is one rule that humans

tend to follow. There is also some certain tax benefits which is gotten from the income from

agribusiness and it tend to benefit workers and investors. You should not get into this industry for

only tax purposes alone because there is also potential in making more wealth per capita in this

industry compared to others. Agribusiness allows diversification since it has portfolio which

increases sources from other multiple sectors. Workers who have ability to perform in the

multiple sectors get to have the best chance employment. Nowadays its hard to feel like you

have accomplished something with some certain jobs. In the agribusiness, you tend to work

using your hands out there in the field, pastures and facilities and get to know the positive impact

after a long hard day of work.

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How the individual business is structured can directly affect the results since the

agribusiness requires having performance. Therefore if the business isnt structured to provide

any performance then losses are likely to happen regardless of foundation for profits being laid.

Agribusiness is faced with multiple risks over every growing season which is caused by insect

infestations to weather to unexpected livestock death from disease which greatly influences

profits. A natural disaster might have the potential to eradicate an entire investment or the

opportunities towards employment for good. The assets of this industry are based on zero

liquidity which has made it difficult for the investors to get a quick exit and employees to get

consistent work.

Question Three

North Africa and Southwest Asia which is also known as Mideast is an example of a

region: even though is made up of countries on the two continents, it is considered as a region

since the people who live in this region share many things especially the natural resources. This

region consist of around 60% of the worlds reserves of petroleum which is used to make oil,

plastic and other things which make several countries in this region to become very wealthy.

Also in addition to having fossil fuels in this region there other minerals that are found in

plenty in the Mideast. These includes: iron ore, (steel, copper (pipes, wiring, computer parts),

lead (car batteries, fire arms, radiant shielding), manganese (steel) and zinc (deodorant, paint and

dandruff shampoo). Phosphate which is a component of making fertilizers (something that helps

the plants grow) is also found in many parts of this region and mostly in Morocco. This has

contributed towards the economies of both North Africa and Southeast Asia which are highly

dominated by the production of petroleum.

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Since the independence movement was formed, other countries in different regions would

now buy the oil they required at very cheap prices because the countries in the area tried to

compete with one another towards the selling of oil and petroleum products. Finally they got to

figure out that if they worked together in unison they would have the best prices to all sell at.

These oil producing countries formed an organization that would help them corporate which was

called Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The OPEC countries would

decide together on the amount of oil to produce and also sell which has resulted to making these

countries become very wealthy.

The oil that is got from the ground is referred to as crude oil and in order to use this oil it

has to be refined into the petroleum products like oil, gasoline and plastics. Regardless of this

region having 55% of the worlds oil it only refines 5% of the oil that it produces. These oil

countries would make a lot of money if they sold these refined petroleum products but since they

make much money on selling crude oil they have become reluctant and very slow to diversify.

Most of the developed countries including the US have recently questioned if it is good or a bad

thing to require so much oil because these countries are looking for ways that they can get power

without having out.

This can make the countries that highly depend on oil and are very wealthy today to

experience changes that they are not prepared for anything of this kind to happen. The people

that live in these oil producing countries often expect to live very comfortable lives as they also

expect the government to help them acquire things like houses, healthcare, education and even

weddings whereas other countries are being affected by too much poverty. In my opinion oil has

been a blessing because it has contributed on the positive way towards economy of the countries

that are oil producers.

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Question Four

Asia has had a sustainable economic growth over the past few decades hence it has

become the worlds most dynamic region. Having maintained this positive growth rate it then

requires having market integration in order to ensure there is free flow of all the goods, services

and capital across the borders. Therefore the interplay of the market forces in this region and the

increased participation of trade have been the major factors towards the growth of the emerging

Asian economies. Even now Asians most final goods are normally exported to Europe together

with United States. Having access to the larger part of the market made the Asian countries to

become exploitive to their economies of scale on one hand and also trigger growth in their

productive sectors on the other part too. Asia countries being on the rise it is therefore their time

to come together and cooperate in order to become an integrated market of their own.

As seen elsewhere in the world, having consolidation through the trade arrangements is

really growing fast in Asia. In the East Asias export-oriented industries, market-led de facto

regionalization preceded the formal de jure integration. On the contrary, the South Asian

economies have been unable to control their market integration either formally or informally,

making the sub region to still remain least integrated regardless of its geography and comparative

advantages holding the potential towards a highly integrated trade, investment and production

space.

They have been aspects of doubt towards the potential of a sub-regional economic

grouping that is among the South Asian countries because of the delay in some sub regions

economic activities that took place around 1970s and also of the poor performance in the

international trade. The import-substituting policies together with restrictive trade and industrial
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rules have put tough measures on the economies of the sub-regional and towards the global trade

expansion for a long period of time. As a matter of fact, economic integration under the South

Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was considered as explicitly envisage until late

1990s. Through maintaining the primacy of economic integration, countries found in the sub

region should expect to receive effective cooperation and integration in South Asia.

At the end of it all, success of SAFTA will be determined in regards to the assessment

considering the trade that it generates. Since the potentiality is already there it is now only a

matter of having effective implementation of the trade deal. This will make the South Asian to

address the economic factors like trade facilitation and infrastructure and also the non-economic

factors like creating the political will and building confidence. In regards to this the South Asian

economies should embrace the integration as an evolving process since it is reflected in SAARC

which contains the explicit intent which moves towards the direction of an economic union.

Therefore the growth of the South Asian countries majorly offers the prospects together with

challenges for having deeper integration in the global economy and also integration under

SAFTA which is considered as the first step towards that direction.

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References

Abel Adekole, B. S. (2016). Global Business Manaagement: A Cross-Cultural Perspective.

Green, D. (2008). From Poverty to Power.

Kvint, V. (2010). The Global Emerging Market: Strategic Management and Economics.

Liberal, P. A. (2008). Social Resilience in the Neoliberal Era.

Stephen, B. (2013). Strategies for Farming System Development in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Thomas Callaghy, R. K. (2011). Intervention and Transnationalism in Africa.