Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Student Name
Tutor Name
University Name
Course Title
Submission Date
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
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
Geography 3
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
Geography 4
contributions towards the increase in agriculture productivity and without destroying the
environment. We should always consider converting our agriculture into organic since its
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
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
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
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
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
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
Geography 8
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
References
Kvint, V. (2010). The Global Emerging Market: Strategic Management and Economics.