Geopolitics Around the World

Geopolitics Around the World How do Geopolitics Shape Our World? ChaptersWhat Are Geopolitics?Geopolitics in AfricaGeopolitics in the Middle EastEuropean GeopoliticsGeopolitics in RussiaAsian GeopoliticsGeopolitics in Latin AmericaWe humans are social animals. Being social â€" interacting and cooperating in spite of our differences, has everything to do with ensuring our continued survival.A part of what shapes our experiences is the environment we live in: the resources available and how they are employed, whether nations covet riches in lands not theirs and how such conflicts are resolved.The definition of politics includes ‘... the debate or conflict among individuals having or hoping to achieve power.’How does that definition change when placing the prefix 'geo-' in front of 'politics'?Today, countries don’t (necessarily) engage in the use of force to access riches enjoyed by people in other lands â€" and thus gain power.We tend to settle transnational disputes or come to an arrangement for sharing resources through mediation and trade a greements.Still, the foundation for both the disputes and the resolutions lies largely in the resources that can be brought to the table. When seen from that aspect, geography plays a large part in the politics of today.But just how far-reaching is geopolitics? Can one nation have an impact on a country that is not its immediate neighbour? And which lands hold the riches that would make it a world power?Now, we look at global geopolitics as well as the geopolitics of individual regions; the effects of such politics and the prospective benefits to humankind’s future.Government: internal policy issues, economic policy, foreign policies and how they manage rivalries with other countries and within their borders.Does economics play a role in geopolitics? Find out in our full-length article on the subject...Geopolitics in AfricaHaving thrown off the shackles of European colonialism only in the last 70 years or so, the nations that make up the world’s second-largest continent are stil l trying to find their way onto the global political stage.While relations between African nations are mostly neutral, some countries have risen up against authoritarian regimes, causing their internal politics to endure seismic shifts in power.Strangely enough, while the great powers of the world cast anxious (or covetous) eyes on other global political hotspots such as the Middle East and Latin America, in Africa, it is only the most dramatic incursions that seem to make headlines.The tensions in African nations have little to do with global security or world politics... yet.There is one superpower that has taken a special interest in developing countries in Africa. It is providing funding opportunities and helping to build up infrastructure.Find out who that global power is in our African geopolitics article.Political instability in the Middle East is no longer due solely to religious affiliation Image by Sharon Ang from PixabayGeopolitics in the Middle EastThe region we refer to as the Middle East is actually on the Eurasian continent. Nevertheless, in geopolitical terms, that collection of countries is thought of as an entity in its own right.And quite correctly, too!Many of the world’s affairs centre on Middle Eastern countries; in part because they account for nearly 70% of the world’s petroleum supply.Another, far less flattering reason that Middle Eastern affairs are so closely scrutinised is that some of the doctrines born in that region have a dramatic impact on international security.To date, the Islamic State has done more to cause chaos in the Middle East as well as elsewhere in the world, including causing friction between Turkey and Egypt, both of whom are considered emerging powers.Strategic studies reveal that their unique geographic position â€" the link between East Asia, Africa and Europe provides each of those nations with the ability to destabilise the entire region’s balance of power.Thus, those states, even though they are only m arginally included in international affairs, bear heavy influence on our current world order.Who is the great power of the Middle East region?Although the Iran nuclear deal that the Obama administration brokered currently has the spotlight in Middle East politics, the real mastermind of global politics... is revealed in our companion article on the subject.France and Germany, in particular, have crafted a balancing of power, with Germany considered the economic leader and France’s president actively courting international relations through his uncanny use of soft power.In fact, so adept have these two political leaders become at managing their interdependence that their combined political clout actually threatens the global American hegemony!When you think of their relationship from a historical perspective, it might seem odd that France’s former invader would be so warmly embraced.And what standing will the UK have in their international policy once our exit from the European U nion is finalised?Would you like to take a closer look at how Europe's unique dynamic evolved from being competing powers to becoming world leaders in international politics?Will the UK leaving the European Union weaken its global standing? Image by Adam Derewecki from PixabayGeopolitics in RussiaNaturally, not all is rosy in Europe, especially Eastern Europe.Many of those countries are still struggling to build a competitive economy and, after years of being controlled by their larger neighbour, finding their place in the international system of politics.Russia’s grand strategy at the end of the Second World War was to establish a buffer between herself and the unpredictable powers in Europe.To that end, the lands between Russia and western Europe were absorbed into what became known as the Soviet Union.Thus began the Cold War, a time when diplomacy failed and armed conflict was a very real possibility.Or was it?For all that the Soviet Union comprised of vast lands â€" approximat ely 1/6 of the earth’s habitable territory, it had vast  natural resources but few skilled enough to work them; a dire situation made worse by a faltering economy.And, although Russian leaders enjoyed a show of might, they actually had little the way of materials or money with which to build up military power.The end of the Cold War came about when the people behind the Iron Curtain grew so restless that Russia’s imperialism could not withstand their multi-pronged assault.Following the Cold War, Russia and associated nation-states endured an economic recession that lasted nearly a decade; some countries are still trying to recover from the economic devastation they suffered during the Cold War.As for the former Soviet Union, she’s doing only okay. She has as her head of state a crafty man who knows how to command attention; in fact, that is a major part of his foreign policy!In our Russian Geopolitics study, you can find out how Mr Putin is influencing international developmen t.Asian GeopoliticsMany people embroiled in the study of political science and international relations wonder why Soviet leaders did not more forcefully pursue their alliance with China.The fact is that the Chinese leader felt that the philosophies evolving in Russia undermined the purity of the Leninist doctrine â€" the catalyst that led to the Sino-Soviet split.Immediately after breaking off relations, Mao Ze Dong gave up on foreign affairs to focus exclusively on his vast nation-state. His  brand of nationalism proved to be particularly damaging as international institutions repeatedly condemned his practices.His successor saw China’s potential for global leadership early on; in fact, he could hardly wait to open up, welcoming international organizations and taking part in global economic affairs.Today, thanks to Deng Xiao Ping’s vision, President Xi Jinping has the power (and the capital) to tap emerging markets as far away as Venezuela, making China one of the fastest risin g stars of global governance.By no means is China the only influencer in Asia; other regional powers give the largest country in Eurasia a run for its money in world affairs...Do you know who the other heavy hitters in Asia are?Water scarcity is an increasing concern that impacts global affairs Source: Pixabay Credit: J ConegoGeopolitics in Latin AmericaAs mentioned before, China is making inroads in far-flung places such as Africa and even in South America.South America, like other regions, is a collection of nations bound by geography as well as history. These countries share several cultural elements such as language and religion.Many of them also enjoy multilateral relations through the World Trade Organisation but, as far as  their political economy, it lags behind other countries of similar development.The reason for it is that most of the population, especially in South America, is dotted along the coastline, with little development made inland â€" meaning that coastal region s have significant infrastructural development while inner provinces are nearly primaeval.Learn how Latin America's energy security outshines the rest of the world in  our longer exposé of that region's geopolitics.In Summary:Western Europe’s liberalism contrasts with the ethnic conflict and civil wars that plague African nations. Meanwhile, Russia still struggles to prove itself a leading world power.The rise of China and her perceived hegemonic tendencies clash with their constructivism and world economic endeavours â€" providing financing and resources to undeveloped countries.In our globalized world, policymakers no longer think in terms of deterrence so much as conflict management and cooperation. And, if we’re really lucky, they aim for conflict resolution.Still, flareups do occur, even in these times post-Cold War, when the threat of nuclear annihilation was at its highest.Military buildup in the South China Sea, North Korea (and the U.S.) bragging of missiles, jihadist groups still active...With all of these diverging factions, is it really possible to hope for an end to international conflict and strive for peace and security?

How to Improve Problem Solving Skills in Physics

How to Improve Problem Solving Skills in Physics Physics contains lots of problems to tackle.  There are different types of problems with various levels of difficulty in Physics. The following tips help students improve problem-solving skills in Physics and score well in the subject. While doing a topic in Physics, solve all questions you come across. Don’t leave room for doubt in the topic questions. This helps you understand the pattern of problems with ease. Take mock tests to solve various kinds of problems in older topics so that you can keep in touch with them. A good Online Physics Tutor helps students that way and makes students confident in all the chapters. Solve a difficult problem at different times on a day. Suppose you are not able to solve a problem in the first attempt, take it again after some time. Attempt it again and thus refresh your mind for the next attempt. Every question is important in Physics learning. When you do a number of questions in different chapters, you gather new tricks for solving problems. Physics is a subject that suits students with high caliber and intellectual capabilities. Still, many students https://t.co/LmQP2NMvJV â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) March 9, 2016 Mark important questions in all the chapters as they serve as instant revision questions for your tests. Visualizing abstract concepts makes learning easy. When you visualize the basic abstract concepts, you become more fluent in applying knowledge about these concepts in suitable context. Writing down the problem makes way for a good start. Students may have relevant mathematical knowledge or subject knowledge for solving a problem. But they have the starting trouble while trying to solve it. Writing down the problem helps students get a wholesome picture about the details therein and gives the confidence for them to start with the right step. Thinking hard about the problem leads to identification of its pattern and solving methods. Physics is a compendium of abstract concepts that students need to think lots about a topic so as to come to a conclusion about the methods of solving problems in the topic. Writing down the answer showcases the final output without confusion. Suppose one comes near the answer of a problem and stops there without stating the answer in clear cut words, he tends to baffle the examiner about his answer for the problem. So, writing down the answer is very important for scoring better in Physics problems. Being confident in Math learning is very crucial for keeping up with the classes and preparing for Math tests and https://t.co/VQ45EFLxmk â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) March 3, 2016 To make matters easy you can approach Physics homework help online and get positive ideas about improving your problem solving skills in the subject.

Learn ESOL Online Testing your Language Level

Learn ESOL Online Testing your Language Level The Best Online Quizzes and Questionnaires for ESOL Learners ChaptersGauge your English Level with Fun Quizzes!Take  a Cambridge English Level Test.Take the British Council’s Level TestTest Your Level with a TOEIC Level TestHow Can you Improve your English Grammar?Find English TextbooksImagine you woke up this morning and you wanted to evaluate your level in the English language before applying for a new job. Are you as good as you think you are or are you a bit rusty?Maybe you feel like you could do with improving your language skills, brushing up on your English grammar, or working on your listening so that you don’t get replaced by an intern in six months.Perhaps you annoyed your English neighbour and you need to work on your writing skills to write them an apology note to smooth things over. Maybe you could take them out for coffee or dinner?These are all good reasons to improve your English but you need to ask yourself how do you do it? Whether you choose to learn english online or on paper, there are plenty of quizzes and questionnai res to help you with your English.Here’s some of the best tools to help you evaluate yourself in English..

Opportunities for Volunteer Musicians

Opportunities for Volunteer Musicians Suzy S. You’ve been practicing and taking music lessons for a while. Are you looking for your next musical challenge? Playing with other musicians is one of the quickest ways to improve, and with National Volunteer Week coming up (April 21-27, 2013), why not make a impact in your community by volunteering your talents? Here are some ideas to get you started Volunteer at events and galas Non-profit or community events always need entertainment! Often these events are for great causes, and its also an awesome way to get your name out there, network, and find new fans! If youre already part of a group or band, try reaching out to specific organizations and expressing your interest in helping out. Better yet, why not organize your own benefit concert? Volunteer with specific organizations There are tons of organizations and non-profits that deal specifically with the music industry and music education. The San Diego Music Foundation, for example, coordinates several events throughout the year that require volunteer help. Their Guitars for Schools program provides Taylor guitars for San Diego-area elementary and middle schools for use in classroom and after-school music activities. Musicians on Call is another amazing program that sends volunteer musicians to hospitals and other healthcare facilities to share the power of music.  Its branches are located in New York, Nashville, Philadelphia, Miami, DC, and Los Angeles. Not in one of those major cities? Not to worry. VolunteerMatch.org is an awesome resource for finding organizations in your area that are looking for help! Volunteer directly at hospitals or nursing homes Music is used as a therapeutic tool in many hospitals and nursing homes across the country. Try contacting your local hospital to see if theyre accepting volunteer musicians. Opportunities at hospitals can range from performing to actually teaching music to patients. If youre considering music therapy as a career path, try looking into internship positions, also! Volunteer at festivals and concerts Even if you dont play an instrument, music fans can get involved with the community by volunteering at music festivals and concerts. If youre interested in music promotions or event planning, you can learn a lot about this important part of the music industry, as well as connect with other music lovers! Church groups Music is a huge part of many different religions, incorporated into worship services, religious ceremonies, and of course, weddings and funerals. Check with your congregation to see if there are opportunities to perform and help out. Piano and guitar are perhaps the most popular instruments found here, but solo opportunities exist for practically any musician, depending on your communitys style. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Mark Brannan

Connect to a Real Live Tutor and Enjoy Live One-on-one Assistance

Connect to a Real Live Tutor and Enjoy Live One-on-one Assistance 0SHARESShare Online Tutoring dont feed students the answers to homework problems. Instead, they guide them how to solve problems on their own. They have a panel of experienced teachers who help students to understand conceptsnot just remember them. The teaching style followed is friendly and encouraging. The online lessons are planned to meet standards for all subject areas. The curriculum of the math tutorials are continuously updated. The main objective is to present different math topics in a step-by-step fashion, in order to help students to get a better understanding of the topic in question. TutorPace is your one-stop for entire math solutions. Math is a fairly vast subject, including algebra, statistics, and geometry, calculus, trigonometry and word math problems. Interactive math worksheets make concepts clear and easy to understand. Students and parents can browse around to find what they exactly necessitate. Internet learning allows students to take breaks. When you are attending a session for a long duration or completing a big assignment under the supervision of a live tutor; you can enjoy breaks as and when required. To avoid burnout you can stand up, walk around, or relax for a few minutes… this will keep you focused on the sessions. Students learn to time management. It is easy for students to watch TV or play with friends, and still finish the set assignment. This is a 24/7 service and students thus can enjoy sessions anytime from anywhere. [starbox id=admin]

French Grammar Rules Your Guide to Verb Tenses

French Grammar Rules Your Guide to Verb Tenses Suzy S. French verbs throwing you for a loop? French tutor  Carol Beth L.  breaks down the differences between the most common verb tenses youll study in French class French verbs can be a difficult aspect of  learning French for many students â€" but it doesnt have to be. If you can mentally organize what kinds of verbs are out there and when to use them, learning French grammar will be much easier to do. Here are the most common tenses studied in typical French grammar classes: Check out our Ultimate French Verb Guide to learn more! 1) Le Présent (The Present Tense) This tense grammatically corresponds to the English simple present, e.g. “I do,” “he goes,” “we eat.” In English, this tense is used to talk about states of being and regular, repeated actions that are in or include the present time. Le present in French often plays this role, but it also plays a role similar to the present perfect in English Jy vais for “I am going (there)” or Je mange maintenant for “I am eating now.” 2) Le Passé Composé (The Past Tense) This tense usually corresponds to the simple past in English.  It describes one-time events and actions, or things for which a definite time or time period can be defined. Je suis allé(e) au parc.   I went to the park. Jai fait mes devoirs hier soir.   I did my homework last night. 3) Limparfait (The Imperfect Tense) The imperfect tense is also in the past, but unlike the passé composé, it describes events that happened repeatedly or over a long period of time. Jallais au parc tous les jours.  I went/used to go to the park every day. Elles étudiaient a luniversité pendant quatre ans.   They studied at the university for four years. Do not use limparfait in reference to an action to which you attach any description or reference to a specific time, such as an hour, year, month, week, or other time reference like yesterday, today, or tomorrow. 4) Le futur  (The Future Tense) This tense corresponds fairly well to the English future tense, formed with the modal “will” plus the verbal root. It describes events that have not yet taken place but are expected to occur. Jirai en France la semaine prochaine.   I will go to France next week. On mangera ensemble.   We will eat together. 5) Le conditionnel  (The Conditional Tense) The conditionnel  describes actions or events whose occurrence depends (or would have depended) on something else. The “if” is key here. If there is no condition (provided by the “if” clause), there is no conditional in the other half of the sentence, either. You may see the conditional tense use in the present (e.g. I would do something if something were different) or the past (e.g. I would have done this same something in the past if something were different). The other part of the sentence usually uses limparfait. Present Conditional: Je viendrais a la plage si mes amies voulaient venir.  I would go to the beach if my friends wanted to come. Je mangerais la pomme si elle était mure.  I would eat the apple if it were ripe. Past Conditional: Je serais venu(e) a la plage si mes amies auraient voulu venir.  I would have gone to the beach if my friends had wanted to come. Jaurais mangé la pomme si elle avait ete mure.  I would have eaten the apple it if had been ripe. 6) Le subjonctif (The Subjunctive Tense) This is notoriously one of the most difficult tenses for native English-speakers to learn. We do technically have the subjunctive in English, but we dont use it much. Le subjonctif is used at times when the topic at hand is clouded or influenced by emotion. If you see the word qu introducing the sentences dependent clause, that is a signal that you likely need to use le subjonctif. Je souhaite quil vienne avec moi. I wish him to come with me. Nous voulons que vous partiez. We want you to leave. On aimerait quils attendent. We would like them to wait. Be careful not to assume that que always implies le subjonctif, however. If the topic at hand is of definite certainty, le subjonctif is not called for. For example: Cest vrai quon est allé en France cet été.   It is true that we went to France this summer. 7) Le passé simple (The Simple Past or Preterite) Le passé simple is a literary past tense in French. It used to be found more often in common speech, but for about the last century or so, it has more frequently been used in fiction. In modern times, some writers have begun to prefer more colloquial verb tenses found in everyday spoken language. Unless you plan to write fiction in French, recognition is more important. If you can recognize the passé simple of the most irregular French verbs (which are also the most common), then you will likely also be able to recognize other regular verbs based on their roots. Les étudiants parlèrent de leurs idées philosophiques.  The students spoke of their philosophical ideas. Elle vit son frère lapprocher.   She saw her brother approaching. These are the primary verb tenses you will encounter in your study of French  grammar. You may see what appear to be combinations or re-combinations of these tenses as part of the pluparfait (past of the past), passé antérieur (literary pluparfait), or Frenchs other complex tenses. French grammar also has a unique grouping of verbs called reflexive verbs that require special attention, especially when it comes to gender agreement. Mastering the seven tenses above, however, will greatly increase your proficiency and provide you with verbal functionality in the French language. For more help studying French grammar, working with a private tutor is the best way to get targeted, specific instruction and achieve your language goals. Tutors are available to work with you online via Skype or in-person depending on locations and availability. Search for your French tutor now! Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Arslan

Improve Your English While You Sleep - Listening Exercise

Improve Your English While You Sleep - Listening Exercise Should you stay up late to study English tonight, or close the books and get a good nights sleep? According to this TED video, you and your English may be better off with more sleep.Check out the TED video below about how sleep improves your memory, then see if you can complete our listening exercise.Answer the questions in comments, and we will correct them.You might be ____ __ closing the books, ____ ____ the music, and ____ to sleep.What is our misunderstanding about sleep?It ____ __ that sleep is also crucial for your brain.What does the hippocampus do for memory?What happened to HM after his hippocampus was removed?What 2 factors do they mention that influence memory?What, according to the video, is the best time to sleep after studying a language?Do you give yourself enough time to sleep? Do you think that studying less and sleeping more would help you learn?

How to prepare for the 11 Plus interview

How to prepare for the 11 Plus interview If your child has reached the interview stage of the 11 Plus exam at an independent school, congratulations! They are one step closer to that offer, and they’ve already done extremely well. The interview process is difficult to prepare for: schools will be looking for confident and articulate students. We asked one of our top tutors and 11 Plus experts, James M, to share some of the most common 11 Plus interview questions… Introductory and warm-up questions Tell me about yourself! How would your friends describe you? Describe yourself using 3 adjectives Tell me about your hobbies and interests. What is your favourite subject? What book are you reading at the moment? Tell me about it and describe it using adjectives. General questions Why do you want to come to our school? What’s the difference between our school and the school you are coming from? Tell me about a lesson that you really enjoyed. What made it so enjoyable? If you were head of our school, what changes would you make? What makes a good teacher? What do you find hard at school,   and what do you do when you find something hard? Why are you suited for our school? Have you visited our school before? What did you think? Do you have any questions for us? Specific academic questions and tasks What is the difference between volume and area? 22  + 32  + 42 =  ? What is the product of 12 and 5? Read this poem aloud. What is your favourite literary technique and why? What is the meaning of the word ______ (insert word) Tell me your favourite metaphor/simile/personification. Brain teasers Is it possible to have a box with nothing inside? What is bravery? What would the world be like if it was ruled by monkeys? Is there more happiness or sadness in the world? What is more important, being right or being nice? What colour would a zebra be if it lost all its stripes? If I borrow a million pounds, am I a millionaire? How many bricks make a wall? If I take the engine out of a car, is it still a car? Answering the questions James has also put together some of his top tips for students who have an 11+ interview coming up. Before the interview, students should: Look at the school website and write down three interesting things that you like Try and visit the school and talk to pupils/teachers. Remember who you spoke to and what you liked about the experience Practise with a parent / teacher / friend! During the interview: When first meeting teachers always smile, shake hands and make eye contact Make sure you answer the question! Talk for about 5-10 seconds for each answer, because any more than that is too long, and any less may make you seem shy Think of examples for your all answers by incorporating your hobbies and interests. You might like playing a musical instrument but give more detail: “I play piano grade 4 and play in the school band”. This is much better than just saying “I play piano”. For the brainteasers, think about the wording of the question. For example, “What is bravery?” To answer this, think of things that are brave and things that are not brave. What do all the things that are brave have in common? Similarly, with “How many bricks make a wall?” you could think about what a wall is. A wall can just be a barrier between two things, so a single brick could be a wall (especially to a small insect). For a human though a barrier would have to be bigger! Remember, these questions don’t really have a right or wrong answer, they are meant to test how you think. Good luck! James M is one of our top 11+ tutors. With over 10 years of experience, James has prepared students for some of the most competitive schools, including Westminster, Eton, Latymer and St Paul’s. As well as being a fantastic private tutor, James has also organised mock exam sessions through his own exam preparation consultancy. Interested in booking a lesson with James? Click here to visit his Tutorfair profile and find out more!