003 - Powerful Organisations and Global Groups

Geographic knowledge and understanding

Powerful organizations and global groups:

• G7/8, G20 and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

(OECD) groups

• Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) influence over

energy policies

• global lending institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

and New Development Bank (NDB)

Concept

Power can be held by organizations and global groups such as the World Bank, the IMF, and OPEC because of the resources they have and how they give others access to it. Much of the power is held by the global core which has great influence upon the global periphery.

Aims

To be able to explain the role of several powerful organizations and global groups (G7, G20, OECD, OPEC, IMF, and NDB).
To be able to briefly evaluate the influence of these powerful organizations and global groups.

Key Terminology

These are going to be all of the different groups listed in the 'Geographic knowledge and understanding'. As you are going to be developing a table of information about each group the definitions will be done there.

Activity One - Comprehension

Many of the different groups mentioned in the 'Geographic knowledge and understanding' section you will have already heard of before, but do you actually know what their purpose is and which countries are members of the groups? Fill in the grid below either on the copy that has been handed to you or by making a digital copy in google docs. Each group has a youtube clip to watch but you also need to read 'Geography Global Interactions by Oakes Pages 7-9. An example of how much detail needs to be included has been completed for the G7 group.

Useful Resources

Powerful Organisations Worksheet

Your HL Textbook 'Geography - Global Interactions' by Simon Oakes - Pages 7-9

Google Document

Activity Two - Discussion of Influence

Now you have written down what each organisation is and what they do, we need to discuss in a little more detail how influential they are. For each country or group of countries point below try and say how influential you think each powerful organisation/group exerts on them.

- - - - USA
        Low-income nation seeking development assistance
        The price you and your family pay for fuel.
        The upper-middle-income country
        Switzerland
        The World

Useful Resource

ecb Europa - OPEC's Influence on Oil Prices Waning

Exam Style Question

Using examples, explain how at least two powerful global organisations use their power. [12 marks]

Model Introduction - 12 mark EAQ - Power

This lesson was development in collaboration with Richard Allaway from geographyalltheway. For more resources please visit www.geographyalltheway.com