The UK’s Political Role in the World
- Many international organisations have been set up to try to avoid conflict, ensuring international co-operation
- The UK is a member of several international groups
- The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a group of 28 countries, who co-operate to achieve security
- They aim to prevent and resolve conflict by promoting co-operation, using political means, and military means as a last resort
- The United Nations (UN) is made up of 193 member states
- It was founded at the end of WWII to maintain peace
- They try to solve issues that can’t be dealt with by individual governments such as sustainable development and crisis aid
- The Group of Seven (G7) includes the USA, Canada, France, the UK, Japan, Germany and Italy
- They meet annually to discuss relevant issues such as economic policies, conflict, energy supply and security
- The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a group of 28 countries, who co-operate to achieve security
- The UK is involved in resolving conflict in Ukraine
- Ukraine is bordered by Russia to its north and east; it was governed by Russia until 1991
- In 2013, backed by Russia, the Ukrainian government decided not to strengthen trade links with the EU, but with Russia
- This was unpopular with many Ukrainians who wanted to strengthen ties with western Europe, so there were protests
- In 2014, Vladimir Putin, took control of Crimea, which is part of Ukraine, and moved large numbers of Russian troops to the Russia-Ukraine border
- There has been fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russia Ukrainians ever since
- International organisations, that include the UK, have reacted to the conflict
- NATO is encouraging negotiations between the two sides
- In 2015, they created a rapid-response force of 5000 soldiers stationed in surrounding countries to deter future attempts by Russia to gain territory
- The rapid-response force is led by different countries in rotation, with the UK leading in 2017 and supplying troops and RAF jets
- The UN is trying to end fighting in Ukraine and preserve the country’s borders
- They are supporting peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, and providing aid to people forced to leave their homes due to violence
- In 2015, the UK gave £15 million in aid to Ukraine, as well as military support and training for the Ukrainian army
- The G7 was formerly G8 and forced Russia out in 2014, after it had seized Crimea
- They also imposed sanctions on Russia, such as restricting the amount that Russian banks can borrow and restricting trade with them
- By threatening Russia’s economy, they aim to force Russia to agree to a ceasefire and the removal of troops from the border
- NATO is encouraging negotiations between the two sides
The UK’s Cultural Influence
- Media products include items such as films, TV, radio, music and books and the UK exports them all over the world
- This makes a big contribution to the UK’s economy
- In 2012, media industries employed nearly 1.7 million people and exported over £17 billion of products worldwide
- This makes a big contribution to the UK’s economy
- Media products have been exported from the UK worldwide
- TV drama series such as ‘Downton Abbey’ is watched by around 120 million people in more than 100 countries, including the USA and China
- TV reality shows such as ‘The X Factor UK’ is watched by more than 360 million people in 147 territories, and 51 countries have produced their own national version
- Films are distributed all over the world, but are most popular in New Zealand, Australia and Europe
- For example, ‘The Kings Speech’ took over $400 million at the box office, of which two-thirds was outside the UK
- Music is exported massively with UK artists accounting for 14% of global album sales each year
- Adele, Ed Sheeran and One Direction were three of the best-selling artists in the world in 2015
- Books such as the ‘Harry Potter’ series has been translated into 68 languages and has sold more than 400 million copies in more than 200 territories
- Media produced in the UK and reflecting life here are distributed all over the world, and some successful British artists have been internationally famous meaning that media exports have a big influence
- Most exported UK media are in English, so people in other countries develop a better understanding of the English language
- However, the accents and phrases they learn may not be representative of the UK as a whole
- The different lifestyles, values and beliefs of UK residents become more widely known and understood
- However, this can be misleading as for example, most people in the UK don’t have servants like in Downton Abbey
- Media exports affect the way the UK is perceived in other countries
- In some films and TV shows it is portrayed as an ugly, industrial country, while in others it is shown as scenic and rural
- Seeing the UK portrayed positively in different media makes people want to come here, either to work, to study or just to visit
- For example, tourism in the UK increased after the 2012 Olympic Games in London, which was broadcast on TV around the world
- Exports of similar media products may increase, strengthening the UK’s economic influence
- UK media exports can inspire people or companies in other countries to create or develop new media products
- For example, the quiz show ‘The Weakest Link’ started in the UK but the format was bought by more than 40 other countries
- Some people copy the clothes or hairstyles of celebrities they admire, so British celebrities have an impact on fashion around the world, and can boost sales of products that they use or endorse
- Most exported UK media are in English, so people in other countries develop a better understanding of the English language
- The UK is a multicultural country as people have been moving here from all over the world for centuries
- High proportions of ethnic minorities come from India, Pakistan and Africa
- People moving to the UK bring their own cultures which they share
- People from the same ethnic background often settle in the same area, creating distinctive character there
- Ethnic groups contribute to the cultural life of the UK through food
- Food originating from other countries have become staple foods, such as pizza and curry
- Restaurants producing authentic ethnic food are popular with people of that ethnic background, and all others
- Different national dishes need different ingredients, so shops specialising in those ingredients often open in areas with a high number of people from a particular ethnic background
- For example, London Road in Sheffield has a large Asian community, and lots of shops selling Indian and Chinese produce
- Recently, mainstream supermarkets have increased the amount of ethnic food that they sell
- Many large supermarkets have a ‘world food’ aisle and even small supermarkets have a curry paste, noodles and other ingredients for ethnic dishes