4.5 Geographic Insights: Europe Review and Self-Test

• 1. Water: Water is an issue in multiple ways. More droughts and floods are likely with climate change. Transportation via water is widespread and energy efficient, but the pollution of rivers and seas, especially the Mediterranean Sea, is increasing. European consumption patterns use virtual water from parts of the world that have deficits of water.

  • Question

    How does Europe’s physical geography complicate problems of river and sea pollution? What could the European Union do to reduce its contribution to the pollution of Europe’s seas?

  • Question

    What products consumed in Europe entail the use of virtual water from places with deficits of water?
• 2. Climate Change: The European Union (EU) is a leader in the global response to climate change. Goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions are complemented by many other strategies to save energy and resources.

  • Question

    What goals have governments set to address climate change?

  • Question

    On a more local level, what evidence is there that European ways of life contribute less to global warming than North American ways?

  • Question

    Which technological advances are being implemented in Europe to address climate change?
• 3. Globalization and Development: As European powers like Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands conquered vast overseas territories, they created trade relationships that transformed Europe economically and culturally and laid the foundation for the modern global economy. Today, Europe is struggling to remain globally competitive.

  • Question

    What was the original economic goal of colonialism?

  • Question

    Describe in a general way the global map of European colonies.

  • Question

    What are some of the ways that the colonial empire created by European countries affects life in Europe today?

  • Question

    How do colonial relationships still affect modern trading patterns?

  • Question

    Why is Europe now struggling to be competitive in global markets?
• 4. Urbanization, Power, and Politics: Rates of urbanization and democratization in Europe are linked, but both rates vary across the region. Northern Europe is the most urbanized (close to 80 percent) and has the most democratic participation. Levels of both urbanization and democratization fall to the south and east.
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  • Question

    How did the Industrial Revolution lead to urbanization in Europe?

  • Question

    What is the connection between urbanization and democratization in Europe?

  • Question

    What factors might explain the patterns of urbanization and democratization being higher in the north and west of Europe, and lower in the south and east?
• 5. Food: Concerns about food security in Europe have led to heavily subsidized and regulated agricultural systems. Subsidies to agricultural enterprises account for nearly 40 percent of the budget of the European Union. Although large-scale food production by agribusiness is now dominant, there is a revival of organic and small-scale sustainable techniques.

  • Question

    What worries is the European Union addressing with its large investment in regulations of, and subsidies to, agricultural enterprises?

  • Question

    Describe the characteristics and geographic distribution of agribusiness enterprises in Europe.

  • Question

    To what would you attribute the revival of interest in small-scale sustainable agricultural practices?

  • Question

    Why are EU subsidies to EU agriculture criticized by developing countries?
• 6. Population and Gender: Europe’s population is aging, as working women are choosing to have only one or two children. Immigration by young workers is partially countering this trend.

  • Question

    What are some of the potential consequences to Europe of aging populations and negative population growth rates?

  • Question

    How do improvements in education and work opportunities for European women affect population growth?

  • Question

    How do liberal immigration policies help an aging Europe? What about these policies worries Europeans?