Political Geography Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Which of the following descriptions best characterizes Qatar's capital city of Doha?

Doha has a predominantly rural landscape.

Doha is a historic city with ancient architecture.

Doha is a modern city whose skyline is dominated by glass-clad skyscrapers. (correct)

Doha is the largest city in the world.

How reliant on foreign labor is Qatar's construction boom?

Qatar's construction boom relies on a labor force that overwhelmingly is foreign-born.

How has Qatar been able to achieve one of the world's highest standards of living?

Qatar sits atop the world's third largest gas reserves.

What is Al Jazeera?

An Arab-language news channel broadcasting throughout Southwest Asia and Northern Africa. Signup and view all the answers

How did Qatar influence the geopolitics of Southwest Asia and Northern Africa during the Arab Spring?

Qatar played a central role in forming a coalition with the United States, United Kingdom, and France to overthrow Muammar Gadaffi. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Indonesia have one of the world's most complicated electoral systems?

Indonesia is the world's third largest democracy and elections for president and both chambers of the legislature are held simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

How does Indonesia's shape affect its electoral system?

It can take a month to collate the results from the thousands of islands that make up the country. Signup and view all the answers

What accounts for the greatest portion of the $2 billion spent on the 2014 election?

Hiring 4.5 million workers to run the election. Signup and view all the answers

How have democratic presidential elections been viewed in Indonesia recently?

Elections have been peaceful and accepted by the people despite corruption and crumbling infrastructure. Signup and view all the answers

Why are coalitions common in Indonesian politics?

Individual political parties often fail to meet the minimum requirements necessary to nominate a presidential candidate. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Qatar's Capital City: Doha

Doha is characterized by a modern skyline dominated by glass skyscrapers.
Urbanization in Qatar is nearly complete, with 99% of the population living in urban areas.
All of Doha's skyscrapers have been developed since the mid-1990s.

Foreign Labor in Qatar's Economy

Qatar's construction sector heavily depends on foreign labor, with 94% of its workforce being foreign-born.
The majority of foreign workers come from India, Nepal, and the Philippines.

Qatar's Economic Prosperity

Qatar possesses the world's third largest natural gas reserves.
The country also holds significant petroleum reserves, enabling free healthcare and education without taxes.

Al Jazeera News Channel

Al Jazeera is an Arabic-language news broadcaster serving Southwest Asia and Northern Africa.
Established in 1999, the channel provides 24-hour news coverage.

Qatar and the Arab Spring

Qatar played a vital role in creating a coalition with the U.S., U.K., and France to depose Muammar Gaddafi during the Arab Spring.

Indonesia's Electoral Complexity

Indonesia ranks as the world's third largest democracy, holding simultaneous elections for president and legislative chambers.
It follows India and the U.S., which are the only larger democracies.

Geographic Challenges in Indonesia's Elections

The archipelagic nature of Indonesia, comprising nearly 13,500 islands, complicates election result reporting.
Results can take up to a month to tally due to the vast geography.

2014 Indonesian Election Budget

The 2014 election saw $2 billion in expenditure, with the largest portion allocated for staffing.
Approximately 60% of the budget was devoted to hiring 4.5 million workers for election operations.

Perceptions of Presidential Elections in Indonesia

Recent presidential elections faced issues like corruption and poor infrastructure but maintained peace and public acceptance.
Despite its size and complexity, elections have generally been free of major controversies.

Coalition Politics in Indonesia

Coalitions are common due to individual parties often lacking sufficient support to nominate a presidential candidate.
A party must achieve 25% of the votes or 20% of legislative seats to be eligible for nomination.

Description

Test your knowledge of political geography with these flashcards focusing on Doha, Qatar. Discover key characteristics of the city and its reliance on foreign labor. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of urbanization and labor dynamics in a global context.