New Political Identities in a Changing World

1. Chapter 23: New Public IdentitiesPolitical Identities • The Soviet Union Dissolves • Boris Yeltsin, 1991-9 • Needed to dispose of Soviet nuclear arsenal • Russia witnessed reduction of life expectancy as well as economic decline • Won international support for Russian economy • Chechnyan revolt an ongoing problem • Vladimir Putin elected president but has not solved Russian problems

2. Political Identities • European Identity • Sources of unity • End of Iron Curtain • New members of European Union • Divisions of Europe tied to Cold War needs • Nationalism hasn’t thwarted unity

3. Political Identities • USA as the Lone Superpower • Combined economic & military power • Japanese economic collapse confirmed US role • The End of History: American system is best • North Korea & Terrorism emerge as threats • Oklahoma City and World Trade Center • War on Terrorism isolates US from allies • Challenge: Can you fight terrorism and presever personal liberty at the same time?

4. Religious and Cultural Identities • Religious identity becomes powerful force • Iran under Ayotollah Khomeini • Taliban in Afghanistan • Religious parties prompt military response in Turkey and Algeria • Nigeria split by shari’a law in north • Struggles in the former Yugoslavia turn on religion

5. Religious and Cultural Identities • Hinduism and Islam in South Asia • Gandhi saw Congress as secular party • Hindu nationalism emerged in 1980s • Scorned Muslims as not truly Indian because they had adopted religion of invading force • Stressed Hindutva or “Hinduness” • Rewrote school books to highlight Hindu successes • Movement met at least momentary setback in 2004 national election

6. Religious and Cultural Identities • Confucianism • Chinese decide Confucianism is not contrary to communist values • Judaism • Rising importance of nationalism in Israel • Christianity • Non-westerners the core of Christianity • Pope John Paul II promoted ecumenism • Liberation theology a 3rd world movement

7. Religious and Cultural Identities • Evangelical Christianity • Currently 10% of Latin American Christians • Pentecostals have special appeal for women • Call for end of “machismo” in men • Emphasis is on direct, personal experience • Mormon Church is a growing denomination • Protestantism provides support in Latin America similar to what early Christians gained in Roman Empire

8. Religious and Cultural Identities • Religion in the United States • US is most formally religious industrial nation • Dominant mainline groups adapted to changes in society in ‘60s & ‘70s • Reaction from those who felt nation had drifted too far from religious moorings • Are known as fundamentalists • Polls indicate growing support for views of fundamentalism

9. Religious and Cultural Identities • Religion in the United States [cont.] • Population shift to south and west sees migrants adopting local conservative views rather than holding fast to old views • Confrontations ensue • Branch Davidian stand-off • Roe. V. Wade (abortion) • Clerical misconduct discredits some churches

10. Religious and Cultural Identities • Religion in the United States [cont.] • Pornography occurs alongside “Christian” guidebooks on marriage and sexuality • “Born again” views a growing presence in mass media • Immigrants to US bring a variety of new religions that are part of their ethnic identity

11. Globalization: New Economic and Cultural Identities • Globalization extends the reach and relationship of people and organizations • World contains supporters and critics of the trend toward globalization • Creates homogenization of culture and taste but also preservation of cultural “niches”

12. Globalization: New Economic and Cultural Identities • The Internet and the World Wide Web • Growth of computer-based communication • Internet created in 1969; 1st virus in 1988 • Usage is growing exponentially • Variety of uses includes file sharing (Napster) • These new technologies are expanding the gap between rich and poor • Production of software moving beyond US

13. Globalization: New Economic and Cultural Identities • Disparities, Disruptions & Crises • Number of people in poverty declined in 1990s • Economic changes affect regions, not just states • Fall of Thai currency triggered regional crisis (1997) • Depth of crisis caused by financial systems that were not “transparent” • International Monetary Fund helped region • Capital had become global but regulatory mechanisms had not

14. Globalization: New Economic and Cultural Identities • The Global Criminal Economy • Crime has gone global • Drugs--largest of all illegal activities • Smuggling of People--human cargo • Trade in women & children--sexual slavery • Trade in body parts • Money laundering

15. Globalization: New Economic and Cultural Identities • The Global Criminal Economy [cont.] • Trafficking in Nuclear Materials • Many weapons in former USSR • “Nuclear club” grew because of work of Pakistan • International Criminal Organizations • Closed, international organizations reach out to one another • UN forms “Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime” (2000)

16. Globalization: New Economic and Cultural Identities • Medicine, Science, & Global Ecology • Medical advances include gender selection of children and longer lives • AIDS remains a global challenge • Cloning challenges human identity • Genetic research also allows gene substitution to address inherited conditions

17. Ecological Issues • United Nations organized against global ecological destruction (1990) • Challenges include • Global warming • Destruction of marine environment • Acid Rain • Deforestation

18. What Difference Do They Make? • Have moved into the sphere of contemporary history • We can use the tools of historical study but are no longer doing history • Can use our own identities as touchstones for understanding others • Self-knowledge, historical tools, and evidence promote understanding of future