Unit 8: The World Today

1. Unit 8:The World Today Global History II Review

2. Economic Trends • Wealthy Nations vs. Poor Nations • North America and Europe (North Hem) rich • South America, Africa, Asia (South Hem) poor • Obstacles to development for nations • Geography: lack of rainfall, geographic barriers, lack of fertile land, natural disasters • Population Growth: Overpopulation • Failed economic policies of the past • Political instability in many governments

3. Economic Trends • Economic Interdependence • Dependence on oil has an effect on world economies • Global banking and financial markets are tied together • Multinational corporations conduct business around the world today • International drug trade is a problem

4. Conflicts of Peace Efforts • Terrorism is a threat around the world • Deliberate use of unpredictable violence against civilians to achieve political goals • Examples: 9/11 in NYC and D.C. • Disputes in Palestine and Israel (Nationalists) • Domestic violence in Indonesia • Ethnic and Religious tensions • Northern Ireland (IRA) goal to drive out Brits • Wants to gain independence

5. Conflicts of Peace Efforts • Ethnic and Religious tensions • Yugoslavia: Milosevic and ethnic cleansing against Muslims living in Kosovo • NATO sent as a peacekeeping force • International Hotspots • Iraq War: 2003 United States saw Saddam as a threat and feared WMDs in Iraq • North Korea: Communists attempting to get Nuclear weapon capabilities (Threat to region)

6. Conflicts of Peace Efforts • International Hotspots • China has become an industrial power • India and Pakistan have hostility toward each other over Kashmir region/ nuclear capacity • Afghanistan: Fighting Islamic Fundamentalists • The United Nations • Established in 1945 to promote Global peace • Peacekeeping operations: Iraq, Haiti, Bosnia • Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948

7. Social Patterns and Change • Modernization and Tradition • Westernization means modernization or industrialization • Japan: deeply traditional society has had conflict with modernization • Middle East: Traditional culture clashes with western culture. Importance of OIL has forced changes upon the people in the Middle East

8. Social Patterns and Change • Overpopulation and poverty levels • Depletion of resources, hunger, low standard of living all as a result of too many people • Caused by: Religious beliefs, culture, economic factors, and lack of knowledge • Urbanization: movement to cities • Weakened cultural traditions and values • Those who cant afford city life live in poverty

9. Social Patterns and Change • Status of Women has improved in West • Suffrage: Right to vote has been gained • Women are a major part of the work force • Middle Eastern nations vary on women rights • Global Migration: Movement of people • Immigration to Germany, France, and USA has expanded during the 20th Century

10. Science and Technology • Green Revolution: Increase food supply • Irrigation brings water to fields • Machinery yields more and better crops • Fertilizer and Pesticides enrich soil • New varieties of grains and livestock • Information Age: Computer Revolution • Increase in the use and dependency of tech • Literacy rates have improved

11. Science and Technology • Space Age begins in 1950s • Satellites are used to gather information and for communication purposes • Medical Technology makes improvement • Antibiotics, vaccines, transplants, lasers • Issues: Genetic Engineering, epidemics, more resistant diseases, and destruction of tropical rainforests

12. The Environment • Pollution: contamination of an environment • Acid Rain caused by burning of fossil fuels • Deforestation: destruction of (rain) forests • Changes local weather patterns, erosion • Desertification: Farm land becomes desert • Overgrazing by livestock and soil erosion • Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear energy • Accidents with power (Chernobyl) • Nuclear Weapons threaten world security