Unit VIII: The Unit VIII: The Contemporary WorldContemporary World

1991-Present1991-Present

Warm-UpWarm-Up

Think about your world today and the Think about your world today and the past 10 years….create a quick list of past 10 years….create a quick list of global issues that we are facingglobal issues that we are facing

Developed vs. Developing NationsDeveloped vs. Developing Nations

Characterized by different levels of Characterized by different levels of economic development, population, economic development, population, and social conditionsand social conditions

Contrasts between DevelopedContrasts between Developedand Developing Nationsand Developing Nations

1.1. Geographic locations of countriesGeographic locations of countries

2.2. Economic conditionsEconomic conditions

3.3. Social conditions (literacy, access to Social conditions (literacy, access to healthcare)healthcare)

4.4. Population size and rate of growthPopulation size and rate of growth

Global Literacy RatesGlobal Literacy Rates

Challenges/Opportunities of Challenges/Opportunities of Developed and Developing NationsDeveloped and Developing Nations

1.1. MigrationsMigrations

2.2. Ethnic/Religious conflictEthnic/Religious conflict

3.3. New technologiesNew technologies

How could each of these represent both How could each of these represent both a challenge and an opportunity?a challenge and an opportunity?

MigrationsMigrations

Refugees-Refugees- flee own country for fear of flee own country for fear of persecution/because of internal conflictpersecution/because of internal conflict

Lost Boys of Sudan ““Guest Workers”-Guest Workers”- Foreign workers come Foreign workers come

to Europe to meet labor shortages, not to Europe to meet labor shortages, not expected to stay foreverexpected to stay forever

Religious and Ethnic ConflictReligious and Ethnic Conflict

Middle East Arab-Israeli ConflictMiddle East Arab-Israeli Conflict Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland Balkans Balkans Africa- resourcesAfrica- resources

MNCsMNCs Asia- S/N KoreaAsia- S/N Korea

New TechnologiesNew Technologies Widespread but unequal access to Widespread but unequal access to

computers and instantaneous computers and instantaneous communicationscommunications How does this influence society/culture?How does this influence society/culture?

Genetic engineering and bioethicsGenetic engineering and bioethics

Brainstorm

With a partner, brainstorm some environmental or social issuesenvironmental or social issues facing the facing the world todayworld today

Decide: Is this issue a Decide: Is this issue a global challenge global challenge or opportunityor opportunity…how is it affecting …how is it affecting people? Environment? Politics?people? Environment? Politics?

Environmental and Social Environmental and Social ChallengesChallenges

5/18 Homework:5/18 Homework: find a recent article (past find a recent article (past 5 years) that highlights an environmental 5 years) that highlights an environmental or social issue facing the world today.or social issue facing the world today.

Type a 1 paragraph summary of the article Type a 1 paragraph summary of the article and and

Explain in 1 paragraph if this issue is a Explain in 1 paragraph if this issue is a global challenge or opportunityglobal challenge or opportunity…how is …how is it affecting people? Environment? Politics? it affecting people? Environment? Politics?

Wednesday, May 19Wednesday, May 19thth::Environmental and Social IssuesEnvironmental and Social Issues

Briefly describe your issueBriefly describe your issue Explain why this issue is a challenge or an Explain why this issue is a challenge or an

opportunity from a global perspectiveopportunity from a global perspective

Environmental ChallengesEnvironmental Challenges

PollutionPollution Loss of habitatLoss of habitat Ozone DepletionOzone Depletion

Social ChallengesSocial Challenges

PovertyPoverty Poor healthPoor health IlliteracyIlliteracy FamineFamine MigrationMigration

Economy—political freedomEconomy—political freedom

Free market economy increases standard Free market economy increases standard of living, expands middle classof living, expands middle class

Result:Result: growing demand for political growing demand for political freedoms and individual rightsfreedoms and individual rights

GlobalizationGlobalization

Expansion of global linkages, organization Expansion of global linkages, organization of social life on global scale, and growth of of social life on global scale, and growth of global consciousness, hence consolidation global consciousness, hence consolidation of world society. of world society.

How did we get to this point?How did we get to this point?

What are some pros and cons?What are some pros and cons?

Economic InterdependenceEconomic Interdependence

Multinational corporations (MNCs)-Multinational corporations (MNCs)- a a company with divisions in more than two company with divisions in more than two countriescountries

Changing role of international boundariesChanging role of international boundaries Regional integration (European Union)Regional integration (European Union) Trade Agreements—Trade Agreements—North American Free North American Free

Trade Agreement (Trade Agreement (NAFTANAFTA), World Trade ), World Trade Organization (Organization (WTOWTO))

International Organizations—UNInternational Organizations—UN, International , International Monetary Fund (Monetary Fund (IMFIMF))

International TerrorismInternational Terrorism

Munich Olympics Munich Olympics 1972 Palestinian Terrorists take11 Israeli athletes Palestinian Terrorists take11 Israeli athletes

hostage—all killedhostage—all killed Re-examine anti-terrorism policiesRe-examine anti-terrorism policies

9/11 and Osama Bin Laden (extremism)9/11 and Osama Bin Laden (extremism) Car bombingsCar bombings Suicide bombingsSuicide bombings Airline hijackersAirline hijackers

Taliban, Al Qaeda…who are they?Taliban, Al Qaeda…who are they? TalibanTaliban

‘‘ultraconservative’ Afghan refugeesultraconservative’ Afghan refugees Ruled AfghanistanRuled Afghanistan 1996-2001 1996-2001

Gained power through chaos in countryGained power through chaos in country

Fundamental interpretation of IslamFundamental interpretation of Islam Fostered dvlpmt. of terrorist groups (Al QaedaFostered dvlpmt. of terrorist groups (Al Qaeda)) Very few nations recognized them as gov’tVery few nations recognized them as gov’t

Human rights abuses, esp. against womenHuman rights abuses, esp. against women

Carried out 9/11Carried out 9/11 Ousted after 9/11 by series of raidsOusted after 9/11 by series of raids Transitional gov’t est.-Karzai new leaderTransitional gov’t est.-Karzai new leader Continued factional differences in countryContinued factional differences in country

al Qaedaal Qaeda

Roots from Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Roots from Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (“stronghold”)(“stronghold”)

Formed 1990sFormed 1990s Global network of terroristsGlobal network of terrorists Carry out holy war against non-Islamic nationsCarry out holy war against non-Islamic nations WAS led by Osama Bin Laden (wealthy Saudi…got WAS led by Osama Bin Laden (wealthy Saudi…got

funding from around the world)funding from around the world) Goal: Reinstate Caliphate (unified Muslim nation)Goal: Reinstate Caliphate (unified Muslim nation) Next in line: Ayman al ZawahiriNext in line: Ayman al Zawahiri

Known Major Attacks by al QaedaKnown Major Attacks by al Qaeda

1998: 1998: Bomb US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania Bomb US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania killed 258, injured 5,000killed 258, injured 5,000

2001:2001: Attack on World Trade Centers, Pentagon, Attack on World Trade Centers, Pentagon,

plane down in PAplane down in PA Killed 3,000Killed 3,000

May, 2011: Bin Laden KilledMay, 2011: Bin Laden Killed

US Navy Seals, Team 6 US Navy Seals, Team 6 Operation in Pakistan (Pakistani gov’t was Operation in Pakistan (Pakistani gov’t was

not informed of the mission)not informed of the mission) Been watching for monthsBeen watching for months Successful secret invasion of compoundSuccessful secret invasion of compound Killed bin Laden, took body, buried at seaKilled bin Laden, took body, buried at sea Bin Laden = #1 leader…hope this leads to Bin Laden = #1 leader…hope this leads to

crumbling of al Qaedacrumbling of al Qaeda Terrorist threats will continue to existTerrorist threats will continue to exist

Government Response to Government Response to TerrorismTerrorism

Surveillance and privacy rightsSurveillance and privacy rights Security at ports and airportsSecurity at ports and airports ID badges and photosID badges and photos

Something to think about…Something to think about…

Although we are all so interconnected and Although we are all so interconnected and interdependent today…why are there still interdependent today…why are there still vast differences between developed and vast differences between developed and developing countries?developing countries?

If globalization continues, what will your If globalization continues, what will your future look like?future look like?