Modern Issues and Ethic Conflicts

Conflict in the Modern Middle East After WWI – Mandates take over territory of the defeated Ottoman Empire After WWII – UN sets up secure area and Israeli state –Balfour Declaration – 1917 British Government agrees to support the formation of Jewish state –UN partition plan

Israel The 1947 UN partition plan created Israel and Palestine Arabs did not accept the plan, & attacked Israel

The Arab-Israeli Conflict Several wars between Israel & it neighbors –1956- Suez Conflict –1967- The Six Day War –1973- The Yom Kippur War Result = Israel occupied more territories

Northern Ireland Historic tensions between Catholics and Protestants (dates all the way back to the time of Elizabeth I )

Northern Ireland Catholics – want Northern Ireland to break away from United Kingdom and join with Republic of Ireland Protestants – want to remain part of the United Kingdom

Balkans Collapse of communism in late 1980s-1990s leads to void in leadership, economies and politics Regions in Yugoslavia fight for control

Balkans 1991 – Civil War: two regions in Yugoslavia declare their independence. Slovenia and Croatia Civil War and genocide causes mass migration and refugees.

Refugees Refugees – are a result of conflicts or disasters and often effect whole regions Migration of “guest workers” to European cities causes strain on natural resources and jobs

Balkans Large movements of refugees into already heterogeneous area leads to “ethic cleansing” Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic orders the killing of 6,000 Bosnians

Horn of Africa In 1991, the Somali Civil War broke out, which saw the collapse of the federal government and the emergence of numerous autonomous (self rule) areas Each area had their won set of laws, usually based on customs or Islamic law

Horn of Africa During Civil war – US gets involved by sending soldiers to stop fighting in capital Mogadeshu 18 US soldiers killed in battle – leaves bad taste for involvement in Africa A Transitional Federal Government was subsequently created in 2004.

Modern Issues

Developed & Developing Nations Developed and Developing nations are characterized by different levels of economic development, population and social conditions Developed – (1 st world) an industrialized nation with all the facilities needed for the advanced production of goods Developing – (3 rd world) a nation where the process of industrialization is not yet complete

Developing & Developed Nations Geographic locations Economic conditions Social conditions –Literacy, access to health care, etc Population size and rate of population growth CAUSES

Environment and Society Several factors impact environment and society += Economic development Rapid population growth Strain on environment and resources

Environmental Challenges Loss of Habitat –Deforestation – the process of stripping the land of its trees –Desertification – the loss of all vegetation, often arable land changes into desert from overuse Global Climate change Pollution –Green house gasses

Social Challenges Poverty Poor health Illiteracy Famine Migration

Economic and Political Freedoms Relationship linking economic and political freedoms –Free market economies produce rising standards of living and expanding middle class, which produces growing demands for political freedoms and individual rights. Ex. Taiwan and South Korea

Industrialization Capitalism Better living conditions and creation of middle class Demands for freedoms and democracy

Economic Interdependence The countries of the world are increasingly dependent on each other for raw materials, markets, and financial resources. –One cause is the division of labor, different countries supply and manufacture difference products

Economic Interdependence Huge role of rapid transportation, communication and computer networks Influence of MNC – Multinational Corporations

Changing role of international boundaries Regional integration - process in which countries enter into a regional agreement to work towards regional cooperation through institutions and rules –EU – European Union

Trade Agreements NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement –Canada, US, Mexico do not set limits on trade or tariffs WTO – World Trade Organization –Only international body that deals with trade between nations

International Organizations UN – United Nations IMF - International Monetary Fund –oversees the global financial system by following the economic policies of its member countries, in particular those with an impact on exchange rate and the balance of payments

International Terrorism Munich Olympics 9/11/2001 – motivated by extremism, Osama bin Laden Car bombings Suicide bombers Airline hijackers

Fundamentalism vs Fanaticism Fundamentalism - A strict belief in the basic truths and practices of a specific religion Fanaticism –extreme devotion to a political or religious cause

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject".

Global regions of Al Qaeda's influence

International Response Surveillance Review of privacy rights –Patriot Act Security at ports and airports –Increased pressure on TSA Identification badges and photos