A World Without Borders

Economic Globalization International Monetary Fund (IMF, founded 1944) Expansion of free trade General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT, 1947) 123 member nations World Trade Organization (WTO), takes over from GATT in 1995) Global corporations expand, treat globe as single market Decentralize as necessary to take maximum advantage of regional markets, labor pools, taxation policies Implications for exploitation of human and natural resources

Economic Growth in Asia Japan benefits from Marshall Plan, treaty limitations on defense spending Massive postwar economic expansion, slowed in 1990s The “Little Tigers”: Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan imitate Japanese strategies China integrates elements of market economy, benefits from huge cheap labor pool But interrelated economies fragile, financial crisis in 1997

Trading Blocs European Union Six nations when formed in 1957 Maestricht Treaty of 1993: moving toward political integration Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Established 1960, dominated by Arab and Muslim countries Used economic might to place embargo on US oil, 1973-1975 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

European Union Membership

Consumption and Cultural Interaction “Americanization” or “McDonaldization” American culture exported Yet cultural borrowings from non-American societies Internal transformations: Latino culture in America English language becomes predominant Influence of British colonialism, America, the Internet

World Population by Region, 1900-2050 (Projected)

World Population, 1900-2050 (Projected)

The Club of Rome Scientists attempting to define planet’s “carrying capacity”, formed 1967 1972 report: The Limits of Growth Criticized for some erroneous predictions (depletion of oil, gas, uranium, etc.) 1999 revision: Beyond the Limits Posit dark future

Environmental Impact Biodiversity under threat: 4500 animal species threatened Global warming Greenhouse gases Kyoto accords, 1997 Human mortality rate declines steadily, several regions work on birth control measures

Economic Inequities Regional poverty a persistent problem Unequal distribution of resources Impact of colonialism Slavery abolished in Saudi Arabia, Angola in 1960s, forced indenture remains in place in developing world International Labor Organization of the UN: 250 million children, ages 5-14, work, esp. southeast Asia Global trafficking of human slaves

The AIDS Crisis Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus identified in New York, San Francisco 1981 Homosexual men, drug users, later spread to other populations Crisis especially pronounced in Africa Treatments (not cures) available, but prohibitively expensive

Adults and children estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS as of December 2003

Global Terrorism Terrorism: deliberate, systematic use of violence against civilians Cheaper, more effective than conventional war, thus accessible to smaller groups September 11, 2001: four planes hijacked by terrorists Crash into World Trade Center buildings (NYC), Pentagon, field in Pennsylvania (passengers thwarted intended target) Masterminded by Islamic extremist Osama bin Laden (1957- ), leader of al-Qaeda (“the Base”)

War in Afghanistan and Iraq US President George W. Bush (1946- ) invades Afghanistan to destroy al-Qaeda training bases Overthrows Taliban government Invasion of Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein, perceived as ally of bin Laden

Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs) Red Cross, Red Crescent: public health, humanitarian aid Greenpeace (founded 1970): environmental causes

The United Nations Superseded the League of Nations (1920-1946) Charter: to maintain international peace and security Weak body in military areas, influential in larger public health projects Eradication of smallpox Supporters of universal human rights

The United Nations

Global Feminism Displaced from jobs by returning soldiers after World War II, women in industrialized nations agitate for equal opportunities Demand control over bodies: access to birth control and abortion, achieved in 1960s and 1970s Arab and Muslim lands: continued gaps in literacy Increasing number of women national leaders Indira Ghandi (India), Golda Meir (Israel), Margaret Thatcher (UK)

Migration Patterns Rural areas depopulating to urban regions Creation of slums Immigration for economic reasons Refugees fleeing war, poverty Tourism increasingly common in 21st century