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 20 th 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