The 20th Century and Beyond

Ch 36: The Final Chapter

I. The end of the Cold War

Reagan Doctrine- US assist in any anticommunist resistance

Afghanistan

Soviet Union’s military was stretchedVarious satellite nations soon split off

I. The End of the Cold War

Mikhail GorbachevInstituted many reforms

Anti-Stalinism Glasnost (openness)- “freedom to criticize)Limitations on nuclear weaponsPerestroika (economic restructuring)- decentralization of industryGovernment not all powerfulSocial reforms

People eventually became unhappy with too much change

Soviet Union stated to collapse between 1989-1990

II. Post Soviet UnionBoris Yeltsin

Took over in 1991 which became the end of the Soviet UnionPresident of Russia Renounced Communism- brought in a free-market economyUsed military force to overthrow the Soviet Parliament

Vladimir PutinReplace Yeltsin in 1999Freedom of Press?Democracy and Freedom?

III. The Middle EastArea of conflict

Persian Gulf War 1991Saddam Hussein (Iraq) invades KuwaitUnited States gets involved (admittedly for oil reasons)

War on TerrorismResult of 9/11 attacksResulted in a War in Afghanistan and War in Iraq

Major power comes from oil

IV. GlobalizationGlobalization- The interconnectedness of the World

Describes how the world has become smaller due to communication and transportationDescribes how one issue in one part of the world has a significant impact in anotherLevel of globalization increases dramatically everyday

1990- Tim Berns “creates the internet”2001- 25% of world has internet2010- between 30-40%

IV. GlobalizationBusiness

Multinational corporationsOutsourcingVarious businesses have different departments or locations around the worldSometimes more powerful than the host companyForce improvements in communication and transportation

IV. GlobalizationMigration

“Guest Workers”Immigration increases with ease of transportationBrings about language barriersMulticulturalism

Cultural GlobalizationAmericanization

McDonaldsUsually includes native variations

Science and artsWorking together around the world

IV. GlobalizationUnited Nations

Originally started to keep peaceProvides aidWorks on health and human rights issues

Issues with religionsSpread of world cultures sometimes runs against fundamental religious groups

Ex. Islam in the Middle EastResults in conflict

V. Global ProblemsSpread of Disease

Ease of travel makes the threat of pandemics a larger problem

Swine Flu, SARS, AIDS etc.Upside: worldwide efforts towards eradicating these diseases

Environmental issuesWorldwide Concern

Awareness of how local issues can be a worldwide issueProblem can be compounded as a result of rapid growth in developing countries

Usually encouraged by industrial countries

VI. Wrap UpGlobalization has its positives and negativesEverything in history has lead us to this point in time

The EndThe Space Marines have been

defeated and the world is now a “safe and peaceful” place…

Or is it?