Chapter 22: Epilogue, 20002007
Chapter Outline
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- The New Millennium
- Y2K
- The United States, The European Union and Japan
- September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on United States
- Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda claim responsibility
- Global war on terror declared by U.S. President George Bush
- U.S. sent troops into Afghanistan to destroy Taliban regime
- Iraq invaded in 2003
- Early offensive went well in Afghanistan and Iraq, but then civil unrest as well as discoveries about bad intelligence on weapons of mass destruction turned many Americans against the war.
- Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have left deep fractures in U.S.-Europe-Russian relations
- Europe became more integrated as the European Union grew to twenty-five members
- Two threats to Europe's stability are aging and immigration
- European women are having fewer children
- Millions of immigrants, many whom are Muslim
- U.S. and Japan face similar issues to Europe
- U.S. also faces an imbalance, with aging baby boomers retiring
- Growing number of Asian and Latino migrants to the U.S.
- Debates over English as the official language and illegal immigration continue
- Japan faces tough choices over aging population and immigration.
- Immigration continues to be cause for right-wing political groups to gain footholds in Europe.
- In recent years, anti-immigrant sentiments and anti-Muslim, especially, have grown stronger
- Questions over assimilation
- Foreigners remain the poorest and unemployed
- Terrorist bombings in Europe also turn people against Muslim immigrants
- Russia, China, and India
- Outsourcing has become a way for older capitalist societies to compete in the global economy.
- Resentment causes tension in the countries where outsourcing takes the place of native-born workers.
- Russia's economy is prospering, but its political system is closing in on itself.
- Vladimir Putin has increased restrictions on the people
- China
- China's economy is growing
- Consumer goods sold to the West, especially America
- Fast-growing economy comes with a down side environmental devastation, growing gaps between rich and poor, poor quality of commodities
- India
- Economy flourishing
- Political unrest between Muslim and Hindus still a major concern.
- Ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan
- The Middle East, Africa, and Latin America
- Middle East
- Region remains violent, with undemocratic regimes feeding militant Islamic fury.
- Many reasons that radical Islam has gained acceptance and followers
- Arab world, except for the few countries rich in oil, are deeply mired in poverty.
- Oppressive and dictatorial regimes dominate
- Africa
- Radical Islam also growing in Africa
- Region affected by terrible poverty and diseases such as HIV/AIDS
- Little positive happening in Africa
- Darfur in western Sudan continues to suffer genocide.
- Liberia ended its war and held elections in 2005
- Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf became the first woman elected president of an African country.
- Latin America
- Gap between rich and poor widening due to globalization
- Competition through NAFTA has left many farmers poorer as their villages and work have vanished
- Left-wing governments have been elected in several countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile
- Antiglobalization is widespread, but greatest in the poorest parts of the world
- Conclusion
- 2007 G8 summit discussed global warming, among other concerns
- It's clear that global warming must be dealt with
- Global warming has led to more natural disasters
- Katrina
- Tsunami
- Changes in economics, culture, and politics will continue to encourage exchange and interaction. But cultural and religious diversity, economic competition, and environmental particularities will also persist in driving our worlds apart
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