Marked by INCREASED GLOBAL INTERCONECTEDNESS 1991-present Marked by INCREASED GLOBAL INTERCONECTEDNESS

POLITICAL CHANGES China emerged as one of the most powerful countries in the world USA has increasing influence over world politics

ECONOMIC CHANGES Market economy: free-market principles; no governmental control Command economy: central planning and state ownership; high governmental control Mixed economy: free-market principles coupled with some governmental control

SOCIAL CHANGES Globalization: the integration of social, environmental, economic, and cultural activities of nations that has resulted from increasing international contacts

SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Supranational organizations: organizations that go beyond national boundaries

SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The World Trade Organization: an organization of member states that have agreed to rules of world trade among nations Settles trade disputes 151 nations (but not Russia!) The World Bank: created in 1945 to help rebuild after WWII Loans money to low and middle-income countries Wants to eliminate poverty and support economic development

SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS European Union: formed after WWII, integrates many European countries together through - Trade and a common currency *some exceptions* Supranational government Common foreign, security, and defense policies Small, eastern European countries can apply to join, but must first meet a set of criteria North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): Mexico, Canada, and US Closely links the three countries’ economies by eliminating tariffs and reducing trade restrictions

SOCIAL CHANGES Urbanization and rural decline Growth of megacities (populations of more than 10 million) Population growth Green Revolution in the 1970s – high-yield seeds and fertilizer leads to massive boom in agricultural production

SOCIAL CHANGES Growing equality between men and women (eh….) Human rights More equality for genders and races, attempts to eliminate slavery, torture, cruel and inhumane punishment, exile, etc Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders

people met in Tiananmen Square to criticize corruption in the government Government sent the army in response to shut down the protests- hundreds of protesting citizens died

SOCIAL CHANGES Post-modernism: values that emphasize quality of life over concern with material game Preservation of the environment, promotion of health care and education

SOCIAL CHANGES Cultural globalization: spread of culture – particularly US culture – to the rest of the world Cultural imperialism? Thanks, internet

SOCIAL CHANGES Stateless nations: people of a common identity without a corresponding state organized by a central government Based on ethnicity, religion, culture Kurds, Catholics in Northern Ireland, Palestinians, etc

SOCIAL CHANGES Increase in acts of terrorism