New Global Communities

United Nations Roosevelt felt that a new international organization could prevent another world war 1944  delegates from 39 different nations met to discuss the new organization called the United Nations Delegates agreed that the UN would have a general assembly where every member nation has one vote General Assembly was given power to vote on the UN’s budget, choose the non-permanent members of the Security Council, and vote on resolutions

United Nations Security Council  11 members with five permanent members (France, US, Britain, China and Soviet Union) Security Council was responsible for international problems and propose possible settlements Peacekeeping forces  military forces from neutral member states that settle conflicts and supervise truces International Atomic Energy Agency  works to prevent nuclear proliferation (spread of nuclear weapons production technology and knowledge to nations without that capability

Population Trends 2007 World Population  6.7 billion people Only 20 years after reaching the 5 billion mark UN estimates that the world population will reach 9.2 billion by 2050 Almost all population growth is from developing nations China has instated a one-child policy to control population, but India has had limited success in limiting population United States is the only wealthy nation expected to have a growing population by 2050 Global age distribution is shifting towards the elderly with increasing life expectancies and lowering birth rates

Global Migration 2005  200 million international migrants Reasons for migration: political persecution (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Eastern Europe, East Germany), civil wars (Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe), famine (Africa in 1984-85), unemployment, racial tension 2000s saw in increase in women migration

Global Economic Organizations World Bank  a group of five international organizations controlled by developing nations Provides grants, loans, and advice for economic development International Monetary Fund  founded in 1945, it is an “organization of 184 countries” to oversee the global financial system Watches exchange rates and offers financial and technical assistance to developing nations Multinational corporation  a company that has divisions in more than two countries Ex: IBM, Toyota, Sony

Global Economic Organizations General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) created to make trade between countries cheaper and easier World Trade Organization (WTO)  made up of 150 nations and arranges trade agreements and settles trade disputes European Union (EU)  trading bloc consisting of 27 European nations and is the world’s largest single trading entity North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)  created free trade between Canada, United States, and Mexico Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)  agreement to create free trade among nations that border the Pacific Ocean

Transnational Organizations Organizations have developed to help solve problems that many nations face (environment, gender inequality, child labor, appropriate use of technology, and promotion of peace) International Red Cross & Red Crescent  international humanitarian organization founded to ensure respect for all human beings, Works to prevent and solve human suffering, without discrimination based on nationality, race, sex, religious beliefs, class or political opinions

Transnational Organizations Grassroots level  groups that start out at the community level Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) often represented at the UN and include professional, business, cooperative, religious, peace, and disarmament (works to limit the size of military forces) groups Lesson: a lack of involvement in the affairs of one society can lead to a sense of powerlessness