1. Postcolonial Crises and Asian Economic Expansion (1957-1991)
By: Grisel Rodriguez

2. (Democratic reform in Latin America) Because of the Cuban Revolution, the United States decided to organize their political and military allies in Latin America to defeat communism. Bulliet
Revolution was stopped in Chile, Argentina and Brazil, but it continued among other countries, Nicaragua and El Salvador among them. Spodek
Between 1983 and 1990 the military dictation in Brazil, Chile and Argentina ended. Belzberg
During the 1980s oil exporting countries like Brazil and Mexico found themselves in economic trouble when the price of oil fell and they couldn’t keep up with their debts. Bulliet
The United States had a lot of control over Latin America, as can be demonstrated with their intervinience in Grenada in 1983 and in Panama in Spodek
(Islamic Revolution) The crises in Iran and Afghanistan soon involved the superpowers; United States and the Soviet Union. Belzberg

3. Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi’s regiment was corrupt and inefficient and also backed by America. Belzberg
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was brought into power and an anti-western conservative Islamic republic in Iran was established. Bulliet
After the blow suffered in Iran, America was unable to take any action. In 1980Iraq’s leader Sadan Hussein invaded Iran to destroy the Islamic Republic. Spodek
America first supported Iran but then moved their support to Iraq. Belzberg
(Asian Transformation) During the 1970s and 1980s the Japanese had great economic growth, higher than any other country, In the 1990s average Japanese income outstripped that of the United States. Bulliet
The economic growth was associated with keirstsu (alliances of firms) received government assistance in tariffs and imports regulations that inhabited foreign competition. Spodek

4. (The end of the bipolar war) While Ronald Reagan was president the Soviet Union faced a great economical strain trying to keep up with the massive U.S. spending. Spodek
Most of the spending done by the U.S. was pertaining to oil, new scientific discoveries, and mainly space travel and innovation. Belzberg
Mikhail Gorvacher took over leadership of the Soviet Union in 1985, he tried to introduce political openness and economic reform. Bulliet
The downfall of communism in Europe came in 1989 when various factors, such as a declining economy, destroyed the basis of communism. Later in 1990 Germany was reunified. Spodek
The weakness of the central government and the rise of Nationalism led to the dissolution of the soviet union in September Belzberg
Ethnic and religious divisions also led to the dismemberment of Yugoslavakia in 1991 and the division of the Czech republic in Bulliet

5. (The challenge of population growth) The population in Europe doubled between 1850 and while some saw this as a blessing some were worried that the growth of the population would outstrip food supplies. Bulliet
Europe stopped worrying about the increase in birth rate when new tools were made, birth control. Spodek
The new world however promoted big families, but this would soon become a concern in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Belzberg
Most of the growth around the world in the 20th century happened in third world country where birth control was limited and the mortality rate was plummeting. Bulliet
The developed nations also face a high amount of elderly citizens, which means the countries have to rely on immigrants or technology, such as robots, to keep their generous life style afloat. Spodek
The developing countries face a large young and growing population but face the problem of providing their people with enough jobs and education. Belzberg

6. (Unequal development and Movement of people) Since 1945 the world has produced and abundance of material, and usually the countries above the northern hemisphere get to enjoy these, while the one in the southern hemisphere have to make do with their own. Belzberg
Migration from rural areas to urban centers in development areas increased three times from 1925 and 1950, and kept increasing rapidly. Bulliet
People who moved to the cities enjoyed a better income and a higher standard of living, but soon as more people migrated within the cities the resources to serve all its inhabitants started to run out. Spodek
In 1960 the global migration grew, more people were moving from developing countries to developed countries. This created high amounts of racial tension in the host country. Belzberg
Immigrant communities in Europe and the United States are made up of young people, and their birth rate surpassed that of the host nation. Bulliet
This will develop higher populations of Latin Americans and Asian people in America and higher Muslim rate in Europe. This muddies up the water on the issue of citizenship and residency. Spodek

7. (Technological and environmental change) After World War II the increase in technological advances dramatically peeked do to the high demand of goods from a growing population. Spodek
Much of the world’s productivity was do to improvements on already existing inventions during the 1950s and 1960s. The improvement and wide spread of computers was crucial because it transformed office work and manufacturing. Belzberg
The cause of erosion and water pollution in developed countries was do to the high increase of demand from the growing population, having to cut down forests and marched lands. Bulliet
There was a high increase in pollution do to the large growth of people and the United States, the European community, and Japan took steps to prevent further deterioration on the environment in the 1970s. Spodek
Environmental awareness was widely spread within the media and it rooted a lot of government action, some countries made strict antipollution laws. Belzberg
Thanks to these efforts which were made possible by technological developments, the developed world helped the environment. In developing countries however, the pressure to increase do to demand and a weak government force them to ignore the environmental deterioration. Bulliet

8. Bibliography
Bulliet, Crossley, Headrick, Hirsch, Johnson, Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples. A Global History. Third Edition. Boston, New York. Houghton Mifflin Company
Howard Spodek. The World’s History. Second Edition. Combined Volume. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Prentice Hall
Ivan Belzberg. Chapter 34 Notes. History