| To the Reader |
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| Topic Guide |
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2 | (2) |
| Selected World Wide Web Sites |
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4 | (2) |
| UNIT 1 Global Issues in the Twenty-First Century: An Overview |
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Four articles in this section present distinct views on the present and future state of life on Earth |
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6 | (2) |
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A Special Moment in History |
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8 | (5) |
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The interconnected dangers of overpopulation, climate change, and pollution have been in the headlines for years, but doomsday has not yet arrived. Bill McKibben examines two important questions: What if we already have inflicted serious damage on the planet? and, What if there are only a few decades left to salvage a stable environment? |
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The Many Faces of the Future |
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13 | (4) |
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The most important distinctions among people are not ideological or political. Samuel Huntington asserts that, contrary to what some argue, there is little likelihood of a universal civilization emerging. Rather, the factors that define the nine major cultures of the world--religion, ancestry, language, customs, and so on--will continue to define international politics |
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World Prisms: The Future of Sovereign States and International Order |
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17 | (5) |
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Richard Falk examines the future of the sovereign nationstate. He identifies a number of forces that are diminishing the power of the nation-state but observes that these factors are often contradictory. There are also transnational forces creating regional arrangements while, at the same time, other forces are fragmenting the current state-centered system |
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The American Way of Victory: A Twentieth-Century Trilogy |
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22 | (10) |
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James Kurth provides a panoramic view of the twentieth century and of the successful as well as the flawed ``victory strategies'' the United States and other major political powers implemented after the two world wars. He draws lessons about these military and economic strategies to evaluate United States policy following its victory in the cold war. He concludes, ``Living with China is the single most important challenge facing a United States still living with victory.'' |
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| UNIT 2 Population and Food Production |
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Four selections in this section discuss the contributing factors to the world's population growth and the challenge of providing food for this added strain on the world's capacity |
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30 | (2) |
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32 | (3) |
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A general overview is offered of the changing global demographic trends of fewer children and increased longevity. Jeffrey Kluger describes variations between different geographic regions and the varying patterns of consumption among the world's rich and poor |
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Breaking Out or Breaking Down |
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35 | (8) |
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The spread of the HIV virus, aquifer depletion, and shrinking cropland have been growing trends for years. The magnitude of these problems now threatens to increase death rates in many of the world's poorest regions, raising the specter of social unrest and increased poverty |
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The Misery Behind the Statistics: Women Suffer Most |
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43 | (3) |
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Diana Brown focuses on the widespread abuses of women, with a special emphasis on policies that relate to the control of population growth |
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46 | (10) |
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Genetically engineered crops could revolutionize farming. Protesters fear they could destroy the ecosystem. Madeleine Nash provides an overview of this growing debate |
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| UNIT 3 The Global Environment and Natural Resources Utilization |
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Five articles in this section discuss natural resources and their effects on the world's environment |
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56 | (1) |
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56 | (4) |
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Circulating freely around the planet, the atmosphere and oceans are shared resources whose resiliency is being tested by ever-growing human demands. Michael Glantz examines a number of specific issues that affect the so-called global commons and raises questions about the ability of people to respond to these environmental issues |
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Climatic Changes That Make the World Flip |
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60 | (5) |
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The impact of global warming on the environment is not necessarily a drawn-out affair. Recent evidence indicates that rapid changes, or ``climate flips,'' could occur virtually overnight. This hypothesis is supported by a variety of historical case studies |
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The energy Question, Again |
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65 | (5) |
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Abundant, cheap energy is taken for granted by citizens of the rich countries. The future of this fundamental component of the global economy, however, is uncertain. The author describes both environmental and supply issues that threaten the energy future |
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Invasive Species: Pathogens of Globalization |
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70 | (7) |
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World trade has become a primary source of the most dangerous forms of environmental decline: Thousands of invasive species are hitchhiking through the global trading network of ships, planes, and railroads. The negative impact of this bioinvasion is visible on all landmasses and in most coastal waters |
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We Can Build a Sustainable Economy |
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77 | (12) |
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The world is faced with an enormous need for change in a short period of time. Human behavior and values, and national priorities that reflect them, change in response to either new information or new experiences. Lester Brown asserts that regaining control of our destiny depends on stabilizing population as well as climate |
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| UNIT 4 Political Economy |
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Eight articles present various views on economic and social development in the nonindustrial and industrial nations |
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82 | (2) |
| A. GLOBALIZATION DEBATE |
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The Complexities and Contradictions of GlobalizationJames N. Rosenau |
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84 | |
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Globalization is a complex concept that means different things to different people. James Rosenau first defines the concept and then contrasts the process of globalization with localization. Rather than conclude that one force will prevail over the other, Rosenau argues that the two forces will contradictorily and simultaneously accommodate each other |
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Dueling Globalizations: A Debate Between Thomas L. Friedman and Ignacio Ramonet |
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89 | (11) |
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Proponents of two distinct perspectives on the trends and challenges of the global political economy offer a spirited debate. The authors challenge each other's assumptions, raising interesting questions about the distribution of wealth, the power of governments, and the quality of life in the future |
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The Crisis of Globalization |
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100 | (4) |
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James Galbraith critically evaluates the basic economic assumptions of globalization; that is, that markets are efficient, states are unnecessary, and the rich and poor have no conflicting interests. He argues that the exceptions to these assumptions outnumber examples of where they have successfully worked. This has resulted in a situation where the economic prospects for millions of the world's poorest have been undermined |
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Globalization and American Power, The National Interest, Spring 2000 |
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104 | (7) |
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Kenneth Waltz challenges the assumption that markets increasingly rule the world. He argues that the growing inequality in power is the dominant theme of the post-cold war era, not increased interdependence. He concludes, ``Politics prevails over economics.'' |
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Reality Check: The WTO and Globalization After Seattle |
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111 | (21) |
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The former director-general of the GATT and the WTO responds to critics of globalization. He argues that the legal structure governing the global trading system has resulted in broadly shared economic benefits. A system of managing trade is not equated with other globalization trends such as the Internet, travel, and the media |
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| B. CASE STUDIES |
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Where Have All the Farmers Gone?Brian Halweil |
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115 | |
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The globalization of agriculture is critically evaluated in this abridged version of the orginal article. In an economic system that is integrated from farm to market, the small, independent farmer is being forced out of business. Many interesting environmental and public policy issues are raised by author Brian Halweil |
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Beyond the Transition: China's Economy at Century's EndEdward S. Steinfeld |
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127 | |
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Edward Steinfeld reviews 20 years of Chinese economic reform along with the dramatic policy shifts associated with the government's desire to join the World Trade Organization. Steinfeld comes to the interesting conclusion that ``China is not scrambling to dismantle socialism; it is scrambling to regulate a market system.'' |
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132 | (4) |
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For years futurists have declared that Asia would rule the world economy of the twenty-first century. The author concludes that it isn't likely to happen. He argues that traditional Asian values are getting in the way |
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| UNIT 5 Conflict |
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Five articles in this section discuss the basis for world conflict and the current state of peace in the international community |
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134 | (2) |
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136 | (5) |
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Charles Kupchan argues that the structure of international politics will undergo profound changes as the dominant role of the United States begins to recede. The main challenge is weaning Europe and East Asia from their dependence on the United States while at the same time minimizing rivalries within those two regions |
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An Anachronistic Policy: The Strategic Obsolescence of the ``Rogue Doctrine,'' |
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141 | (5) |
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United States military policy since the early 1990s has been guided by the so-called ``Rogue Doctrine.'' The author examines its basic assumptions and identifies a number of changing circumstances such as the proliferation of nuclear weapons in India and Pakistan that challenge the doctrine's underlying assumptions |
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Europe at Century's End: The Challenge Ahead |
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146 | (4) |
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Richard Haass offers a broad overview of the strategic challenges facing Europe, including a discussion of their economic underpinnings. He provides a special focus on the changing role of NATO, including the uncertain role of Russia in European affairs |
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Ethnic Conflict: Think Again |
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150 | (6) |
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Some observers have predicted that ethnic conflicts are likely to become a worldwide political epidemic. Based on an analysis of recent historical trends, Yahya Sadowski rejects this forecast. He concludes that while ethnic conflicts are a serious problem, today's prophets of anarchy suffer from a simplistic view of ethnicity |
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156 | (6) |
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In the final years of the Clinton administration, a number of important nuclear weapons issues were left unresolved. The Bush administration is now faced with a complex set of interrelated issues of arms control and missile defense. These nuclear age chalenges will be a test of diplomatic and policymaking skills |
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| UNIT 6 Cooperation |
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Five selections in this section examine patterns of international cooperation and the social structures that support this cooperation |
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160 | (2) |
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Justice Goes Global, Time, July 27, 1998 |
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162 | (2) |
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The fact that the International Criminal Court, which has genuine power, has been created is an unprecedented move by the world community to make the rule of law finally prevail over brute force. The treaty, signed by 160 countries, creates a global tribunal to judge war criminals. However, the refusal of the United States to sign the accord leaves many questions about what will be the future of the new court |
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164 | (5) |
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The history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is reviewed. Three alternative U.S. foreign policies are evaluated. The author argues that instead of unilateral U.S. action, the United Nations should have a multinational standby force that could be quickly deployed when the human rights of a group of people are threatened |
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169 | (3) |
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This case study of global tourism describes how indigenous communities are developing partnerships with tour operators to promote tourism that generates revenue while protecting the culture of these communities as well as the surrounding natural environment |
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Tribes Under the Microscope |
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172 | (4) |
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Genetic researchers view the world's indigenous cultures as ``living laboratories.'' But what happens when new science clashes with ancient beliefs? This question is examined and creative solutions are described |
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Child Labour: Rights, Risks, and Realities |
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176 | (6) |
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Carol Bellamy, executive director of UNICEF, describes the exploitation of children and the international efforts to mobilize society to combat this denial of basic human rights |
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| UNIT 7 Values and Visions |
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Seven articles discuss human rights, ethics, values, and new ideas |
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180 | (2) |
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Are Human Rights Universal |
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182 | (5) |
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The author, who works in the Office of the Secretary General of the United Nations, responds to criticisms of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Contrary to those who argue that the Declaration is an attempt to impose alien, Western values on the rest of the world, the author examines a variety of cultural and ethical issues and concludes that ``a universal idea of human rights can help make the world safe for diversity.'' |
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The Grameen Bank, Scientific |
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187 | (5) |
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A small experiment, begun in Bangladesh to loan money to poor people as a way of helping them become more productive, has turned into a major new concept in the eradication of poverty |
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Why Environmental Ethics Matters to International Relations |
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192 | (5) |
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The dominant worldviews of Western culture do not have core assumptions that are defined in terms of an ``environmental ethic.'' After examining alternative environmental ethics and then applying them to ``realism'' and ``liberal institutionalism,'' the author calls for a new political dialogue that only a more ``authentic democracy'' can generate in order to better integrate social choices with a vision of the ``natural'' world we create |
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Will Globalization Make You Happy? |
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197 | (7) |
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The psychological dimensions of globalization are explored in light of the changing relative and absolute gap between rich and poor. The speed of economic change and the impact of new global telecommunication technologies are additional factor explored by the author |
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A Fourth Way? The Latin American Alternative to Neoliberalism |
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204 | (5) |
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The growing inequality between rich and poor is especially pronounced in Latin America. A group of intellectuals and politicians is determined to chart a new policy that promotes productive investment and a democratized economy by investing in human resources |
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Democracy in Russia: How Free Is Free? |
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209 | (4) |
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The institutional roots of Russian democracy are shallow. When compared to the Soviet era, there are now many freedoms. At the same time, there are trends that suggest that political corruption and racism are increasing. This paradox of conflicting trends is examined |
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213 | (3) |
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Women have fought for their rights throughout the twentieth century. Sophie Bessis offers an overview of the issues and trends along with a description of how the struggle varies from country to country |
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| World Map |
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216 | (2) |
| Glossary |
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218 | (8) |
| Index |
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226 | (2) |
| Test Your Knowledge Form |
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228 | (1) |
| Article Rating Form |
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229 | |
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