Summary

The new edition of this text has been fully updated throughout and features expanded sections on issues such as global warming, biotechnology, and energy.Global Issues is an introduction to the nature and background of some of the central issues - economic, social, political, environmental - of modern times. It will provide the basis for a stimulating course for beginning students in departments of geography, politics, sociology and environmental science. The book opens with an overview of the complex political, cultural and natural origins of world problems and of why some nations are rich and some are poor. The author then discusses in depth such issues as population growth, hunger, the extinction of species, global warming and climatic change, ozone depletion, energy conservation, deforestation, and the misuse of technology.The book covers a range of perspectives on a variety of societies, developed and developing. The author writes clearly, stressing the need, by argument and by exemplification, for informed, critical thinking. Students are shown both the decisions that have been made - and the resulting failures and successes - and the choices that must now be faced if crucial problems are to be solved.The book is extensively illustrated with diagrams and photographs, contains guides to further reading, media, and internet resources, and includes suggestions for discussion and studying the material.

Author Biography

John L. Seitz is Associate Professor of Government at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina

List of Plates
List of Figures and Tables
Introduction
Foreword: The Creation of Global Issues
Wealth and Poverty: The Market Approach
The State Approach
The Civil Society Approach
Globalization: Positive Aspects
Negative Aspects
Conclusions
Notes
Further Readings
Population: The Changing Population of the World
Causes of the Population Explosion
How Population Growth Affects Development: Too Rapid
Too Slow
An Aging Population and Low Birth Rates
The Relationship Between Population Growth and Poverty
How Development Affects Population Growth: Demographic Transition
Factors Lowering Birth Rates
Governmental Population Policies: Controlling Growth
Promoting Growth
The future: The Growth of the World's Population
The Carrying Capacity of the Earth
Optimum Size of the Earth's Population
Population Problems in our Future
Conclusions
Notes
Further Reading
3
How Many are Hungry? Causes of World Hunger
How Food Affects Development
How Development Affects Food: The Production of Food
The Type of Food
The Green Revolution
Governmental Food Policies
Future Food Supplies: Climate
Arable Land
Energy Costs
Alternative/Sustainable Agriculture
Biotechnology
Fishing and Aquaculture
Future Food Production
Conclusions
Notes
Further Reading
Energy: The Energy Crisis
Responses by Governments to the Energy Crisis: The United States
Western Europe
Japan
China
The Effect of the Energy Crisis on Less Developed Nations' Development Plans
The Relationship between Energy Use and Development: A Shift in Types of Energy
Increased Use
Recession, Higher Prices, and a Reduction in the Demand for Oil
The Decoupling of Energy Consumption and Economic Growth
Climate Change: The Evidence
Probably Effects
Uncertainties
What is Being Done at Present?
What More Can Be Done?
The Energy Transition: Nonrenewable Energy Sources
Renewable Energy Sources
Conservation
Nuclear Power: A Case Study: The Potential and the Peril
The Choice: Withdraw Support for Nuclear Power
Continue to Support Nuclear Power
Conclusions
Notes
Further Reading
The Environment: The Awakening
The Air: Smog
Airborne Lead
Acid Rain
Ozone Depletion
Carbon Dioxide
The Water
The Land: Solid Wastes
Toxic Wastes
Governmental and Industrial Responses to the Waste Problem
Deforestation
The Workplace and the Home: Cancer
Pesticides
Artificial Substances
The Use of Natural Resources: Recycling
Substitution
Mining of Low-Grade Ores
Reducing Needs
Overdevelopment
The Extinction of Species
The Extinction of Cultures: The Yanomami
The Estonians
Environmental Politics
Conclusions
Notes
Further Reading
Technology: Benefits of Technology
Short-term versus Long-term Benefits
Unanticipated Consequences of the Use of Technology
Inappropriate Uses of Technology
Limits to the "Technological Fix"
War
The Threat of Nuclear Weapons: A Case Study: The Threat
New Dangers: Nuclear Profileration
Control of Nuclear Weapons in Russia
The Cleanup
Conclusions
Notes
Further Reading
Alternative Futures: Doom: Nuclear Weapons
Pollution, Famines, Overpopulation, Resource Depletion
Triage and Lifeboat Ethics
Growth
Sustainable Development
Conclusions
Notes
Further Reading
Studying and Teaching Global Issues
Suggested Videos
Study and Discussion Questions for Student
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Supplemental Materials

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