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Global Challenges

Developed by

Joe Naumann

Whither Gaia?

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Globalization – Empire Building

• Ancient times– Alexander the Great– Rome

• Middlel Ages– Mongol

• 18th-19th Centuries– British Empire

• 20th Century– Hitler (failed)– Soviet Union (failed)

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British Empire Was The Biggest

• Based on naval power• Developed along with the growth of industry

– Markets

– Raw materials

– Protection of sea lanes

• “The sun never sets on the British Empire”• Legacy

– English most widely spoken language

– Democratic ideals

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British Empire & Others

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19th Century Empire Dissolution

• Spanish and Portuguese (Americas)

• Causes– Primary causative event – Napoleon’s

conquest of Spain & Portugal– Dissatisfied creoles (Spanish)– Encouraged by the successful revolution in

the United States in North America– Encouraged by political philosophies

expressed by Enlightenment writers– Encouraged by the French Revolution

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20th Century Empire Dissolution

• British, French, German, Italian, Belgian, Dutch

• Primary causative factors: World Wars I & II

• Improved communications

• Educated elites in the colonies took leadership roles

• Self-determination of peoples encouraged by United Nations charter

• Costs increasing for economically burdened European countries

• Retaining by force no longer feasible

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Return of Hong Kong to China

• Last major part of the former British Empire returned in 1997

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Colonialism & Neocolonialism

• Most less developed countries are former colonies

In a position to take advantage of the other

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Two Paradoxical Forces

• The world is being shaped by two different and seemingly contradictory forces, both of which seem to be growing. Therein is the paradox – the tension within which we must live.

• A geographer brings that special, spatial, integrative point of view to the study of these transnational forces.

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Forces in the Post-Cold-War World

• Globalism – The development of political and quasi-political organizations and structures that transcend the “nation-state.”

• Devolution – The breaking down into smaller, simpler parts as in ethnic strife leading to hostility and the breaking-up of multinational states and even states formerly thought to have become “nation-states.”

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Globalism: The Positive Side

• the growing realization that all countries must work within the framework of a global economy.

• Economic unions:– NAFTA – European Union– Others

• International peace-keeping forces to prevent the spread of conflict.

• Russia consulting with and cooperating with NATO????????????????

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Globalism: The Negative Side

• Easier spread of ideas and diseases– Terrorism – anti-Jewish & anti-American– Diseases – AIDS, Ebola, Mad Cow, etc.

• Multi-national or Trans-national corporations – the totality is not subject to the jurisdiction of any political unit.

• In 2001, the United States became committed to a “War on Terrorism.”

• Increased health concerns for citizens.• Consumers seem to be having fewer real

choices in the marketplace.

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Devolution

• Striving of national or ethnic groups for sovereign political expression

• Parts of several multinational states may seek to unite as a separate political entity.

• Hostilities long thought dead have surfaced in the post Cold War world.

• When these threaten world security and trade, the US may become involved financially and/or militarily.

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Global Economy

• No country on earth has, within its boundaries and jurisdiction, all the resources needed to operate as a developed country.

• The USA imports 100% of more than a dozen key mineral resources.

• Benefits:– Greater economic diversity and job opportunities

for countries.– Better quality, lower cost consumer products.

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Three Levels of Cooperation

• Free Trade Area – No internal tariffs– Each country sets tariffs for nonmembers

• Customs Union – Eliminates internal tariffs & adopts a common external tariff policy

• Common Market–closest level of cooperation– Eliminates internal tariff & sets common external– Common laws relating to production– May establish some common political institutions & may

work toward eventual political union– Many common political, economic, & social areas

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Economic Unions

• The development after WW II of the European Union has improved living standards among members and given Europe the longest period of peace

• NAFTA has the potential to do that in the Western Hemisphere – effort are being made to expand it.

• Initially there are some dislocations, but in the long-run member countries and their citizens benefit

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EU Cooperation – potent force

• European Parliament – growing but limited power

• One huge market for goods, capital, labor– Euro accepted by most but not all

• Transportation system at all levels

• Regional policy to assist poor agricultural areas and declining urban areas

• Social policy – laws for work, labor, visas, etc.

• Environmental policies

• Defense (really through NATO)

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European Union Growth

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European Union

• Promotes peace

• Has raised living standards

• Is probably the “model” economic union in the world today.

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What is NATO Becoming?

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NATO trying to keep the peace in Kosovo

Click on the map to see the video

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NAFTA begins in controversy

• Click the picture to see the video

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NAFTA (trade & investment only)

• Canada & USA

• Canada, USA, & Mexico– More resistance in USA to Mexico joining– Maquiladoras in northern Mexico– Mexico may have developed real democracy

• Expansion– Talks have been going on with Chile– Andean & Middle American trade unions– Talk of eventually the whole Western Hemisphere

except for Cuba (Cuba will probably change after Castro dies)

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NAFTA Trade Flows

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International Level

• League of Nations

• United Nations

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UN Strengths

• Moral force in the world• Forum for discussion &

negotiation– UN Convention on the Law of the

Sea

• Peace keeping forces in trouble spots

• Special agencies – improve social, medical, & educational conditions world wide

• World Court to settle disputes

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UN Weaknesses

• Yearly income not guaranteed – USA didn’t pay its assessment for years

• Permanent members with veto power in the security council

• No standing police force or military to enforce its resolutions – countries censured, often ignore the resolutions

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UN Encroachment on Sovereignty Needed to Handle Some Problems

• States have limited jurisdiction on transnational corporations (multi-nationals)

• Globalization of justice– Crimes against humanity – International War Crimes and

Genocide Tribunal established

• Human rights – Universal Declaration of Human Rights– Different cultures view individual rights and community

rights differently – Different views of individual’s social responsibility

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More Encroachment

• Jurisdiction over open areas– Arctic and Antarctic– High Seas – Airspace– 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea– Endangered ocean species – regulating whaling

• Environmental problems don’t stop at borders– Air pollution: acid rain, ozone depletion, global warming– Water pollution – rivers, seas, & oceans

• International terrorism, i.e. N.Y. 9/11/2001

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Devolution Movements are on the rise also

• Serious threats:– Canada– Spain– United Kingdom – less serious except for N. Ireland.– Russia -– Afghanistan

• Recent examples:– Former Yugoslavia– Former Soviet Union– Former Czechoslovakia

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Factors that assist devolution

• Differences between the majority and a significant minority– Language & religion – very emotional – Economic development

• Historic animosity

• The minority is the dominant element in a somewhat compact region of the country

• Minority’s territory is more peripherally located than centrally located

• Minority is encouraged (financed) by another country or foreign organizations

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DEVOLUTION

• Sadly, terrorism is becoming a more frequently used tool by groups seeking “self-determination.”

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Terrorism Factor• Terrorism has struck on every continent

except Australia

Ulster, N. Ireland Grozny, Chechnya Basque - Spain

Kashmir shelling Sri Lanka, truck bomb E. Timor victims

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Cold War Europe

• Soviet Union split apart

• Eastern European countries became truly free and sovereign.

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Europe

• The potential abounds in Europe and in other places too.

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Successful Devolution

• Break up of colonial empires• Partition of India/Pakistan• Separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan• East Timor (at least temporarily)• Yugoslavia split 5 ways• U.S.S.R. split into separate republics• Czechoslovakia divided in two• Philippine independence from USA• Finland separated from Sweden & Russia• United Arab Republic (short lived) • Eritrea from Ethiopia• Singapore from Malaysia

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Failed attempts

• Biafra (Nigerian civil war)• Chechnya from Russia (so far)• Quebec (separation vote failed)• Puerto Rico (separation vote failed)• Katanga in Congo right after independence• Ogodan province of Ethiopia• USA civil war• Philippines (so far)• Sudan (so far)• Basques in Spain (so far)• Tamils in Sri Lanka (so far)

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Kurdistan

• Perfect example of a stateless nation

Click on the map to see the video

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Countries where the potential is real

• Russia• Almost every African

country• Yugoslavia• Italy• Spain• France• Britain• Brazil• Mexico• Indonesia

• China• India• Peru• Colombia• Cyprus• Turkey• Syria• Iran• Iraq• Afghanistan• New Zealand• India

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Sikhs in India

• What of the wisdom of Gandhi?

• What of Sikh separatism?

• What of Hindu Nationalism?

• How can they coexist?

Click the picture of Gandhi to see the video

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European Paradox: Catalonia

• Catalonia is an example

• Desires separation from Spain but may settle for greater autonomy (Spanish government hopes so)– It is the most industrially developed part of Spain

• BUT probably would want to remain in the European Union– Benefits from membership in the union – separation

from the EU would hurt it economically

– One of the major industrial areas of the EU

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Is the State Becoming Obsolete?

• There is some basis for saying yes to some type of global governance or cooperation

BUT– probably not in our lifetime

• Emotional factors, old jealousies, and old hatreds may prevent some global accommodation

• Differences in political and economic systems may be difficult to reconcile

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We Will Play A Part in Determining the Future Shape and Destiny of Gaia. What Parts Will We Play?

GAIA