MAJOR ISSUES FACING THE US & THE WORLDMAJOR ISSUES FACING THE US & THE WORLD

US HistoryMs. Malinowski

New Hartford High School

US HistoryMs. Malinowski

New Hartford High School

GlobalizationGlobalization

• Name for the process of increasing the connectivity and interdependence of the world's markets and businesses.

• Name for the process of increasing the connectivity and interdependence of the world's markets and businesses.

Pro-Globalization PositionPro-Globalization Position

• Provides jobs around the world• Provides greater access to goods and

services• Will eventually improve the quality of

life all around the world and help to spread democracy

• Believe the poor conditions facing workers now are similar to the Industrial Revolution that Western countries went through a century ago

• Provides jobs around the world• Provides greater access to goods and

services• Will eventually improve the quality of

life all around the world and help to spread democracy

• Believe the poor conditions facing workers now are similar to the Industrial Revolution that Western countries went through a century ago

Anti-Globalization PositionAnti-Globalization Position• Contributes to poverty in developing

countries• Many of the people working for American

corporations overseas have no alternative and do not make enough money to have an acceptable quality of life

• Benefits rich countries and big corporations at the expense of protecting human rights

• Taking jobs from America and sending them elsewhere

• Contributes to poverty in developing countries

• Many of the people working for American corporations overseas have no alternative and do not make enough money to have an acceptable quality of life

• Benefits rich countries and big corporations at the expense of protecting human rights

• Taking jobs from America and sending them elsewhere

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

• Increase in average air temperatures over the past few decades

• Many scientists argue that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing it

• CO2 in atmosphere largely comes from pollution (car exhaust, etc.)

• Increase in average air temperatures over the past few decades

• Many scientists argue that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing it

• CO2 in atmosphere largely comes from pollution (car exhaust, etc.)

PopulationPopulation• New lifestyles and longer life spans

– Divorce– Strain on government programs (i.e.

Social Security)

• Immigration– Bilingual education– Immigration policies (laws)

• Minorities– Politics– Affirmative action

• New lifestyles and longer life spans– Divorce– Strain on government programs (i.e.

Social Security)

• Immigration– Bilingual education– Immigration policies (laws)

• Minorities– Politics– Affirmative action

TechnologyTechnology• Inventions• Growth of corporations helped to

increase job growth• Computers

– Helpful or harmful?– Internet v. invasion of privacy

• Inventions• Growth of corporations helped to

increase job growth• Computers

– Helpful or harmful?– Internet v. invasion of privacy

TerrorismTerrorism

• Systematic use of violence, terror, and intimidation to achieve an end.

• Patriot Act of 2001 –

• Homeland Security– Cooperation between agencies and safety

• Systematic use of violence, terror, and intimidation to achieve an end.

• Patriot Act of 2001 –

• Homeland Security– Cooperation between agencies and safety

International OrganizationsInternational Organizations

• United Nations (UN)• UN Security Council• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)• European Union (EU)• World Trade Organization (WTO)• North American Free Trade Association

(NAFTA) -- regional trade bloc• Organization of Petroleum Exporting

Countries (OPEC)• Many others

• United Nations (UN)• UN Security Council• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)• European Union (EU)• World Trade Organization (WTO)• North American Free Trade Association

(NAFTA) -- regional trade bloc• Organization of Petroleum Exporting

Countries (OPEC)• Many others

Current Regional Issues

Current Regional Issues

North AmericaNorth America

• NAFTA pros and cons• Terrorism• Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan• Economic weakness/recession• Value of U.S. dollar vs. Euro• Illegal immigration

• NAFTA pros and cons• Terrorism• Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan• Economic weakness/recession• Value of U.S. dollar vs. Euro• Illegal immigration

Europe/AustraliaEurope/Australia

• Terrorism• European Union/Turkey’s

membership• Trade issues

• Terrorism• European Union/Turkey’s

membership• Trade issues

Middle EastMiddle East

• Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan• Iran (developing nuclear weapons)• Human rights abuses• Worldwide transition to alternative

fuels• Non-democratic governments• Arab-Israeli conflict

• Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan• Iran (developing nuclear weapons)• Human rights abuses• Worldwide transition to alternative

fuels• Non-democratic governments• Arab-Israeli conflict