“You really gotta ask yourself – what’s the point of being a superpower anymore?” President Bartlett [The War at Home]

1.1. Environmental issuesEnvironmental issues2.2. International security, International security,

“rogue states” and “rogue states” and global terrorismglobal terrorism

3.3. Developing nations Developing nations and the global and the global economyeconomy

4.4. Regional hotspotsRegional hotspots5.5. Human rights issuesHuman rights issues6.6. Technology – friend Technology – friend

or foe?or foe?

Global warming [?]Global warming [?] Human impactHuman impact Kyoto AccordsKyoto Accords▪ Why didn’t we sign?Why didn’t we sign?

PollutionPollution AirAir water – oceanwater – ocean

DeforestationDeforestation Over-fishingOver-fishing

““Rogue states”Rogue states” Threat to world/regional Threat to world/regional

securitysecurity▪ Weapons of mass Weapons of mass

destructiondestruction▪ Harbors for terroristsHarbors for terrorists

What to do about them?What to do about them? Global terrorismGlobal terrorism

Security vs. freedom?Security vs. freedom? Future of extremism?Future of extremism? How to combat it?How to combat it? U.S. responsibility?U.S. responsibility?

Global terrorismGlobal terrorism Not just a U.S. issueNot just a U.S. issue Islamic fundamentalismIslamic fundamentalism Different than a nationDifferent than a nation Ups and downs of counter-Ups and downs of counter-

terrorismterrorism▪ Influence on societyInfluence on society▪ Public failures; hidden successesPublic failures; hidden successes

International cooperationInternational cooperation Arab SpringArab Spring

China’s and China’s and India’s rapidly India’s rapidly expanding expanding economieseconomies Competition for Competition for

marketsmarkets Competition for Competition for

resourcesresources Higher rates of Higher rates of

consumption – consumption – futures marketsfutures markets

Palestine Palestine Intractable problem extends back 1,000’s of Intractable problem extends back 1,000’s of

yearsyears Violent, extremist organizations make it worseViolent, extremist organizations make it worse Area will likely soon have nuclear powersArea will likely soon have nuclear powers

Elsewhere in the middle east:Elsewhere in the middle east: IranIran AfghanistanAfghanistan IraqIraq

AfricaAfrica Arab Spring – Jasmine revolutionsArab Spring – Jasmine revolutions Sub-Saharan Africa – Sudan, Chad, genocides in Sub-Saharan Africa – Sudan, Chad, genocides in

RwandaRwanda What’s next?What’s next?

Think back to the Declaration of Think back to the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

People want self-determinationPeople want self-determination More difficult to be totalitarian with new More difficult to be totalitarian with new

technologiestechnologies International Court in the Hague [UN]International Court in the Hague [UN] Culture can muddy the watersCulture can muddy the waters Minority rights – including women’s rightsMinority rights – including women’s rights

Islamic cultureIslamic culture Modern genocides [“ethnic cleansing”]Modern genocides [“ethnic cleansing”] Motivation behind Arab Spring revolutionsMotivation behind Arab Spring revolutions

Enhanced capabilitiesEnhanced capabilities Instant communicationsInstant communications Civilian and military Civilian and military

applicationsapplications The world as a villageThe world as a village Why are we afraid?Why are we afraid?

DehumanizingDehumanizing Restructuring of societyRestructuring of society What are we losing?What are we losing? What if they become self-What if they become self-

aware?aware?