The World Since 1945: An Overview

1
The World Since 1945 An Overview
2
End of European Colonial Empires

• Nationalism and Independence
• Different roads to freedom
• Global Impact 90 new countries emerged
• Modernization

3
Cold War goes Global

• Superpowers US and USSR
• Non-Aligned nations
• Hot Spots Africa, Latin America and Asia
• Shooting Wars Korea and Vietnam
• Ethnic and Religious Conflict

4
Regional and Global Organizations

• United Nations 1945
• European Union
• North American Free trade Association
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
• G-8 (Group of Eight) Britain, France, Canada,
  Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and US
• World bank International Monetary Fund (IMF)

5
Global Issues

• Human Rights Universal Declaration of Human
  Rights Helsinki Accords
• Terrorism
• Intervention? Kurds, Serbs, Tutsis
• Deadly Weapons
• Arms Race
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) stop
  spread of Nuclear Weapons

6
North and South

• Rich nations of North and poor nations of the
  South
• Rich Nations Europe, North America, Japan and
  Australia
• Poor Parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America
• Migration from poorer to wealthier regions

7
Interdependence and Obstacles

• Oil Crisis
• Debt Crisis
• Economic Trouble Spots
• Population and Poverty
• Economic dependence
• Political instability

8
Development and the Environment

• Acid Rain
• Global Warming
• Environmentalists protecting the environment
• Industrial Accidents
• Pesticides

9
Old Ways vs. New Ways

• Urbanization
• Westernization
• Village Life
• New Roles for Women
• Feminist movement
• Religious Influences
• Fundamentalists
• Liberation theology

10
Science and Technology

• Computer Revolution
• E-commerce
• Medical and Biological breakthroughs
• Genetic engineering
• Space Age
• Green Revolution
• Machines vs. Human Labor