Chapter 40: A World Without Borders

Vocabulary

• Free Trade: The driving force behind economic globalization, it has now evolved into a phrase which means freedom from state-imposed limits and constraints on trade across borders. 

• GATT: Stands for General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and was signed by 23 non communist nations in 1947. The intent of this was to remove or loosen barriers to free trade. In 1994 there were 123 member nations. 

• WTO: Stands for World Trade Organization, and was designed into a forum for settling international trade disputes, with the power to enforce its decision. Took over all the activities for the GATT in 1994. 

• The “Little Tigers”: The “Four Little Tigers” refers to four states in Eastern Asia that found rapid economic growth and economic success in general by following the Japanese model for economic development. These states were Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. By the 1980s, all four had become major economic powers. 

• European Union: Abbreviated as the EU, this is the most famous and most strongly integrated regional bloc in European. It is characterized by a common market and free trade. Was begun in March 1957, by six nations – France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg – when they signed the Treaty of Rome. 

• OPEC: OPEC, which stands of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, was one of the earliest and most successful economic alliances. It was begun in 1960 by the oil-producing states of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Venezuela. 

• Barbie vs. Sara: Barbie vs. Sara refers to a cultural conflict in Iran. Some Iranians viewed the Barbie doll as a metaphor for unwanted cultural dominance. Sara, in contrast to Barbie, promotes Islamic values and is clothed in flowing traditional Islamic gowns. 

• Club of Rome: The Club of Rome is a global think tank that deals with a variety of international political issues. It was founded in April 1968. 

• HIV/AIDS: This is the most serious epidemic threat today. AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a fatal disorder caused by HIV, which is human immunodeficiency virus. 

• September 11th: The day on which four terrorist attacks on the United States were planned to occur. All four included the hijacking of planes and crashing them into important American landmarks and structures. Two of these crashed into the twin towers in New York City, causing thousands of deaths. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon, the center of the USA’s defenses against such attacks. And the fourth was brought down outside of Pittsburgh by the passengers on the plane, who stormed the hijackers and caused the plane to fail in crashing into its objective – the White House. 

• United Nations: Abbreviated as the UN, and is the premier international governmental organization. This superseded the League of Nations in 1946. There objective is to attempt to find solutions to global problems and to deal with virtually any matter of concern to humanity. The UN has two divisions, the General Assembly (consisting of all member nations) and the Security Council (consisting of 5 permanent members and 10 rotating member nations). 

Focus Question #1

            In what ways have the nation-state become less important than in the past?

National identity has become distorted because of Globalization. Currency, products, entertainment, food, and other popular culture ideas are being diffused throughout the world, globalizing states, unifying continents.  Twenty-seven states in Europe have adopted the Euro in the past few years, taking away some of a nations-states identity, equalizing European states. Europe and North America have created free trade throughout the western hemispheres. Trade blocks are being abolished as trade is influenced to globalize the world. New world connections are being formed, North American Free Trade Association and GATT created new trade ties between countries, removing restricting boarders. Political boarders are weakened for trade, quotas and restrictions are being removed. OPEC is tied many powerful states to oil. OPEC also regulates trade policy, consumption, and international prices on goods and resources. The world is now tied to each other through global connections; states have become globalized and have become economically and politically tied.

Focus Question #2

            What are the major divides in the world today, and how have they been caused?

The most commonly thought of, and fundamental split lies between the MDC’s and LDC’s of the world, or the core and periphery. MDC’s tend to dominate much of the world economy and the leadership of international organizations. This separation between the wealthiest nations and those, which are struggling, has created many disputes including wars and lack of cooperation between such nations. This divide along with religious and political differences has lead to many global problems. Such problems as continued poverty in some nations, and the lack of help from other countries had resulted. The gap between rich and poor continues to increase and as a result so does the number of impoverished persons. An uneven distribution of resources by MDC’s has also been blamed for the increasing numbers related to poverty. This divide between the rich and poor and the resulting growing number of poverty stricken people has also led to an increase the number of and commonality of diseases and terrorism. Poverty leads to poor sanitation, which increases the likelihood of diseases and airborne pathogens. In a similar way poverty can also lead to anger and resent for western countries, which seem to be dominating the world. Overall the most pressing global segregate is between the rich and the poor. As this partition continues to grow so will the problems it causes.