Global Interdependence

New technologies have brought people around the world closer to one another and improved their lives. The world’s economies have also grown closer to one another. Nations around the world have worked together to try to bring peace and end terrorism. Because of technology, the world’s cultures have more influence on one another now.

## Globalization

Globalization is the name of the process of increasing connectivity and interdependence of the world's markets and business. This process has sped up dramatically in the last three decades as technological advances make it easier for people to travel, communicate and do business internationally. Two major recent driving forces are advances in telecommunications and the rise of the internet.

## The Impact of Science and Technology

Advances in technology after World War II led to an increased global interaction and improves quality of life.

### Communication

Since the 1960s, artificial satelites launched into orbit around Earth have aided worldwide communications, which gradually transformed the world into a global village. In October, 1957, the space race began between the US and the USSR. Both superpowwers explored the military uses of spcae. In the post-Cold War world, however, the United States and Russia turned to cooperation and launched joint space ventures. Today, satelites have many peaceful uses: mapping weather, tracking droughts, livestock diseases and plagues, etc.

Information technology is a driving factor in the process of globalization. Improvements in the early 1990s in computer hardware, software, and telecommunications greatly increased people's ability to access information and economic potential. Advancements in Internet-based tools over the past decades, such as social media, are changing the way people use and share information for personal, political, and commercial purposes.

The Internet allowed users to communicate with people across the nation and around the world.

### Transforming Life

Technological progress in the sciences, medicine, and agriculture has improved the quality of the lives of millions of people. Advances in medical imaging helped improve health case. Technology allowed scientists to isolate and examine individual genes responsible for different traits. Through genetic engineering, new genes can be introduced into an organ to give it new traits.

In the 1960s, agricultural scientists around the world attempted to increase food production. It helped avert famine and increase crop yields. However, the use of fertilizers and pesticides polluted the environment and created damage.

## Global Economic Development

Economic globalization refers to the intensification and stretching of economic interrelations across the globe. Transportation and communication systems have made the world increasingly interdependent.

### Globalization of Markets and Production

Expansion of the world's economies led to an increase in the production of goods and services for the benefit of many nations. The economic base of some nations shifted. Manufacturing jobs began to move out of developed nations, those nations with the industrialization, transportation, and business facilities for advanced production of manufactured goods. The jobs moved to emerging nations, those in the process of becoming industrialized. Emerging nations became prime locations for new manufacturing operations (OUTSOURCING).

The more technological advancements, the less factory workers. As technology changes the needs of the market, new demands appear in the processing of information, increasing the search for "knowledge workers," i.e. working with information rather than tangible goods.

### Multinational Corporations

They operate in a number of different countries, having established plants, offices and stores worldwide (Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, car manufacturers, etc.)

These corporations benefit greatly from outsourcing practices at the expense of emerging economies. These practices guarantee a cheap labor force in places with loose laws (less regulation) and cheap raw materials.

### Trade Blocs

International organizations that guarantee free trade practices among its member nations.

 Mercosur
 Asean
 NAFTA

## Impacts of Global Development

### Political

Manufacturing requires the processing of raw materials. Trade requires the transport of finished goods. These activities require the use of much energy. One of the main sources of energy used by developed and emerging nations has been oil. For nations with little of this resource available in their own land, disruption of the distribution of oil causes economic and political problems. Nations possessing oil reserves have the power to affect economic and political situations in countries all over the world.

With the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, many European countries and the U.S. have had energy crises related to Russia's provision of gas.

### Environmental

Economic development has had a major impact on the environment. The burning of coal and oil as an energy source releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing health-damaging air pollution and acid rain. The build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also has contributed to global warming. The release of chemicals has destroyed the ozone layer. Consequently, the incidence of skin cancer continues to rise.

#### Sustainable Growth

Economists and scientist are working together to reduce the negative effect that developments have on the environment. Their goal is to manage development so that growth can occur, but without destroying air, water, and land resources. The concept is known as “greener growth”. But that concept is also known as sustainable growth. This involves two goals: 1)meeting current economic needs while ensuring the preservation of the environment and 2)the conservation of resources for future generations.

Such achievement depend on efforts of nations in both economic and political areas. For example, Saudi Arabia launched a new economic plan in 2016 called Vision 2030. In it, the government stated goals to meet by 2030 such as reducing the country's dependence on oil, diversifying the economy, developing the public sector (health, education, tourism, etc.) and promoting women's rights.

## Global Security Issues

Since 1945, nations have used collective security efforts to solve problems. Personal security of the people of the world is tied to security within and between nations. World War II was one of history’s most devastating conflicts. Near the end of the war, one of humankind’s most destructive weapons, the atomic bomb, killed many people. Perhaps because of these horrors, world leaders look for ways to make the earth a safer, more secure place to live.

### Issues of War and Peace

In the years after the end of the WWII, The Cold War created new divisions and tensions among the world’s nations. This uneasy situation potentially threatened the economic, environmental, and personal security of people across the world. So, nations began to work together to pursue collective security.

Many nations consider that having a strong military is important to their security. After WWII, nations banded together to create military alliances. The member nations of each of these alliances generally pledged military aid for their common defence. World leaders also took steps to reduce the threat of war.

One of the major aims of the UN is to promote world peace. The UN provides a public forum, private meeting places, and skilled mediators to help nations try to solve conflicts at any stage of their development. At the invitation of the warring parties, the UN also provides peacekeeping forces. They are soldiers that work to carry out peace agreements, monitor cease-fires, or put an end to fighting to allow peace negotiations to go forward. They also help to move refugees, deliver supplies, and operate hospitals.

#### Weapons of Mass Destruction

Nations have forged treaties to limit the manufacturing, testing, and trade of weapons. The weapons of most concern are those that cause mass destruction. In 1968, many nations signed a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to help prevent proliferation, or spread, of nuclear weapons to other nations.

#### War in Iraq

Oher nations, however, have tried to develop weapons of mass destruction. Iraq, for example, used chemical weapons in conflicts during the 1980s. It had plans to develop biological and nuclear weapons.

### Human Rights Issues

In 1948, the UN issued the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which set human rights standards for all nations. It stated that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights... Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.”

#### Continuing Rights Violations

Despite the best efforts of various human rights organizations, protecting human rights remains an uphill battle. Serious violations of fundamental rights continue to occur around the world. One type of violation occurs when governments try to stamp out political dissent or the difference in opinions over political issues.

#### Women’s Status Improves

In the past, when women in Western nations entered the work force, they often faced discrimination in employment and salary. In non-Western countries, many women not only faced discrimination in jobs, they were denied access to education. In regions torn by war or ethnic conflict, they were often victims of violence and abuse. As women suffered, so did their family members. However, in the 1970s, a heightened awareness of human rights encouraged women in many countries to work to improve their lives. They pushed for new laws and government policies that gave them greater equality.

### Health Issues

In recent decades, the enjoyment of a decent standard of health has become recognized as a basic human right. However, for much of the world, poor health is the norm.

#### The AIDS Epidemic

Perhaps the greatest global health issue is a disease known as AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It attacks the immune system, leaving sufferers open to deadly infections. The disease was first detected in the early 1980s.

#### The COVID-19 Pandemic

In early 2020, a virus Known as COVID-19, or coronavirus, originated in China and quickly spread throughout the world.

The spread of this disease had a huge impact, as governments were forced to implement various policies to prevent the spread of the virus such as universal lockdowns, mask mandates and other types of restrictions that greatly affected everyday life.

As of 9 February 2023, more than 6.84 million deaths had been attributed to COVID-19.

### Population Movement

The global movement of people has increased dramatically in recent years. People often move because they feel pushed out of their homelands. Lack of food due to drought, natural disasters, and political oppression are examples of push factors of migration. Most people have strong connections to their home countries and do not leave unless strong positive attractions pull them away. They hope for a better life for themselves and for their children, and thus migrate to developed nations.

Because of the huge volume of people migrating from war-torn, famine-stricken, and politically unstable regions, millions of immigrants have no place to go. Immigrants often are a valuable addition to their new country. They help offset labour shortages in a variety of industries. They bring experiences and knowledge that can spur the economy. In addition, they contribute to the sharing, shaping, and blending of a newly enriched culture.

## Terrorism

Terrorism, the use of violence against people or property to force changes in societies or governments, strikes fear in the hearts of people everywhere. Because terrorists often cross national borders to commit their acts or to escape to countries friendly to their cause, most people consider terrorism an international problem.

International terrorist groups have carried out increasingly destructive, high-profile attacks to call attention to their goals and to gain major media coverage. Many countries also face domestic terrorists who oppose their governments’ policies or have special interests to promote. The reasons for modern terrorism are many, such as gaining independence, expelling foreigners, or changing society. These groups use violence to force concessions form their enemies, usually the governments in power. These terrorists are ready to use any kind of weapon to kill their enemies. They are even willing to die to ensure the success of their attacks.

Terrorist acts involve violence. The weapons most frequently used by terrorists are the bomb and the bullet. The targets of terrorist attacks often are crowded places where people normally feel safe. Terrorists might target something that symbolizes what they are against, such as a government building or a religious site. Recently, some terrorist groups have used biological and chemical agents in their attacks. These actions involved the release of bacteria or poisonous gases into the atmosphere.

Cyberterrorism is another recent development. This involves politically motivated attacks on information systems, such as hacking into computer networks or spreading computer viruses.