Final+Notes-+Globalization+&+Terrorism

Globalization: 1914-> Present


 * The world's supposedly greatest powers, the G8 Met in 2003 in Geneva and Lausanne in Switzerland, to the protest of thousands of people.The G8 were used as a symbol of the winds of change generated by the phenomenon of globalization.
 * Globalization is characterized by increasingly free movement of people, products, and money around the world, and is certainly not a new idea, and throughout history, globalization generally proceeded slowly, as can be seen in such examples as Marco Polo's land routes to China, and Christopher Columbus' voyages to the New World.
 * However, in the latter half of the 20th century, especially near the end of the Cold War the electronic age speeded commuinications, and the pace of change accelerated to the point in which the general populace had difficulty keeping up.Tariffs fell in wake of international trade agreements, making goods cheaper for foreign purchasers, stimulating the globalization trend anew.
 * Globalisation has developed into a sense of global consciousness or global identity, a higher sense of global interconnections and international influence between nations.

Effects: MI: By many measures, globalization has been a success with the global economy.
 * In 2001, the World Bank published a study of 24 developing naitons with some integration into the World economy, gathering that the economic growth was 5% compared to the already developed nations whose per-capita income only grew by 2%.
 * The United National Human Development Indicators consider factors such as education and life expectancy, and with these aspects in the mix, poor nations are notbaly better of compared to their status at the height of colonialism in the late 19th century.
 * But globalization also caused wrenching dislocations of local economies, as cheap reliance on foreign labor was soon found to be more profitable than simply paying the local labor force(due to lowered tariffs). Near instantaneous communication allowed for a flood of income and foreign aid to undeveloped nations, and the threat of sudden withdrawal left leaders of these nations in constant economic limbo.These donations also often came with the demands for institutional changes to ensure that money would not be wasted.
 * Folk cultures of developing nations could often be overwhelmed by the flood of western social influences that often accompanied the influx of new money and jobs.And globalization also seemed to widen the already massive gap between rich and poor nations.

Origins of Modern Globalization:

MI:Globalization was largely the product of a chain of international agreements that began with the 1947 with the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT), abetted by modern communications. Similar to a treaty, GATT laid out 123 provisions for the reductions of tariffs between it's 23 signatories.


 * Later negotiations continued to decrease tariffs as they increased the number of signatories. The last series of talks, called the Uruguay round concluded in 1994 with the creation of (in 1995) the WTO (World Trade Organization) to succeed GATT.
 * That same year,the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect, signed by Canada, Mexico, and the US.Howeve,r NAFTA and the WTO had the ability (whihc differed from previous agreements) to legitimately enforce their decisions through legla action, many of which limited national actions in unprecedented ways.For example, California sued Canada over the chemical MTBE , a carcinogen which had contaminated the water supply, and banned it's use.Canada simply overturned the ban (under power granted by NAFTA) on the grounds that it would cost them 70 million over the next 20 years, rather than pay the 251 million in ecological damages.
 * However, Environmentalists are not the only ones concerned about the large power invested in the WTO, whose officers often deliberate in secret.Human rights proponents point out that laws of the kind used to discourage business with South Africa during the Apartheid would be illegal according to WTO provision. Similar economic efforts by one country to improve freedom of expression and other human rights, raise wages, or reduce pollution are also at risk.

Of Fruits and Vegetables: MI: Government subsidiaries to farmers have also been a point of contention.
 * Developed countries use such payments so that their farmers can sell food on the world Markets at competitive prices. Without these subsidies, many farmers would migrate to cities, which would lack the jobs, schools, sanitation, and other key infrastructures which would support the population growth.
 * However, lesser developed countries see these subsidies as an obstacle to increased food exports, the best opportunities for many of them to finance dvelopemnt and narrow the widening gap between themselves and developed nations.
 * Globalization cares little for local customs and traditions. Countries that decline to adopt world financial standards, because they cause short term weakness may find it near-impossible to attract capital.Relentlessly secular, globalization affronts nations whose governments and other key institutions are governed by religion. Take for example, the Koran's prohibition of any profit being made from a loan(interest), which can hinder primarily muslim nations from participating in the world economy.
 * Again, the mnore literal the scriptues are interpreted, the more disturbing secular globalization is. For another example, Christian fundamentalists see much of contemporary western culture morally and spiritually corrosive. The same is true of Arabs who beleive that adherence to a word-for-word interpretation of the Koran is the path to prosperity and success for any muslim.Some images discouraged, if not prohibited by the Koran and available on television greatly offend such individuals, as do many other pervasive aspects of western culture(usually American).Rather than yield to this cultural enslaught, some fight back; and terrorism is often the weapon of choice.

An Irresistable Force: MI: Globalization may slow in the face of such difficulties, but a phenomenon that has been on the march since prehistory likely will not stop or retreat.
 * According to the World Bank, several stepswill cushion the blow aas globalization strives to improve life for all.First on the list is to reduce tariffs and agricultural subsidies. The World bank points out that the workers in developing countries are burdened by tariffs twice as high as those paid by those in rich nations.Next in importance is the necessity to reduce corruption in those nations, and better enforced contracts and property rights, which will attract more foreign capital.
 * Reducing farming subsidiaries could free money for an increased aid to create a better climate for investment, to improve health care, and to advance education.To help countries that owe the World Bank staggering amounts of money, it recommends that the world's financial community reduce the debts of these countries, so that new money could be open for development.
 * Progress is going to be difficult. As globaloization continues, rich and poor countries alike will confront social and economic forces rarely seen in the history of humanity.The industrial revolution brouhgt comparable upheaval, but it proceeded at a slower pace;"we can hope that all nations can come to terms with globalization as they did to that change.The alternative seems to be endless strife as poor nations seek to become wealthier, and rich nations strive to retain their riches, if not enhance them."

Terrorism/ World Trade Center Bombing: On September 11th,2001, nearly a score of Saudi Arabian and Egyptian men, memebers of Osama Bin-Laden's Al Qaeda international terrorist organization commandeered four airlines. They flew two into the World Trade Center in New York, One into the Pentagon in Washington DC, and One landed harmlessly in a feild in pennsylvania after the passengers simply beat up the hijackers and retook the plane. Never had a terrorist act taken so many lives:over 3000

Poverty is not necessarily the cause of these acts, as all of the terrorists came from Middle-Class families, as have most others since the advent of Russian Terrorism in the 19th century. Tyrranical governance may play a role: the US has long backed authoritarian regimes in Saudi Arabia. However, when given the choice to create a new government, the people often vote in one as repressive as the one it just removed from power;similar to when the Algerians removed their communist government from power in desire for an islamic-run one. Extremist ideology is the lowest common denominator to terrorists, a zeal so intense that it overrides all other thoughts and feelings.The Mau Mau in Kenya were the first to use Terrorist-style tactics. Catholics and Protestants in Ireland have resorted to using terrorism in pursuit of their disparate goals.

Turkish: Today, the Turkish government dismisses all charges of genocide, and denies that the relocation of Armenians was a plan to exterminate the population. Internationally: COndemned the Armenian Genocide, and threatened to hold the Young Turks personally responsible. This was more of an idle threat than anything else.Occupied with WWI, other governments took no strong action. However, there were mild relief efforts to raise money and support. After WWI: 400 of the Young Turks that were directly involved were arrested. There was also a reformation of government within the empire, and domestic trials ensued. ||
 * Genocide: || Origins: || Methods || Results/Responses: ||
 * Armenian || In 1915, the Turkish government begna an oragnized campaign of Genocide against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.The international community did nothing to stop this massacre.
 * Turkish invasions of Armenian kingdoms began in the 11th century, and by the 16th century most of Armenia had been controlled by the Ottomans.
 * Armenians were reclassified as second-class citizens and suffered great discrimination legally. However, there was relative peace between the Armenians and the ethnic turks, and most were loyal to the Ottoman Empire.
 * However, as the Ottoman empire began to wane in the 19th century, armenians began demonstrations for their desire for representation, increasing tensions.In order to "decrease Armenian expectations" for representation and protection, the original genocide was sparked.
 * After the takeover of the Young Turks on a platform of equality under a constitution, there was a shift towards extreme nationalism, and use of fear and propaganda.The Armenians were viewed as a roadblock to Turkish Nationalism and therefore had to be expunged. || On April 15th, 1915 over 200 Armenians were rounded up in Constantinople, and were arrested deported, and executed, marking the beginning of the Armenian Genocide.
 * Turkish officials claimed that the Armenians planned to revolt and destroy the Ottoman Empire.This propaganda produced widespread turkish support for deportation.The government gave orders for all Armenians to leave, and they were given 3 days to pack. All able bodied men were shot, the women, children, and weaker men were forced to march into the Syrian desert.Turkish officials who weren't behind the process were replaced.
 * || American: President Woodrow Wilson(and Most Americans) characterized the situation in the Ottoman Empire as a civil war, and he beleived the Turkish government to be justified. Determined to keep the US out of WWI, they felt that this stance would best reflect America's attempts at neutrality.
 * Holocaust || In 6 years of WWII, the Nazis exterminated over 12 million civilians (nearly half being Jews, whom they considered inferior) in a genocide known as the Holocaust.This was Hitler's "Final Solution" to the Jewish Question, which took place under the guise of war.
 * Incredible economic hardships faced by the Germans in the post-WWI era.The Nazi Party came to power under Hitler on that premise of revitalizing the economy and restoring national pride.
 * He beleived the germans were the Master Race, entitled to rule the world. In his mind, the Jews were poisoning the blood and culture of the german people (use of the Jews as political scapegoats).
 * On April 1 1943, Hitler called for a boycott of Jewish businesses, intended to officially mark Jews as different and inferior, as well as to strip them of political and social power. || Hitler and the Nazis implemented a plan of ethnic cleansing to annihilate the total of the European Jews, as well as all other undesireables (Slavs, Gypsies, Homosexuals, and the mentally/physically disabled.
 * Ghettos and ocncentration camps were established, and great fear and loyalty were instilled in the German Army.All jews over the age of 6 were forced to wear a Star of David to identify themselves.
 * Murder during the holocaust was a heavily industrialized process. The Nazis devoted significant bureaucratic and military forces to the maintenance of their concentration camps, where Jews were routinely abused, andexposed to poor conditions.
 * Death Marches were instituted in the last few months of the war to prevent Allies from freeing prisoners: food, water, and rest were not provided, as the goals of these marches was the death of all Jews. || The United States, as well as most of the world, ignored early signs of the strength of Nazi fascism.Because of HItler's popularity and success politically, some countries supported Hitler's regime.Many countries allowed some german Jews to enter and attempt to defend their country and Jewish citizens militarily. Some nations even remained uninvolved entirely.
 * Before the attacks on Pearl Harbor, most Americans didn't want to get involved in the World War 2.The greater majority of the US decided not to get involved with "European problems". President Roosevelt, who wanted to take action against Hitler was unable to act because domestic opinion did not support him. The Allies took relatives little action during the war, other than idle threats about the Nazis being held accountable for their crimes.
 * After the War, the Allies (mostly America) helped to set up a Jewish nation-state, and there was significant humanitarian assistance inernationally. ||
 * Cambodian || The Communist Party of Democratic Kampuchea, known more commonly as the Khmer Rouge, took control . Many cambodians were excited about the change in regime, but the celebration ended soon after, when the Khmer Rouge began a campaign which lead to the deaths of nearly 2 million cambodians.
 * In 1970, Cambodia's leader and his monarchy were deposed in a military coup. Lieutenant Lon Nol took over and formed a new right-wing government.
 * Pol-Pot, the leader of the new Khmer Rouge(after defeating Lon Nol in another coup) imagined a classless communist utopia in Cambodia, leading a campaign to rid the country of class distinctions. All urban cambodians were forced out of cities and made to live an agrarian life-style.
 * All banks and currencies were destroyed. Telephone and postal services were abolished, media was censored, religion was forbidden, clothing was made standard-issue.Educational system was also dismantled. || An estimate of 1.7 million people died under the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979 as a result of starvation, execution, disease, exposure, and overwork.The new leaderhsip killed any perceived resistance, or non-valuable members of society, including former Lon Nol soldiers, civil servants, buddhist monks, the elderly, and intellectuals.
 * Urban dwellers were made to leave the vities and work in rural labor camps. Food productivity drastically fell, and large amounts of food were exported to China.The Khmer rouge kept rations dangerously low while forcing people to work long ohurs in teh hot sun. malnutrition and starvation lead ot the deaths of thousands.
 * Families were split up, and fear and distrust were cultivated among the citizens. The government used propaganda and bribes to turn people on one another and make large-scale revolt essentially impossible.Resistance faced execution, often by disembowlment and beatings.
 * In addition, the Khmer Rouge installed an intense fear of the Vietnamese people.Many cambodians beleived that loyalty to the Khmer Rouge regime was the only way to escape a vietnamese invasion. The rule of Pol Pot ended in 1979 when the Vietnamese army actually invaded and overhtrew the Cambodian government. || There was again, little to no internaitonal effort ot stop the cambodian genocide. The Khmer Rouge expelled all foreigners immediately after taking power. It was nearly impossible for the outside world to gain firsthand knowledge, and at the same time, the US was withdrawing from the Vietnam war, and lacked the will to fight.
 * US policy in dealing with Vietnam contributed to the rise of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.Vietnam used cambodian territory to hide and train their troops, despite Cambodia's attempts to stay neutral.President Nixon authorized the bombing of several cambodian sanctuaries, and the resulting economic political, and social instability contributed to the Khmer Rouge's rise to power.
 * During the Ford administration, the US maintained economic embargo against communist nations such as Vietnam and cambodia, and no significant actions were taken to curb teh abuse of human right, and more energy was focused on winning the cold war.The US had not yet signed the Genocide Convention, ad did not feel an obligation to help Cambodia.
 * Even after the vietnamese takeover, civil unrest, hunger and overall devastation persisted. Cambodia's recover was very difficult. The US (starting in 1991) began helping Cambodia, and eventually the UN set up a court (at cambodia's request) to deal specifically with genocide in 2003. ||