Characteristics: Global Age

Globalization = process by which peoples & nations have become more interdependent

In what ways has our world today been shaped by the forces of globalization?

The Global Age – Historian’s Predictions

Francis Fukuyama, The End of History (1992)

History had ended w/ the triumph of democracy

James Cronin, The World the Cold War Made (1996)

A return to fervid nationalism & ethnic conflict

Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations (1996)

21st c. would be dominated by struggle b/t West & Islam

Global Europe (since 1991): An Overview

general acceptance of free market capitalism

liberal democracy w/ civil liberties guaranteed everywhere

Americanization of Europe

Drive toward European Unity intensified

Eastern Europe (1990s): An Overview

Tough transition to free market capitalism (“shock therapy”)

New elites prosper (mostly young people) Ordinary people suffered (esp. elderly) Gap b/t rich & poor grew Capital cities see increasing wealth Provincial cities suffer from economic

stagnation, rising crime & gangsterism Nationalism surged

* Exceptions: Poland, Hungary & Czechoslovakia

Disintegration of Yugoslavia:

Slobodan Milosevic President of Serbia Leader of League of

Communists – controlled Yugoslavian Army

GOAL : Unite all Serbs living in various republics into new nation-state (Greater Serbia)

Invades Slovenia & Croatia (fall of 1991)

Slovenes hold off Serbs

Croatia loses 1/3rd of its territory to Serbia

War in Bosnia (1992-95) Milosevic invades

Bosnia (Serbs 30% of pop.)

Serbs acquire 70% of Bosnian territory (1993)

Ethnic cleansing = new type of genocide

Air strikes by NATO bombers & combined Bosnian-Croat armies end conflict

Peace treaty signed in Paris (Dec. 14, 1995)

War in Kosovo (1996-99) Kosovo autonomous province w/in

Yugoslavia since 1974 Albanians (majority of pop.) Serbian minority considered it sacred

territory Milosevic stripped Kosovo of its

autonomous status Outlawed use of Albanian language Albanians form Kosovo Liberation Army

(KLA) & begin campaign against Serbian rule

Serb forces massacre Albanians in effort to crush KLA

U.S. & NATO bombing campaigns force Milosevic’s gov’t to sign peace agreement

The Road to European Unity: 1. 1948 0rganization of European

Economic Cooperation [OEEC] & Council of Europe

Inspiration… Christian Democrats “Building Europe”

European Federalists “European Nation”

Close cooperation required for Marshall Plan

Called for creation of European Parliament w/ sovereign rights

Nixed by Great Britain

Similarly opposed by continental nationalists & socialists

The Road to European Unity (Cont.):

2. 1952 European Coal & Steel

Community [ECSC].

HQ in Luxembourg.

“Inner Six” Benelux nations, France, Italy, W. Germany.

Placed their coal and steel industries under a form of supranational authority.

Eliminated tariff duties and quotas on coal and steel.

The Road to European Unity (Cont.):

3. 1957 European Economic Community [EEC]

HQ Brussels.

Treaty of Rome.

The Road to European Unity (Cont.):

3. 1957 European Economic Community [EEC], a.k.a

“Common Market”

France, W. Germany, Italy, Benelux.

Created a larger free trade area, or customs union.

Eliminate all trade barriers.

One common tariff with the outside world.

Free movement of capital & labor.

The Road to European Unity (Cont.):

4. 1967 combined the ECSC & EEC to form the European Community [EC]. HQ Brussels.

European Parliament.

“Eurocrats.”

518 members [elected by all voters in Europe].

Only limited legislative power.

Court of Justice.

5. 1986 Single European Act Created legal framework for est. single market

Add free movement of labor, capital & services

Formation – European Union (EU)

1991-92 Maastricht Treaty European Union [EU] created from the

EC.

One currency, one culture, one social area, and one environment!

Create a “frontier-free” Europe a common EU passport.

One large “common market.”

Goods coming into the EU would have high tariffs placed on them.

2002 a common currency [Euro]

2003 60,000 man EU rapid defense force was created

European Union (EU)

A New European Constitution (2004)

Centralized federal system – each state retained veto power on important taxation & social policies

Added 13 new members (total now 25 + 2 added in 2007)

Mission – Protect civil liberties, intervention where human rights are threatened & aid to combat global issues (AIDS in Africa)

“United States of Europe”?

1. Growth of Immigration

The Immigration Problem in Europe Causes of the Growth of Immigration in Europe

(2000s) “baby bust” in Europe (late 90s to 2005) – 1.6 births per family

EU abolished border controls in 1998

Who were the new immigrants? “guest workers” from Turkey, N. Africa, India, Pakistan &

Caribbean

Illegal immigrants from Africa, the Middle East & Eastern Europe

Victims of “people-smuggling rings”

Why is immigration such a politically divisive issue? Majority of Europeans fearful that new immigrants would take

scarce jobs

New immigrants mostly Muslim & non-white; created cultural divide

Nationalist politicians argued that Muslim immigrants would never assimilate into European culture

Others argued Europe needed legal immigrants w/ technical skills – urged EU to tighten border controls but guarantee civil rights to legal immigrants

2. Terrorism

The “New” Terrorism of the 21st C.

What is Terrorism? The intentional use of assassination, kidnappings,

bombings & the hijacking of airplanes

Tactic used by revolutionary & independence movements

Usually adopted by when options for peaceful change via the democratic process are not seen as possible

New Wave of Terrorism in 21st c. New wave of terrorists = religious fundamentalists (90s

– 2000s)

Islamic fundamentalism (a.k.a political Islam)

Growth of Middle Eastern terrorist networks (ex. Al Qaeda)

“Holy warriors” fighting against “the great Satan” (U.S.), its allies, & any Arab gov’t they deemed corrupt & politically oppressive (Saudi monarchy)

Consequences of New Terrorism

The Al-Qaeda Attack of Sept. 11, 2001 on the U.S.

The U.S. Response to 9/11 War in Afghanistan (Sept. 2001 - present)

War in Iraq (March 2003 – present)

The Iraq War causes divisions in Europe U.N. Security Council divided over issue of WMDs in Iraq

Threatened stability of 50 yr. old alliance b/t W. Europe & U.S.

War became frequently unpopular in both Europe & U.S.

Several Terrorist Attacks in Europe post 9/11 Bombings in Madrid (2004), Russia (2004) & London (2005)

Brutal murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh in Amsterdam

3. Europe & Its Muslim Citizens

3. Europe & Its Muslim Citizens

Muslim Population in Europe (2006)

The Muslim Question in Europe

Muslims will never

assimilate

Muslims will never

assimilate

Europe mustdo a

better job Integrating Its Muslims

Europe mustdo a

better job Integrating Its Muslims

Muslims opposed to Enlightenment & liberal ideas

Many Muslim clerics preach in support of terrorism & & supremacy of Islamic law over state law

Growing # of mosques in cities serve as centers of anti-Western thought

Arab riots in France 2005 confirm their fears

Most European Muslims are treated like 2nd class citizens

Muslim immigrants tend to be from poor peasant backgrounds & are not educated

Europeans countries should provide jobs & job-training for its Muslim immigrants

Europeans must recognize that Islam is now a European religion

Example: Tariq Ramadan

4. Challenges of Globalization?

The Future in Perspective

Deterioration b/t West & the Islamic World

Growing Threat of Terrorism

Immigration Problems

Proliferation of Nuclear weapons

Breakdown of traditional family structure

Economic recession

Environmental Crisis

Europe’s amazing recovery from postwar destruction

Peace between great powers of Europe & the World

Vitality of the EU

The Velvet Revolution & Divorce in Czechoslovakia

EU’s strong commitment to human rights & personal liberties

Pessimistic: “Doom & Gloom”

Optimism:“Peace & Happiness”