Unit 10: Lessons from History

Arab Spring

A revolutionary wave of protests and demonstrations overtaking dictators in the Middle East (2011)

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

the intelligence of a machine that could successfully perform any intellectual task that a human being can.

Authoritarianism

A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

Bioterrorism

the use of biological and chemical weapons in terrorist attacks

Brexit

The possible British Exit from the European Union and its aftermath to the European economic and political order.

CRISPR/Cas9

a revolutionary gene editing technique derived from the immune system of simple prokaryotes

Cyber Warfare

the use of computer technology to disrupt the activities of a state or organization, especially the deliberate attacking of information systems for strategic or military purposes.

demographic shift

General term referring to changes in population makeup over time

Fukushima nuclear disaster

an energy accident in Japan, initiated by the tsunami of the earthquake on March 11, 2011. The damage caused by the tsunami produced equipment failures, and without this equipment a loss-of-coolant accident followed with nuclear meltdowns and releases of radioactive materials. Radioactive waste is still being released into the ocean. It is the largest nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.

G7

Group of seven leading industrial countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States — formerly the G8 but Russian membership was suspended upon their invasion of Crimea in 2014.

Global Financial Crisis of 2008

Considered to be the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, America saw housing prices plummet, foreclosures, and prolonged unemployment. Many major banks and financial institutions were bought or bailed out by governments.

Historical Correlation

Using past events to gain insight and perspective regarding a modern issue or event.

Invasion of Ukraine (2022)

Russian war launched against Ukraine by Vladimir Putin, the dictator of Russia, in order to challenge the western-dominated political order and solidify Russia's autocracy.

national debt

The amount of money a national government owes to other governments or its people

Nuclear Proliferation

the spread of nuclear weapons production technology and knowledge to nations without that capability

Peace dividend

a sum of public money that becomes available for other purposes when spending on defense is reduced.

Populism

A political approach that seeks to represent the interests of ordinary people, typically in opposition to a perceived elite or establishment. It often emphasizes issues such as economic inequality and public policy reform.

QUAD Alliance

Cooperative alliance of democratic nations aiming to promote open trade and the rule of law as an implicit check against Chinese expansion and influence within the Indo-Pacific region. Members are Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

Syrian Civil War

Ongoing conflict between Bashar al-Assad and diverse rebel forces