Globalization and the Soviet Union

    • Limited mobility; most people couldn't conceive of traveling beyond their local region.Historical Context of Travel and Globalization

      • Thirteenth Century Travel

    • Notable exceptions: Venetian explorer Marco Polo (voyaged in China) and Arab scholar Ibn Battuta (traveled through the Islamic world).

  • Late Twentieth Century Travel

    • Dramatic increase in mobility; people could cover vast distances in hours, unlike the months required by Polo.

    • Modern conveniences allow sleeping while traveling at high altitudes.

    • Technology offers virtual access to global experiences through the Internet, social media (e.g., Instagram), books, newspapers, and shows like Netflix.

Migration and Disparities

  • Types of Travelers

    • Many migrants seek refuge from political chaos, religious persecution, climate disasters, and poverty.

    • Migratory experiences vary significantly:

    • Some travel discreetly across borders at night.

    • Others are transported as human cargo in containers.

    • Others undertake perilous journeys on foot or in unsafe boats.

  • Global Inequity

    • Billions lack access to globalization's technological advancements and economic opportunities.

    • Globalization has fostered cultural and economic integration but simultaneously intensified existing disparities.

The Effects of Globalization on Cultural Diversity

  • Globalization's Mixed Outcomes

    • Increased Diversity in Some Areas: Example of Los Angeles:

    • Transformed from primarily white suburbia to a linguistically diverse city with over 100 languages in public schools.

    • Miami's population was 58% foreign born in 2023.

    • Toronto had 49%, and Sydney 45% foreign born population.

  • Loss of Local Diversity in Other Areas: Example of Amazon River Basin:

    • Once 500 languages; only 57 remained by 2000.

    • The struggle of an elderly fisherman to teach his children their indigenous language reveals cultural collapse.

    • The fisherman compares the effort to "paddling against the current."

Globalization Trends and Backlash

  • Global Integration

    • Globalization began in the 1970s and has led to deepening interconnectivity.

    • Historic Shifts: By the late 20th century, the systems that propelled integration shifted from empires to markets.

  • Historical Context

    • Collapse of empires led to a unified marketplace (capital, culture, technology).

    • By 2000, majority of societies embraced electoral governance and market economies.

  • Negative Backlash

    • Since 2009, a noticeable backlash against globalization has emerged worldwide.

The Breakdown of Empires and the Introduction of Globalization

  • Decline of Political Structures

    • Developments in political practices started unravelling by the late 1980s.

    • The Cold War's conclusion impacted political dynamics, with communism losing ground.

  • Cold War Dynamics

    • Division into three-world order: First (capitalist), Second (communist), Third (developing). Gradual retreat of these categorization systems.

    • Superpowers' expenses in arms races lead to economic strain and societal denouement.

  • Fall of the Soviet Union

    • Key figure: Mikhail Gorbachev initiated reforms (Perestroika).

    • His policies allowed civil movements that sought to abandon communist rule, leading to various countries declaring independence from Soviet influence.

    • Gorbachev's withdrawal from Afghanistan and retreat from Eastern European arms control marked major shifts.

Political Changes Post-Cold War

  • Regional Conflicts

    • Fall of communist regimes including in East Germany.

    • New states emerged as the Soviet Union dissolved into multiple independent nations.

  • Emergence of New Political Units

    • National sovereignty was reasserted, leading to renewed cultural and political ties with Western nations.

The Fall of Apartheid in South Africa

  • Nelson Mandela and the ANC

    • Mandela's leadership and activism culminated in the first free elections in 1994, ending apartheid.

    • Global campaigns for human rights significantly impacted the socio-political climate in South Africa.

    • International pressure led to sanctions and divestment initiatives against the South African regime.

  • Consequences of Political Change

    • Struggles to build stable governance as ethnic rivalries surged post-colonization efforts.

    • Civil wars erupted in various countries due to unresolved ethnic and political tensions fueled by colonial legacies.

Consequences for the Global Scale

  • Globalization Effects

    • While many states embraced aspects of U.S. capitalism, the cultural exchanges proved reciprocal.

    • Supranational organizations, e.g., European Union, International Monetary Fund, exerted broader influences over national policies.

  • Challenges and Opportunities

    • Complexity of newly formed political landscapes following the breakdown of colonial and imperial structures leads to both risks and rewards in terms of governance and economic stability.