Module 3 Exam Notes

Four countries that experienced rapid capitalist economic development in the second half of the 20th century.
Singapore
Hong Kong: Initially a free market economy, now under Chinese control.
Taiwan
South Korea

ASEAN: A free trade organization in Southeast Asia with no tariffs between member countries.
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
European Union (EU): The most well-known and best-organized regional trade block, started in the second half of the 20th century.

Globalization: A major trend in the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century.
Americanization: The homogenizing of global culture due to the influence of American media, television, movies, the Internet, and advertising.
Not exclusively American culture, includes influences from other cultures like K-pop.

The current era, characterized by widespread access to information and technology.
Driven by smartphones, the internet, and social media.
Unprecedented access to information and resources.

Countries like China use television to promote state building.
Television can be controlled to regulate the information accessed by the population.
Especially prominent in the 1990s and 2000s.

Emission of greenhouse gases led to global warming becoming a major concern.
Kyoto Agreement (1997): Over 150 nations signed to reduce the effects of global warming.
Aimed to set target levels for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Some countries have adhered to the agreement, while others have not.
Paris Accords: Came later

Still prevalent in the 21st century, particularly in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
More child laborers are used in South and Southeast Asia than anywhere else.

September 11, 2001: Al-Qaeda attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a failed attempt on the U.S. Capitol (flight went down in Pennsylvania).
Led to the global war on terror.
U.S. invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban government (Taliban retook control recently).
Invasion of Iraq in February 2003.
Increased U.S. involvement in efforts to stop global terrorism.
Terrorist activities emerged in other countries, including Belgium, Spain, and Indonesia.

Began in the 1980s in Africa.
HIV: Disease that eliminates white blood cells, which fight infections.
Individuals with AIDS die from other diseases or illnesses because their bodies cannot fight them.
Spread to all parts of the globe.
Better treatments are available today, but no vaccine has been developed so far.

Greater emphasis on human rights post-World War II due to the atrocities that occurred.
The United Nations took a greater role in pushing for human rights and protecting vulnerable populations.
Despite ongoing atrocities, there has been a significant push for human rights in the last 70 years.

Multinational Corporations: Have headquarters in one country but branches in others (e.g., Apple).
- Pay taxes in the local countries where they operate.
- Abide by local laws and regulations.
Global Corporations: May sell globally but only have headquarters in a single country.
- Often avoid national laws and obligations, leading to controversy.
- Difficult to prosecute due to being based in another nation.

Bretton Woods Conference (1944): Meeting of nations to promote market economies and free trade.
International Monetary Fund (IMF): Pools financial resources to provide loans to less well-off countries.
Aims to facilitate infrastructure projects and promote global trade.

OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Includes Venezuela and many oil-producing countries in Southwest Asia and the Middle East.
Operates as an oil-producing cartel.
Controls the supply of oil and natural gas to influence international prices.