AP World Unit 9: Globalization
OVERVIEW OF ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY BY THEME
Impact and Limitations: Globalization and technology go hand in hand - as globalization makes the world more connected, so do new advancements in technology. Although these advancements lead to large positive impacts, there are also some negative effects and limitations.
Globalization and Advancements in Technology
COMMUNICATION and TRANSPORTATION
TV and Radio
Cell phones
Social media
Airplane
Cargo planes
Tankers
IMPACT
Communication:
Leads to the faster spread of information and culture to more people around the world.
Ex. Videos uploaded to the internet have impacted movements around the world (like Arab Spring).
Transportation:
Leads to more migration of people and goods; easier trade and connection to other locations.
LIMITATIONS:
Communication:
Question of reliability of information.
With more connectivity, are we becoming “one global culture”?
AGRICULTURE
Green Revolution
Used new methods of crossbreeding as well as new fertilizers and irrigation techniques to produce more resistant varieties of grains (to yield more produce).
IMPACT:
More productive crops resistant to pests and drought have led to an increase in the availability of certain grains, impacting population growth.
LIMITATIONS:
Small farmers lose land due to expensive prices of fertilizers; larger farming groups take over.
Fewer jobs in agriculture due to new mechanical equipment.
Environmental damage:
Soil degradation due to chemicals/deforestation.
Decline of pollinators (like bumblebees) due to pesticides and new crops with less pollen.
ENERGY
Fossil Fuels (like petroleum and natural gas)
Nuclear Energy
Renewable Resources (like wind and solar power)
IMPACT:
More energy means more productivity.
Cleaner energies like wind and solar can help alleviate environmental concerns.
LIMITATIONS:
Fossil fuels contribute to environmental issues like air pollution and climate change.
Nuclear power can also have dangerous consequences if waste is not stored correctly or reactors have accidents.
Thus far, only 5% of energy consumption comes from nuclear energy, and another 5% from solar power.
Environmental damage (see more in next section).
MEDICINE
Antibiotics (ex. Penicillin by Alexander Fleming)
Birth Control
Vaccines
Polio
Measles
Smallpox
Mumps, measles, tetanus, etc.
IMPACT:
Antibiotics saved several soldiers in WWII and began to help fight illnesses in civilians.
Due to birth control, fertility rates declined worldwide (women having fewer children); this has reshaped gender roles, impacting society.
Vaccines have made many diseases rare (polio and measles), with smallpox being essentially eradicated (1980s).
Other vaccines now prevent an estimated 3 million deaths in the 21st century.
LIMITATIONS and THEIR IMPACTS:
Resistance:
Antibiotics may lead to the evolution of stronger strains of the diseases they treat.
Lack of Access:
Poverty and its associated factors (poor housing/work conditions, contaminated water, poor sanitation) have led to the spread of diseases in low-income regions.
Emerging Epidemics:
Faster spread of diseases due to more connectivity (e.g., Spanish Flu (1918-1919), killed more soldiers than WWI; infected 1/5 of the global population).
HIV/AIDS (1981-2014) killed more than 25 million; new research led to antiretroviral drugs extending life.
Ebola: deadly disease with an outbreak in 2014 in West Africa; WHO (World Health Organization) led the response.
New Diseases Impacting Longevity
Heart Disease:
Develops due to increased longevity of humans; new treatments like heart transplants, stents, and medications available.
Alzheimer’s Disease:
A form of dementia leading patients to lose their memory, eventually resulting in death; cure is still unknown and under research.
More In Depth Look: Technology and the Environment
General Look:
Deforestation:
Loss of trees due to cutting down land for agriculture.
Desertification:
Overuse of agriculture and removal of natural vegetation in arid lands.
Air and Water Pollution:
Decline in quality of air due to pollution.
Increased Consumption:
Of water and resources.
Causes of Changes:
Population Growth and Agriculture:
More people means more demand for food, leading to more crops, deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat declines.
Changing global population:
1900 - 1.6 billion;
1950 - 2.55 billion;
2000 - 6.12 billion.
Population Growth and Urbanization:
Larger cities have led to more waste and pollution.
Globalization and Industrialization:
Increased energy for production results in resource depletion and pollution.
Effects of Changes:
Resource Depletion:
Fossil fuels are rapidly depleting since the Industrial Revolution and could be used up in the next 30-40 years.
Inequality/Scarcity of Resources:
Pollution and increased consumption of water lead to shortages, especially in lower-income regions.
WHO predicts by 2025, over half of the world’s population will lack clean water.
Dependence on women/children to collect water limits time for education, skill development, or income-centered jobs, reinforcing the gap between developing and developed nations.
Changes to Atmosphere:
Increase in greenhouse gases from factories, cars, airplanes, and industrialization.
New Energy Sources:
New renewable energies like wind, solar, tidal, and geothermal have become more popular.
At first, they were too expensive, but as technology improves, more companies and countries invest in them.
By 2050, about half the world’s electricity may come from wind and solar power!
New Awareness:
New “Environmental Cool Club Kids” have emerged!
Club of Rome (1968):
An organization with representatives from all walks of life formed to discuss solutions to global challenges, specifically resource depletion.
Green Party:
An organization in many countries focusing on solutions to environmental issues.
Green Belt Movement:
Helping to protect the environment through initiatives like ecosystem preservation (e.g., planting 51 million trees in Kenya).
The Debate:
Many agree that climate change (sometimes called global warming) leads to potentially catastrophic issues (rising sea levels, severe droughts, hurricanes, etc.), while some remain skeptical.
Kyoto Protocol (1997):
Developed nations (W Europe) argued that developing nations (e.g., China and India) needed to limit CO2 output; the US did not ratify.
Paris Agreement (2015):
195 countries signed a deal focusing on environmental initiatives (the US left in 2017 under President Trump, rejoined in 2021 under President Biden).
Increased Activism:
Greta Thunberg’s speech at UN (2018):
“You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.”
Extinction Rebellion (2018):
Group engaged in civil disobedience in England by blocking bridges and chaining themselves to business headquarters, prompting parliamentary discussions on the climate emergency.
Is it a New Age?
Holocene Epoch:
“Current age,” meaning entirely recent; some scientists argue this is our time period.
Anthropocene:
“New man,” some scientists proposed this name as humans now affect nearly the entire planet.
OVERVIEW OF ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY BY THEME
Impact and Limitations: Globalization and technology go hand in hand - as globalization makes the world more connected, so do new advancements in technology. Although these advancements lead to large positive impacts, there are also some negative effects and limitations.
Globalization and Advancements in Technology
COMMUNICATION and TRANSPORTATION
TV and Radio
Cell phones
Social media
Airplane
Cargo planes
Tankers
IMPACT
Communication:
Leads to the faster spread of information and culture to more people around the world.
Ex. Videos uploaded to the internet have impacted movements around the world (like Arab Spring).
Transportation:
Leads to more migration of people and goods; easier trade and connection to other locations.
LIMITATIONS:
Communication:
Question of reliability of information.
With more connectivity, are we becoming “one global culture”?
AGRICULTURE
Green Revolution
Used new methods of crossbreeding as well as new fertilizers and irrigation techniques to produce more resistant varieties of grains (to yield more produce).
IMPACT:
More productive crops resistant to pests and drought have led to an increase in the availability of certain grains, impacting population growth.
LIMITATIONS:
Small farmers lose land due to expensive prices of fertilizers; larger farming groups take over.
Fewer jobs in agriculture due to new mechanical equipment.
Environmental damage:
Soil degradation due to chemicals/deforestation.
Decline of pollinators (like bumblebees) due to pesticides and new crops with less pollen.
ENERGY
Fossil Fuels (like petroleum and natural gas)
Nuclear Energy
Renewable Resources (like wind and solar power)
IMPACT:
More energy means more productivity.
Cleaner energies like wind and solar can help alleviate environmental concerns.
LIMITATIONS:
Fossil fuels contribute to environmental issues like air pollution and climate change.
Nuclear power can also have dangerous consequences if waste is not stored correctly or reactors have accidents.
Thus far, only 5% of energy consumption comes from nuclear energy, and another 5% from solar power.
Environmental damage (see more in next section).
MEDICINE
Antibiotics (ex. Penicillin by Alexander Fleming)
Birth Control
Vaccines
Polio
Measles
Smallpox
Mumps, measles, tetanus, etc.
IMPACT:
Antibiotics saved several soldiers in WWII and began to help fight illnesses in civilians.
Due to birth control, fertility rates declined worldwide (women having fewer children); this has reshaped gender roles, impacting society.
Vaccines have made many diseases rare (polio and measles), with smallpox being essentially eradicated (1980s).
Other vaccines now prevent an estimated 3 million deaths in the 21st century.
LIMITATIONS and THEIR IMPACTS:
Resistance:
Antibiotics may lead to the evolution of stronger strains of the diseases they treat.
Lack of Access:
Poverty and its associated factors (poor housing/work conditions, contaminated water, poor sanitation) have led to the spread of diseases in low-income regions.
Emerging Epidemics:
Faster spread of diseases due to more connectivity (e.g., Spanish Flu (1918-1919), killed more soldiers than WWI; infected 1/5 of the global population).
HIV/AIDS (1981-2014) killed more than 25 million; new research led to antiretroviral drugs extending life.
Ebola: deadly disease with an outbreak in 2014 in West Africa; WHO (World Health Organization) led the response.
New Diseases Impacting Longevity
Heart Disease:
Develops due to increased longevity of humans; new treatments like heart transplants, stents, and medications available.
Alzheimer’s Disease:
A form of dementia leading patients to lose their memory, eventually resulting in death; cure is still unknown and under research.
More In Depth Look: Technology and the Environment
General Look:
Deforestation:
Loss of trees due to cutting down land for agriculture.
Desertification:
Overuse of agriculture and removal of natural vegetation in arid lands.
Air and Water Pollution:
Decline in quality of air due to pollution.
Increased Consumption:
Of water and resources.
Causes of Changes:
Population Growth and Agriculture:
More people means more demand for food, leading to more crops, deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat declines.
Changing global population:
1900 - 1.6 billion;
1950 - 2.55 billion;
2000 - 6.12 billion.
Population Growth and Urbanization:
Larger cities have led to more waste and pollution.
Globalization and Industrialization:
Increased energy for production results in resource depletion and pollution.
Effects of Changes:
Resource Depletion:
Fossil fuels are rapidly depleting since the Industrial Revolution and could be used up in the next 30-40 years.
Inequality/Scarcity of Resources:
Pollution and increased consumption of water lead to shortages, especially in lower-income regions.
WHO predicts by 2025, over half of the world’s population will lack clean water.
Dependence on women/children to collect water limits time for education, skill development, or income-centered jobs, reinforcing the gap between developing and developed nations.
Changes to Atmosphere:
Increase in greenhouse gases from factories, cars, airplanes, and industrialization.
New Energy Sources:
New renewable energies like wind, solar, tidal, and geothermal have become more popular.
At first, they were too expensive, but as technology improves, more companies and countries invest in them.
By 2050, about half the world’s electricity may come from wind and solar power!
New Awareness:
New “Environmental Cool Club Kids” have emerged!
Club of Rome (1968):
An organization with representatives from all walks of life formed to discuss solutions to global challenges, specifically resource depletion.
Green Party:
An organization in many countries focusing on solutions to environmental issues.
Green Belt Movement:
Helping to protect the environment through initiatives like ecosystem preservation (e.g., planting 51 million trees in Kenya).
The Debate:
Many agree that climate change (sometimes called global warming) leads to potentially catastrophic issues (rising sea levels, severe droughts, hurricanes, etc.), while some remain skeptical.
Kyoto Protocol (1997):
Developed nations (W Europe) argued that developing nations (e.g., China and India) needed to limit CO2 output; the US did not ratify.
Paris Agreement (2015):
195 countries signed a deal focusing on environmental initiatives (the US left in 2017 under President Trump, rejoined in 2021 under President Biden).
Increased Activism:
Greta Thunberg’s speech at UN (2018):
“You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.”
Extinction Rebellion (2018):
Group engaged in civil disobedience in England by blocking bridges and chaining themselves to business headquarters, prompting parliamentary discussions on the climate emergency.
Is it a New Age?
Holocene Epoch:
“Current age,” meaning entirely recent; some scientists argue this is our time period.
Anthropocene:
“New man,” some scientists proposed this name as humans now affect nearly the entire planet.
make the other half more visually appealing
OVERVIEW OF ECONOMICS
Global World and:
Economics
Reforms
Globalization
New Institutions
DEVELOPMENTS:
Economic liberalization: Opening up of economies (nod to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and free markets);
Led some corporations to move where wages, taxes, and regulations were cheaper or fewer; rise in labor exploitation and damage to environment.
Ex. Chile (August Pinochet 1974-1990; violent tactics yet opened up free-market)
Ex. China (Deng Xiaoping 1981 opened up China to more economic reforms like replacing communes with peasant leased lands, allowing factories more control over production, more private business in Shanghai)
Knowledge Economies:
Focus on information, creation, spread of knowledge to increase economic success.
Ex. Finland (resources into research, education, innovation; built success on mobile phones and software)
Ex. Japan (increased exports/decreased imports, high emphasis on education and growth in technological developments)
Ex. Asian Tigers: other countries who focused on government-business partnerships and intense education (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan)
MORE DEVELOPMENTS:
Movement of Manufacturing:
Manufacturing plants have moved to different regions, like Asia and Latin America instead of Europe and the US.
Ex. Vietnam and Bangladesh: labor costs are lower than even in China, large manufacturing of clothing/textiles and items like phones
Ex. Mexico and Honduras: due to development of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in 1994, maquiladoras (factories) set up in Mexico; many jobs shifted to these locations where there are low wages.
Honduras has begun to upgrade their practices (recycling materials, fair labor practices)
Economic Clubs:
Many organizations were created after WWII to allow ease of trade. With less restrictions, certain countries enjoy trading benefits with one another. Some of these, like WTO, also focus on creating fair labor practices.
Ex. Mercosur (South America)
Ex. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Ex. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
Ex. World Trade Organization (WTO)
Multinational Corporations:
A corporation legally incorporated in one country but sells (or makes) its product in others.
Ex. Go wayyy back to joint stock companies (British East India Co)
Ex. Microsoft, Google, Mahindra & Mahindra, Nestle
Mahindra & Mahindra is based in India, and has been awarded for its responsible practices - it is considered the “most trusted business in India.”
Nestle is a Swiss based company, and is known for buying cocoa from suppliers that use child labor; however, it is also investing in research aimed at better environmental practices and agricultural training.
Reform Movements and Impacts:
An “Era of Rights” and the United Nations:
Since WWII, it has been argued that the development of the United Nations (UN) has led to movements toward justice, equality, and change in many areas of life:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: basic rights and fundamental freedoms for all human beings (UN)
Human Rights Initiatives: the UN focuses on protecting people of all backgrounds (ex. UNICEF - United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)
International Court of Justice: judicial body set up to negotiate disputes over international law; also deals with border disputes and treaty violations
UNHCR and NGOs: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and non-governmental organizations work to protect refugees and give help in the form of food, medicine, and shelter
Global Feminism:
Focuses on outlining rights and providing equal opportunities (ex. 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: right to vote, hold office, choose spouse, education, family planning)
Cultural/Religious Movements: securing rights for those of various religions and groups (ex. Negritude and its focus on “blackness”/self-determination)
Gender Equality:
More than access to professions, healthcare, and other rights in the 20th century, there has been more change for women.
Education has increased - not just in literacy but in college attendance
Suffrage - as of 2018 only Vatican City did not allow women to vote; there are still barricades to voting, however (ex. Pakistan)
US:
1965 Civil Rights Act: outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin
1965 Voting Rights Act: banned discrimination in voting
Continued developments seeking and allowing more access/fair treatment in education, workplace rights, and more continue
South Africa:
1948 Apartheid enforced segregation of people based on race, placing the 15% minority white South Africans in charge of the 85% majority black, South Asian, or mixed race South Africans
Segregation laws banned the black population from certain areas, banned mixed marriages, and taught classes only in Afrikaans (language of white South Africans)
Challenges to Apartheid:
Desmond Tutu (Anglican Archbishop, human rights activist): “I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion, I want the full menu of rights.”
Nelson Mandela (leader of ANC - African National Congress): imprisoned in 1964 for a life term due to protesting against apartheid. His imprisonment and work while in prison brought awareness of apartheid to the world, leading to protests by musicians, students, countries, and even the UN
South Africa became a pariah state (undesirable) in 1980s, and Mandela was released in 1989
Apartheid ended in the 1990s, and in 1994 South Africa elected their own new leaders - with Nelson Mandela president
Aftermath of Apartheid:
Instead of seeking to try those in South Africa for apartheid, Nelson Mandela focused on uniting the mixed races through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
India’s Caste System:
Though made illegal in 1949 via India’s Constitution, the social classes of the Caste System still receive limitations based on their inherited position on the hierarchy, especially those connected to the lowest group - dalit, or untouchable
Caste Reservation System: government has tried to alleviate this by guaranteeing a certain amount of spots in government, education, and the workforce
Human Rights and China: A Closer Look
Though China began to loosen up its government control of the economy, its social controls remained intact. News and education were still censored, NGOs were not allowed to operate without supervision, and the political system essentially ensured the continuation of the Chinese Communist Party.
Tiananmen Square: pro-democracy activists demonstrated after the death of a high level government figure sympathetic to their desire for more democratic reforms. Many of the protestors were students, professors, and urban workers.
The protestors demanded a chance to speak with the government about reforms like freedom of the press.
The government refused to meet with them.
400 cities staged sit-ins and began other measures of civil disobedience (refusing to go to class, hunger strikes).
Most notable: hundreds of thousands protested in Beijing in Tiananmen Square.
Though the protestors tried to blockade them, the government responded to the Tiananmen Square protests by declaring martial law and sending in troops with tanks and weapons.
June 4, 1989: the army attacked those in Tiananmen Square.
China’s government maintains that no one died and has excluded this from history books, education, and even web searches; they prohibit mourning those who died publicly, and imprison those who do.
Organizations like Amnesty International have estimated several hundred to a few thousand died.
Minority Rights:
With 55 ethnic minorities (ex. Tibetans), China has also had to deal with demands for independence or solutions to discriminatory practices.
Hong Kong:
Pro-democracy protests continue to occur to today here - check out the news for more info on developments.
Environmental Repair:
The planet has spoken and said “hey, yo - this is why I’m hot” (bad jokes #sorrynotsorry) and the world has responded:
Earth Day: began in 1970 in the US, April 22 is a day for people to focus on environmental awareness (highlight policies, information, initiatives).
Greenpeace: founded in 1971, is now a multinational agency that essentially speaks for the planet, trying to confront desertification, global warming, overfishing, and overkilling of whales.
Green Belt Movement: began in 1977 by Wangari Maathai (who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 - first African Woman to win!); helped women work to plant trees to improve soil and collect rainwater as they had seen streams disappear and wanted to change the crisis. “We are called to assist the earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own.”
Since the WTO mostly focused on commercial interests, a new group was created:
World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) in 1989
Made up of organizations from around the world who follow these rules:
Create opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
Transparency and accountability
Fair trading practices
Payment of a fair price
Ensuring no child labor or forced labor
Commitment to nondiscrimination, gender equity, and freedom of association
Ensuring good work conditions
Providing capacity building
Promoting fair trade
Respect for the environment
Globalization and Resistance to Globalization
Examples of Globalization in Various Realms:
Political Changes:
Moving away from competition via imperialism or Cold War, there is now more cooperation through regional organizations (ex. UN)Social Changes:
People are now more connected - even if virtually so, leading to more conversation and more voices within the discussion on everything from rights, to the environment, to which are the best cat memesEconomic Changes:
Global Brands: some companies become multinational (ex. Apple, Nike, Rolex, Toyota, Amazon, Coca Cola)
Online Commerce: trade is easier than ever, where you can buy goods from other countries easilyCultural Changes:
Popular Culture (1920s): culture of everyday peoples, not just the wealthy; spreads through radio and TV
Americanization: more people learn about American culture; some resent it, viewing the US as “throwaway culture” of waste and pollution
English language also spreads rapidly
ART/COMMUNICATION:
Harlem Renaissance: rebirth of black artistic expression, ex. Jazz
Bollywood: blend of film styles in India (they make more films than any other country)
Anime: hand-drawn animation in the Japanese style; 60% of animated TV shows were based on anime in 2016
Reggae: Jamaican music blending New Orleans jazz with mento
K-pop: artists whose songs are a mixture of Korean and English, led to more popularity for South Korean goods
Social Media: new format of communication through means such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
Has led to inspiration and movements for reform, but also is easy to manipulate leading to current debate over usage
Some countries limit/ban social media (ex. China) although it allows its own censored platforms
SPORTS:
Olympic Games: modern edition began in 1896 bringing fans of popular sports together
World Cup: rivals the Olympics as soccer has eclipsed other sports as the most popular
RELIGION:
New Age religions: new forms of Buddhism, Sufism, and others adapted mostly for the West
More and more numbers of nonbelievers (not atheists or agnostic, just nonaligned)
Examples of Resistance in Various Realms:
Though globalization has led to connection, raised awareness and spread of diversity, and technological developments, many have pushed back against it for various reasons.
The Battle of Seattle (1999): protests occurred at a WTO conference in Seattle, WA. The 40,000 protestors included environmentalists, students, labor unions, farmers, and more. Significant as it was planned on the internet and is seen as a beginning of the anti-globalization movement
Why Resistance:
Economic reasons
Poor labor conditions: ex. child labor, sweatshops
Harm to small businesses
Push for: fair trade, sustainable development, debt relief
Environmental reasons:
Damage: ex. climate change, deforestation
Distrust:
Threat to nations, concern for sovereignty: ex. Brexit (from the EU)
Unreliability of information, ex. Social media
New Globalized Institutions - The UN and NGOs
New Institutions in a Globalized World:
United Nations: new and stronger edition of the old League of Nations
Includes:
General Assembly (decides issues on peace, security, budget)
Security Council (debates issues from General Assembly, has five permanent members - US, France, Great Britain, Russia, China; elects ten other members on rotation)
The big 5 have veto power, but some dispute its fairness
Secretariat: administrative arm of the UN
International Court of Justice: settles disputes about international law
Economic and Social Council: directs economic, social, humanitarian, cultural initiatives (ex. Green energy)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: made in 1948, includes basic rights and freedoms that all should have globally (ex. Freedom from slavery, right to nationality, right to own property, freedom of thought, etc.)
UN Priorities:
Peacekeeping
Protecting Refugees
Alleviating world hunger/poverty
Supporting education, science, culture (ex. UNESCO)
Human Rights Watch
More
NGOs: non governmental organizations
World Bank: fighting poverty by giving loans to countries
International Monetary Fund: promotes stable currency exchange rates
International Peace Bureau (apart from the UN): nuclear disarmament