Decolonization

Desertification and Deforestation

  • Desertification: Climate changes, like global warming, cause frequent droughts.
    • The Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert, is turning into desert, leading to malnutrition and starvation in Africa.
  • Deforestation: Clearing areas by removing trees.
    • Forests provide much of the oxygen needed to breathe.
    • Tropical rainforests have unique plants often with medical uses.

Overpopulation and Pollution

  • Overpopulation:
    • The world population has surged from 1 billion to 7.5 billion in 200 years, leading to potential food and resource shortages.
  • Environmental Pollution: Industrialization and population growth are leading to:
    • Water Pollution: Dumping sewage into oceans.
    • Air Pollution: Industrialization has led to acid rain and the thinning of the ozone layer.
    • Solid Waste: Millions of tons of garbage are dumped into landfills and surrounding waters.

Conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan

  • Radical Islamic ideas have spread through parts of the Middle East, establishing anti-Western regimes.
  • Afghanistan:
    • Afghan rebels overthrew a Soviet puppet government.
    • The Taliban came to power, establishing an extreme Islamic government.
    • The Taliban regime was overthrown for protecting al-Qaeda and refusing to give up Osama bin Laden.
  • Iraq:
    • After September 11, Iraq under Saddam Hussein was invaded.
    • Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed, leading to a religious war between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
    • When the U.S. withdrew, ISIS took parts of Iraq.

Sunni-Shia Conflict: ISIS

  • A historical dispute in Islam concerns the succession to Prophet Mohammad.
  • Sunnis:
    • Believe the Islamic leadership should be a community member able to follow in Mohammed's footsteps.
  • Shia:
    • Smaller in number, they believe it should be a member of Mohammed's family.
  • ISIS:
    • A Sunni Muslim group following Islamic Fundamentalism that emerged in 1999.
    • Seeking a pure Islamic state, they have become a global terrorist organization.
    • Estimated to have 30,000 fighters in the Middle East.

Human Rights: South Africa and Apartheid

  • In 1948, Dutch-speaking white Afrikaners created an apartheid policy.
    • This policy persecuted black South Africans and took away their basic rights.
    • Blacks resisted apartheid, both peacefully and violently.
  • In 1989, economic sanctions led whites to elect F.W. De Klerk.
    • De Klerk repealed apartheid legislation.
    • De Klerk and Nelson Mandela negotiated a constitution and instituted multiracial elections.
  • Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first black president, serving for two terms.

Tradition vs. Modernization: Islamic Fundamentalism

  • A belief that Muslims should strictly follow Islamic law and resist Western influences and customs.
  • Iranian Revolution (1979):
    • The pro-Western Shah was overthrown.
    • Ayatollah Khomeini established a religious state based on Islamic law.
    • The U.S. embassy in Tehran was seized, and U.S. personnel were held hostage for over a year.
  • Afghanistan:
    • Muslim rebels overthrew the Soviet puppet government.
    • The Taliban set up an extreme Islamic government, which was overthrown for giving al-Qaeda shelter.
  • Iraq:
    • ISIS took over much territory in 2014.

International Terrorism

  • The Problem: Terrorism is the use of violence against civilians for political purposes.
    • Terrorists hijack planes, bomb buildings, and assassinate people.
    • Examples: September 11 attacks in NYC and Washington.
    • There is a fear that terrorists may use biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons in the future.
  • ISIS:
    • One of the most radical terrorist groups.
    • Uses terrorism in Europe and the Middle East.
  • Hamas and Hezbollah:
    • Radical groups that use terrorism against Israel.
  • Taliban:
    • Sheltered al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

European Union

  • Common Market:
    • Formed in 1957, it created a large free-trade zone among its members.
    • Members: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
    • Other Western European nations soon joined.
  • European Union:
    • In 1991, members replaced the Common Market with the European Union.
    • It grew to include eight Eastern European countries.
    • Members have merged their national currencies into one monetary unit: the Euro.
  • Brexit:
    • In 2016, Great Britain's citizens voted to leave the European Union.

Cold War Asia: Deng Xiaoping

  • Deng Xiaoping became China's ruler after Mao Zedong died in 1976.
    • Deng attacked the leaders of the Cultural Revolution
    • He sought gradual change to a free market while holding onto Communist Party power.
    • Deng encouraged private enterprise and passed laws to spur foreign investment, increasing trade with the West.
    • Tiananmen Square (1989): Students protesting corruption demanded reforms, but Deng's government brutally crushed the demonstration.

Cold War Asia: Rise of Mao Zedong in China

  • Communists under Mao Zedong drove Nationalist forces led by Chiang Kai-Shek from China to Taiwan in 1949.
    • Once in power, Mao and the Communists controlled all aspects of life.
    • Businessmen and wealthy farmers were executed.
    • Communist beliefs became required learning in all universities and schools.
    • All newspapers and books were controlled by the government and had to promote Communism.
    • Art and music in Mao's China came under the direct supervision of the government.

Cold War Asia: Vietnam War

  • After France withdrew, Vietnam was divided.
    • Ho Chi Minh created a Communist state in the north.
    • The South created a pro-Western government.
    • Despite promises, reunification elections were never held as the South believed elections in North Vietnam would be rigged.
  • Guerrillas in the South (Viet Cong) began a war with northern help.
    • By 1964, over 500,000 U.S. troops were involved to stop the spread of Communism.
    • Despite advanced technology, the United States could not defeat North Vietnam.
  • In 1973, U.S. troops withdrew. Vietnam took over the South and unified the nation under Communist rule.

Cold War Asia: Events under Maoist China

  • Great Leap Forward:
    • A Five-Year Plan that failed to industrialize China.
    • Mao had peasant lands collectivized, but the plan failed miserably.
  • Cultural Revolution:
    • Mao's disastrous attempt to reinvigorate Communism.
    • Red Guards (students) forced educated people from China's cities to work on farms, using manual labor.
  • Korean War (1950-1953):
    • Communist North Korea invaded South Korea.
    • When the U.S. entered the war and approached China's border, China entered the war on the side of North Korea.
    • The war ended in a stalemate with no change in borders.

Decolonization: Gandhi, India, and Independence

  • Mohandas Gandhi: Father of non-violent passive resistance.
    • India finally won its independence from British rule in 1947.
    • Salt March: In 1930, Gandhi led a huge march to protest the British tax on salt.
    • Boycotts: Gandhi urged Indians not to buy British goods.
    • Cottage Industries: Gandhi urged a return to homemade goods to raise living standards.
  • After World War II, Britain was too weak to resist Indian independence.
  • In 1947, the British partitioned the country into two: a Hindu India and a Muslim Pakistan.
    • Thousands died in religious riots following the partition.

Decolonization: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

  • Palestine, home to Arabs and Jews, was under British control until the end of World War II.
  • In 1948, the U.N. carved Israel out of Palestine as a Jewish nation.
    • Arabs declared war but were defeated.
    • Tens of thousands of Palestinians fled to neighboring countries.
  • Arab-Israeli Wars (1948, 1967, 1973):
    • After 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza.
  • Camp David Accords (1978):
    • Peace treaty with Egypt; Israel gave Sinai back to Egypt.
  • Oslo Accords (1993):
    • Israel agreed to a governing Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.