Chapter 13

Global Processes: Technology, Economy, and Society (1900-present)

Introduction

• Focus on transformative processes within technology, economy, and society since 1900.

• Defines the acceleration of innovation and economic interconnections seen globally.

Science and Technology: The Acceleration of Innovation 742

• Reasons for rapid technological change:
    - Scientific breakthroughs primarily occurred in the Western world, particularly after the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions.
    - By the century's end, significant innovations emerged from countries such as Mexico, China, and Brazil.
    - Post World War II, universities, governments, and corporations drove scientific and technological development.

Major Areas of Technological Breakthroughs

A Second Scientific Revolution 742

• Key scientific advancements in:
    - Astronomy, physics, biochemistry, and biology.
    - Current scientific understanding: universe spans 13.8 billion years; estimated 100-200 billion galaxies, indicating an incomprehensibly large cosmos.
    - New theories indicate everything is in constant flux (e.g., big bang theory, plate tectonics).

Fossil Fuel Breakthroughs 745

• Fossil fuels foundational to the modern economy, heavily utilized since the Industrial Revolution.
    - Growth in coal production by 700% throughout the 20th century;
    - Oil surpassed coal as the leading energy source by the 1940s.
    - 2019: Fossil fuels constituted approximately 84% of global energy consumption.

Transportation Breakthroughs 746

• Development of automobiles, buses, trucks, container ships, and airplanes facilitated the movement of goods and people worldwide.

• Automobiles became social and cultural phenomena, providing freedom and status yet raising concerns over pollution and traffic accidents.

• By 2010, the global automotive fleet reached over 1 billion vehicles.

Communication and Information Breakthroughs 748

• Communication revolution began with telegraphs and telephones in the 19th century and expanded to include:
    - Radios, televisions, personal computers, and the Internet.
    - By 2020, 59% of the global population had internet access.

• The impacts of these technologies were widespread, influencing governmental control, media accessibility, and personal connectivity across the globe.

Military Weapons Breakthroughs 750

• Key military innovations from the 19th and 20th centuries:
    - Development of machine guns, explosives, and various vehicles in WWI and WWII; advancements in weapons included nuclear arms.
    - Military technologies led to civilian innovations like radar and the Internet.

Global Economy: The Acceleration of Entanglement 750

• Economic globalization, especially after WWII:
    - Significant economic interdependence facilitated by technological innovations.
    - Spread of industrialization across the Global South due to decolonization and national independence movements.
    - The evolution of economic strategies among developing nations included state-led vs. market-driven approaches.

Industrial and Economic Globalization 751

• Emergence of the “Asian Tigers” (South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore) as successful models for economic growth through exports.
    - China's shift post-Mao towards economic reform resulted in unprecedented growth.
    - In contrast, some nations like Afghanistan and Haiti struggled to keep pace.

Deepening Global Economic Connections 751

• Post-WWII, institutions like the World Bank and IMF established frameworks for economic cooperation and free trade.
    - 1980s neoliberalism emphasized minimal financial barriers and free-market dynamics leading to global trade increase.
    - By 2012, global trade value surged from $57 billion in 1947 to approximately $18.3 trillion.

Growth, Instability, and Inequality 753

• Despite significant economic growth, wealth inequality surged.
    - Global output increased from $7 trillion in 1950 to $73 trillion in 2009.
    - Major disparities in wealth distribution and access to resources emerged, often exacerbated by global economic policies.

Pushback: Resistance to Economic Globalization 757

• Many countries and marginalized groups resisted aspects of globalization they felt undermined local economies and cultural identities.
    - Criticism of corporate-led globalization featured prominently in protests, especially around trade summits such as the WTO meetings.

Producing and Consuming: The Shapes of Modern Societies 759

• Dramatic shifts in labor demographics:
    - Decline of full-time farming globally (from 66% in 1950 to 20% in 2000).
    - Mechanization and Green Revolution contributed to fewer farmers and dependency on migrant labor.

The Changing Lives of Industrial Workers 761

• Introduction of assembly lines and scientific management changed the nature of factory work.
    - Growth in unions and labor rights advocacy improved conditions but also led to job loss in industrial transitions.

The Service Sector and the Informal Economy 763

• Growth in service industries characterized by increased flexibility but often instability and low pay.
    - Rise of the gig economy defined by temporary employment conditions.

Global Middle Classes and Life at the Top 764

• Expansion of a global middle class since the late 20th century:
    - Economic stratification observed within countries, alongside the accumulation of wealth among the elite few.

Getting Personal: Transformations of Private Life 766

• Significant changes in gender roles and sexuality:
    - Experiences varied globally, from liberal acceptance in certain regions to resistance based on tradition and culture.

The State and Personal Life 768

• State policies impacted intimate matters, from marriage to family planning.
    - Case studies highlight the correlation between governmental policies and societal norms regarding gender and sexuality, including the impact of authoritarian regimes.

Conclusions and Reflections: On Contemporary History 774

• Complexity arises due to the ongoing nature of contemporary history, wherein historical processes continue to evolve without clear endings.
    - Historians face challenges in interpretation and objectivity within these rapidly changing contexts.

• Themes of continuity and change are evident across social, political, and technological spheres.