GLO: Overview
Globalization: 1945 CE - Present
Introduction
The world seemed to collectively hold its breath for a few minutes following World War II. How had we gotten here? What would happen next? And what needed to happen to prevent World War III? The next seventy years were filled with tense negotiations, a half-century standoff between superpowers, unimaginable innovation, political activism, and perhaps most surprisingly – collaboration and progress.
The 21st Century has many things in common with earlier centuries but one of the main differences will be your generation. You will become the new leaders—of governments, of industry, of medicine, of charity, of education, of religion, of families—therefore, what you see is very important. And don't forget what Spanish philosopher George Santayana wrote in The Life of Reason— " ...those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Image note: Two doves, representing East and West Berlin, hold up the Brandenburg Gate, a famous monument representing Berlin and Germany. This graffiti, painted on the Berlin Wall that formerly divided the city, speaks to the idea that the two sides are united and can only raise up the city when they “fly” together.
Essential Questions
- How did the Cold War determine foreign policies for various nations?
- How were political movements in various nations similar and different?
- How have the actions of terrorist groups (non-state) changed the shape of war?
- How has the rise of globalization affected the world?
- What role has technology played in globalization?
Module Lessons Preview
In this module, we will study the following topics:
Key Terms
Post-WWII Trends: Global Divisions and Bonds
The 1940s and 1950s
The 1960s
The 1970s
The 1980s
The 1990s
The New Millennium
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