GLO: Lesson - The New Millennium

A photograph of Tahir Square in Egypt during the 2011 Arab Spring protests.The New Millennium

The Middle East and Asia

The new millennium began inauspiciously. In September 2001, Al-Qaeda terrorists attacked New York and Washington DC. This began the US “War on Terror” which focused on Afghanistan and Iraq. With the deaths of Osama Bin Laden (the leader of Al-Qaeda) and Saddam Hussein (the leader of Iraq), Al-Qaeda’s influence declined, and a new terrorist group called ISIS took over Iraq.

In 2011, Pan-Arabism was renewed with over a dozen democratic movements bolstered by social media called the Arab Spring. While it increased political accountability in some countries, it also ended in violence in others – for a decade, ISIS gained ground amidst the political chaos. It even inspired an Africanized version of ISIS called Boko Haram, who have set fire to churches and murdered and kidnapped Nigerians.

Image note: Protesters celebrate in Tahir Square, Egypt, after the resignation of President Mubarak. The country was opened up to elections, but the new government was also overthrown.

Similarly, the conflict between Israel and Palestine culminated in Israel building a wall around the West Bank. Across the regions, desertification and disease led to famine and civil war. But there was still hope. ISIS has weakened, and a cease-fire was called in Israel/Palestine in 2005. Africa currently has the fastest-growing economy of any continent, and both the Middle East and Africa have lowered their infant mortality rates and seen increases in life expectancy.

Brazilian protestors hold up signs calling for the impeachment of President Rousseff.

Latin America

The 21st century has seen major changes in Cuba, Brazil, and Mexico. The USA agreed to end its 57-year embargo on Cuba in 2014, but Cuba is still Communist. In Brazil, inequality (worsened by the 2014 World Cup, 2016 Olympics, and Zika Virus), government corruption, and authoritarian leadership styles led to international and internal criticism of former presidents Rousseff and Bolsonaro.

Image note: Demonstrators calling for the impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. The sign says “Fora Dilma! Impeachment Já!”, which means “Out Dilma! Impeachment now!” Most protestors wore red to symbolize their hatred for oppression, or yellow and green, the colors of their flag.

Many immigrants from Venezuela, Columbia, and Central America travel through Mexico to get to the USA, but some stay in Mexico, and the economy of Mexico is unprepared for it. The issue of immigration has also led to increased political conflict between the US and Mexico.

Europe and the USA

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower is lit up in blue, white and red to memorialize victims of a terrorist attack.

The US continued to be the “World’s Police” by intervening in international crises, but Europe and the US are also impacted by outside forces. In 2008, a financial crisis hit the US, Greece, Italy, and Spain very hard. This dragged down the economies of the European Union. Simultaneously, Middle Eastern and African refugees escaped to Europe to find jobs and peace. Unfortunately, some terrorists also immigrated alongside refugees and attacked cities like London and Paris.

Image text: The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, lit up with the French colors in memoriam of those who died in the 2015 terrorist attacks. Other countries lit up their landmarks, like the White House in the US, and individuals used the phrase “Je Suis Paris” meaning “I am Paris” to show solidarity with victims and their families.

The financial depression and immigration have convinced the British to leave the European Union (called “Brexit”). Similarly, the US saw the highest point of Latin American immigration in 2008, which has deepened the divide between different races and classes in America.

Vladimir Putin has led Russia since 2000. He doesn’t allow Russia’s media to portray him negatively, but his leadership style and political choices, especially in Ukraine, are critiqued and discussed throughout the US and Europe.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean leader Moon Jae-In shake hands at the demarcation line in 2018Asia

The Korean Peninsula was often in the news in the 21st century. Communist North Korea has claimed to have nuclear weapons since 2005. However, both North and South Kores agreed to officially end the Korean War in 2018. While both countries hope for reunification, it hasn’t happened yet.

Image note: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean leader Moon Jae-In shake hands at the demarcation line in 2018. This line has separated the 2 Koreas since the stalemate in 1953. The South Korean president briefly stepped over the line to show support, and then Kim Jong Un traveled to South Korea for diplomatic negotiations.

China’s economy has boomed since the 1980s (today it is the second-largest economy in the world) and the people enjoy greater economic freedoms, but the authoritarian government still limits its people’s political and civil rights.

World Trends

While this Module saw many conflicts worldwide, by many metrics, the world is a better place than it was 50, 100, or 150 years ago. Traumatic events sell newspapers and TV time slots and it is important to be aware of them, but that doesn’t mean positive things aren’t happening. Look through these charts and see how popular metrics for standard of living (life expectancy, child mortality, GDP, democracy, wars, and sanitation) point to a healthier, safer world.

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