Week 5: New Advancements and New Threats

Change, growth, determination, and aspiration… all important ingredients in the recipe for a new world order!

While President George H.W. Bush’s first-time reference to a new world order accurately predicted many positive developments, those references also had unintended consequences.

“What is at stake is more than one small country, it is a big idea—a new world order, where diverse nations are drawn together in common cause to achieve the universal aspirations of mankind: peace and security, freedom, and the rule of law. Such is a world worthy of our struggle, and worthy of our children’s future” (President G.H. Bush, 1991).

As you read last week, one such consequence was the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. From negative occurrences during the Cold War era came growth and positive results, as the Cold War ended and new European nations emerged and began to grow.

While the changes in Europe were occurring, African and Asian markets began to open up and technological advancements begin to appear within those nations. In addition, they also witnessed other long-awaited positive transformations, such as improved living conditions and an increase in the medical care available to the people of those nations.

Democracy began to move to the forefront as many of these emerging nations continued to work to achieve economic stability and as they welcomed economic competition. India and China began to compete with the United States by providing an inexpensive labor force, which led to an increase in consumerism. This increase went hand-in-hand with the demand for technology and scientific advancements.

This week you will analyze, in more detail, the top global advancements and threats in the last half of the 20th century.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, you should be able to:

• Evaluate the top three global threats that affect people and assess how these threats have altered relationships among local communities as well as the nations of the world
• Analyze three important elements from the years 1945–2000 and their current effects
• Outline elements from the years 1945–2000 that will continue to have an effect on the next 20 years
• Identify countries that experienced great change and advancements during the late 20th century

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Ivanov, I. (2000). The Missile-Defense Mistake – Undermining Strategic Stability and the ABM Treaty. Foreign Affairs, 79(5), 15-20.

Gilbert, M. (2014). History of the twentieth century.

Read Chapters 11 and 12.

Moss, W. G. (2008). An age of progress? Clashing twentieth-century global forces. 

Read Chapter 5

Martinez, J. M. (2012). Terrorist attacks on American soil: From the civil war era to the present. 

Read Chapter 12

Discussion: Global Threats

Nuclear war! Terrorism! Hunger epidemics! Disease epidemics, including AIDS! These are examples of the complex minefield of threats faced by the nations of the world. Impacts were felt on environmental, political, military, and economic levels. Alliances were hard-won and easily forgotten as the world braced itself for the dawn of a new century. As alliances changed, so did the threats that went hand-in-hand with those international relationships. Decades later, the world continues to feel the effects of this era.

In this Discussion, you will evaluate threats faced by the world and their lasting effects today.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review the Gilbert, Moss, and Martinez readings as well as all articles from this week’s Learning Resources.
• Reflect upon the types of threats that people faced in the 20th century.
• Call to mind the groups and/or nations that pose physical threats to others. How were they a threat? Why?
• Draw from this week’s readings and reflect upon the unlikely alliances that were created and if they were formed under duress or necessity.
• Consider the correlation between threats to certain nations and international relationships. What is the connection between threats and relationships in the local communities?
• Think about how the world is still feeling the effects of the threats of this era.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3

Post by Day 3 an analysis (3–4 paragraphs) of the major challenges nations across the world faced at the end of the 20th century. Pay close attention to the extent to which events between 1945-2000 shaped issues related to human rights and freedom (politically, socially, economically, etc).

Be sure to support your ideas by properly citing at least one of week’s Learning Resources, in APA format, within your initial post. As this is a post-first discussion board, you will not be able to see the work of your peers until you have posted the initial discussion requirement for the week.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your evaluation criteria:
Discussion Evaluation Criteria

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5

To participate in this Discussion:
Week 5 Discussion