Unit #1 Summary
Global Connections
TOPIC: The 21st Century is characterized by changing circumstances as new economies emerge and new technologies change the way people interact. Issues related to health, economics, security, and the environment are universal.
Content Statement 1. Trade, alliances, treaties and international organizations contribute to the increasing interconnectedness of nations and peoples in the 21st Century.
Essential Question 1.01: Why should Americans be concerned with issues or events in other parts of the world? Analyze the ways in which trade, alliances, treaties and international organizations contribute to the increasing interconnectedness of nations and peoples.
Essential Question 1.02: How has the way we acquire information about events changed over time? What are the positive and negative consequences of these changes?
Global connections is a recurrent theme throughout the Contemporary World Issues course. Nations and peoples are interconnected through trade, alliances, treaties and international organizations. Connections among nations and peoples of the world are dynamic, characterized by continuous shifts in international coalitions and political alliances.
Long-established global connections include:
1. Trade – North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), World Trade Organization (WTO), and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
2. Alliances – North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
3. Treaties – Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Camp David Accords, and Kyoto Protocol.
4. International organizations – United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Organization of American States (OAS), and African Union (AU).
Participation in these and other trading relationships, alliances, treaties or organizations has increased the interconnectedness of nations.
Content Statement 1. Trade, alliances, treaties and international organizations contribute to the increasing interconnectedness of nations and peoples in the 21st Century.
Essential Question 1.01: Why should Americans be concerned with issues or events in other parts of the world? Analyze the ways in which trade, alliances, treaties and international organizations contribute to the increasing interconnectedness of nations and peoples.
Essential Question 1.02: How has the way we acquire information about events changed over time? What are the positive and negative consequences of these changes?
Global connections is a recurrent theme throughout the Contemporary World Issues course. Nations and peoples are interconnected through trade, alliances, treaties and international organizations. Connections among nations and peoples of the world are dynamic, characterized by continuous shifts in international coalitions and political alliances.
Long-established global connections include:
1. Trade – North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), World Trade Organization (WTO), and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
2. Alliances – North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
3. Treaties – Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Camp David Accords, and Kyoto Protocol.
4. International organizations – United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Organization of American States (OAS), and African Union (AU).
Participation in these and other trading relationships, alliances, treaties or organizations has increased the interconnectedness of nations.
Content Statement 2. Advances in communications technology have profound effects on the ability of governments, interest groups, individuals and the media to share information across national and cultural borders.
Essential Question 1.03: Analyze the effects of advances in communications technology on the ability of governments, interest groups, individuals and the media to share or acquire information.
Governments, interest groups, individuals and media organizations now have access to communication methods that have transformed the way they interact with each other and the world. Advances in communications technology have impacted the sharing of information across national and cultural borders. Communication can be almost instantaneous, in some cases requiring split-second decision making. The expansion of news sources and delivery methods permits people to have access to perspectives from other nations. The variety of communication modes now available affords new opportunities for international cooperation and conflict.
Essential Question 1.03: Analyze the effects of advances in communications technology on the ability of governments, interest groups, individuals and the media to share or acquire information.
Governments, interest groups, individuals and media organizations now have access to communication methods that have transformed the way they interact with each other and the world. Advances in communications technology have impacted the sharing of information across national and cultural borders. Communication can be almost instantaneous, in some cases requiring split-second decision making. The expansion of news sources and delivery methods permits people to have access to perspectives from other nations. The variety of communication modes now available affords new opportunities for international cooperation and conflict.
Global Economy
TOPIC: The global economy is an international marketplace fueled by competition, trade and integration.
Content Statement 19. The global economy creates advantages and disadvantages for different segments of the world’s population.
Essential Question 1.04: How does the protection or pursuit of resources lead to conflict or cooperation? Evaluate how the changing global economy has created advantages and disadvantages for different segments of the world’s population.
The 21st century is characterized by increased global trade and economic interdependence. In a global economy, economic activity crosses national and cultural borders, often resulting in new economic connections and increased interdependence. While some nations and peoples benefit greatly from participation in the international marketplace, other segments of the world’s population may experience economic hardship. Global competition can lead to advantages for some people (e.g., increased employment, lower prices, increased consumer choices, rise in the standard of living). Global competition can lead to disadvantages for some people (e.g., loss of jobs, reduced wages, exploitation of workers, damage to the environment damage, depletion of natural resources).
Content Statement 19. The global economy creates advantages and disadvantages for different segments of the world’s population.
Essential Question 1.04: How does the protection or pursuit of resources lead to conflict or cooperation? Evaluate how the changing global economy has created advantages and disadvantages for different segments of the world’s population.
The 21st century is characterized by increased global trade and economic interdependence. In a global economy, economic activity crosses national and cultural borders, often resulting in new economic connections and increased interdependence. While some nations and peoples benefit greatly from participation in the international marketplace, other segments of the world’s population may experience economic hardship. Global competition can lead to advantages for some people (e.g., increased employment, lower prices, increased consumer choices, rise in the standard of living). Global competition can lead to disadvantages for some people (e.g., loss of jobs, reduced wages, exploitation of workers, damage to the environment damage, depletion of natural resources).
Content Statement 20. Trade agreements, multinational organizations, embargoes and protectionism impact markets.
Essential Question 1.05: How does the protection or pursuit of resources lead to conflict or cooperation? Explain how international trade agreements and multinational organizations impact markets. Evaluate the impact of embargoes and protectionism on markets.
The global economy is subject to the influence of local, national and international governmental actions. Governments can influence and regulate trade through trade agreements (e.g., North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), European Free Trade Association (EFTA)) and multinational organizations (e.g., World Trade Organization (WTO), European Union (EU), Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)). Embargoes and protectionism policies can be used to restrict trade (e.g., sanctions against rogue nations, protecting domestic producers through tariffs).
Essential Question 1.05: How does the protection or pursuit of resources lead to conflict or cooperation? Explain how international trade agreements and multinational organizations impact markets. Evaluate the impact of embargoes and protectionism on markets.
The global economy is subject to the influence of local, national and international governmental actions. Governments can influence and regulate trade through trade agreements (e.g., North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), European Free Trade Association (EFTA)) and multinational organizations (e.g., World Trade Organization (WTO), European Union (EU), Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)). Embargoes and protectionism policies can be used to restrict trade (e.g., sanctions against rogue nations, protecting domestic producers through tariffs).
Content Statement 21. The distribution of wealth and economic power among countries changes over time.
Essential Question 1.06: How does the protection or pursuit of resources lead to conflict or cooperation? Analyze the causes and effects of changes to the distribution of wealth and economic power among countries.
The distribution of wealth and economic power shifts as a result of political and social changes, and developments in technology or productive resources. Gradual or rapid changes in the distribution of wealth and economic power may result from:
1. Political changes (e.g., trade alliances, new political leaders).
2. Social changes (e.g., improvements in access to education).
3. Development of new technologies (e.g., agriculture and manufacturing advances).
4. Development of productive resources (e.g., discovery of new mineral reserves).
As the distribution of wealth and economic power shifts among countries, patterns of conflict and cooperation can change.
Essential Question 1.06: How does the protection or pursuit of resources lead to conflict or cooperation? Analyze the causes and effects of changes to the distribution of wealth and economic power among countries.
The distribution of wealth and economic power shifts as a result of political and social changes, and developments in technology or productive resources. Gradual or rapid changes in the distribution of wealth and economic power may result from:
1. Political changes (e.g., trade alliances, new political leaders).
2. Social changes (e.g., improvements in access to education).
3. Development of new technologies (e.g., agriculture and manufacturing advances).
4. Development of productive resources (e.g., discovery of new mineral reserves).
As the distribution of wealth and economic power shifts among countries, patterns of conflict and cooperation can change.
Content Statement 22. The global economy creates interdependence so that economic circumstances in one country impact events in other countries.
Essential Question 1.07: How does the protection or pursuit of resources lead to conflict or cooperation? Explain how economic decisions and activities in one country impact economies in other countries.
Expansion of trade in the 21st Century has led to a global economy characterized by interdependence. As global trade has increased, so has the economic interdependence among countries. More than ever before, economic decisions and activities in one country have the potential to impact economies in other countries. For example, a drop in the value of stock prices in the United States will impact the American economy and the economies of countries whose investors hold American stocks. Similarly, a rise in oil consumption in Asia will have a ripple effect on the oil market worldwide and likely result in higher prices for all consumers as demand increases.
Essential Question 1.07: How does the protection or pursuit of resources lead to conflict or cooperation? Explain how economic decisions and activities in one country impact economies in other countries.
Expansion of trade in the 21st Century has led to a global economy characterized by interdependence. As global trade has increased, so has the economic interdependence among countries. More than ever before, economic decisions and activities in one country have the potential to impact economies in other countries. For example, a drop in the value of stock prices in the United States will impact the American economy and the economies of countries whose investors hold American stocks. Similarly, a rise in oil consumption in Asia will have a ripple effect on the oil market worldwide and likely result in higher prices for all consumers as demand increases.
Video Segments
The follow are video clips that we will watch throughout the unit to help spearhead class discussions. While I have tried to track down the edited versions, some of these may contain profanity.
Is America the Greatest Country in the World?
Brexit
The Myth of Globalization
