Chapter 31 - Europe in an Age of Globalization

Introduction

The end of the Cold War opened up a whole new chapter in European and world history. Capitalism spread across the former East Bloc and the Soviet Union (now the Russian Federation) began to have potential for democratic reform. This new era also came with its own new problems and tragedies. In the East Bloc, the rebuilding of society was more difficult than it was envisioned to be in 1991. People were seeing benefits and disadvantages of globalization and the digital revolution. Ethnic diversity was becoming prominent in western Europe, which sometimes led to fear and conflict. But as Europe faced these new difficult challenges, it also came together to form new great things, like the European Union. 

EQ

Q: What are the defining features of globalization?
A: The defining features of globalization consist of neoliberal economic policies, computer and communication revolutions, and transformed economic, business, and personal relations around the world. Globalization is defined as the emergence of a freer, more technologically connected global economy, accompanied by a worldwide exchange of cultural, political, and religious ideas. 

Three People in the News

Jose Bove

Bove was a french farmer and antiglobalization activist who made world headlines when he drove his truck through the window of a McDonald's fast food restaurant in a small french village. He wanted to protest the use of hormone-fed beef and genetically modified foods, and the reach of corporate capital. This was a part of the Slow Food movement that's goal was to eliminate fast food in Europe. People thought that natural products should be used in food, and that local products should be utilized, instead of bringing in product from other places. This new idea of global protest was very important to the chapter.

Tariq Ramadan

A religious teacher, activist professor, and media star, Ramadan is known as Europe's most famous Muslim intellectual. He is praised by many as a moderate bridge builder, and denounced by others as an Islamic militant in disguise. Ramadan urges people to think for themselves and distinguish the sacred revelation of Islam from the nonessential cultural aspects that their parents know of. Today, Ramadan symbolizes the growing importance of Europe's Muslim citizens. 

Osama bin Laden 

Osama bin Laden was the founder of Al Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets. Shortly after the September 11 attacks, the United States declared war on Afghanistan. The war was known as the "war on terror" which was an American policy under President Bush to fight global terrorism in all its forms. Bin Laden was finally found, shot and killed by U.S. Navy Seals and the CIA on May 1, 2011.

Two U.S. Events

 

September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda forces, led by Osama bin Laden launched massive terrorist attacks on the United States. Al Qaeda flew airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York City, instantly killing thousands of people from all over the world. Not only did they fly a plane into both of the twin towers, but they flew one into the pentagon, and flight 93 which was believed to have been headed for the white house, but was crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Terrorist attacks were also happening in Europe at this time. There were the terrorist attacks in London, and the terrorist attacks in Spain which happened exactly 911 days after 9-11.

War on Terror 

 

As a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by Al Qaeda, President George W. Bush created the American policy of war on terror to fight global terrorism in all its forms.  The war on terror was originally started due to the terrorist attacks by Al Qaeda, but became to be known as the global war on terrorism. The United Stated announced that it would be invading Afghanistan to destroy the perpetrators of the crime. By drawing on the world's sympathy, a broad international coalition was built that included western Europe, Russia, and Pakistan. The United States joined its tremendous air power with local anti-Taliban resistance fighters, and in mid-November the Taliban government collapsed.  

Picturing the Past

This picture portrays the calls on viewers to vote for the far right French National Front in elections to the European Parliament. The picture depicts the French known Lady Liberty with a black eye and starts circling her head. After looking at this picture for the first time, you can see that this is not necessarily a good representation of Lady Liberty. She clearly looks beat up, and that she is having a rough time with what is going on at the time.

Two Connections Across Time

The Digital Age & The Scientific Revolution

Across time, the digital age could be compared to the scientific revolution, as new things were being discovered all over the place. The digital age brought along with it new and different kinds of computers, where as during the time of the Scientific revolution, new discoveries were being made that people had no idea were true. Overall, both bettered society as a whole with the new things that were discovered and created.

The War on Terror & WWII

The war on terror can connect back to world war II or world war I in that when Afghanistan did something bad, other European countries like those in Western Europe, Russia, and Pakistan were quick to help the United States. In WWII for example, when Germany did something bad, other countries were quick to join forces, and help to take down Germany.  

Two Art Pieces

 

September 11, 2001

This piece of Art clearly depicts that the standard superhero that people think about was not the superhero of 9-11. On September 11,  the superheros who saved people were the firefighters and police men who went into the burning buildings to save people's lives. The risked their own lives to save other people. That really brings a real life element to this picture, which is why it is significant to the chapter.

Globalization

This picture depicts the new ideas of globalization that we talked about in this chapter. You can see the effects that globalization has had on society at this time through this cartoon. It really shows how people felt about the WTO and the UN, and other global organizations like it.

3-2-1 Summary

3 Things I Learned

- The Maastricht Treaty was the basic start of the Euro in Europe
- The War on Terror was supported by other countries including those in Western Europe, Russia, and Pakistan.
- Globalization is the emergence of a freer, more technologically connected global economy, accompanied by a worldwide exchange of cultural, political, and religious ideas.

2 Things I Found Interesting

 - Global protests - including the Slow Food Movement in Europe
 - The process of the development of the Euro

1 Question I Still Have

 - How did population and changes in immigration change the demographics of Europe at this time?
 

Age of Imperialism Continued

A Current Uprising

Today, there are many uprisings in the Middle East, like the overthrow of the Libyan government. February 16^th, 2011, marked the beginning of the overthrow of the Libyan government. It started out with many riots in Libya, and then ended up with the assassination of the ruler of Libya at the time, Muammar Gaddafi. During the revolutions, crowd protesters protested outside local government offices and demanded the release of the political activists. They chanted slogans accusing the Quatar-based news channel of broadcasting lies. The uprising resulted in the overthrow of the Gaddafi government, and Sharia became the new basis for law in the country.

"Spotlight On" the Suez Canal

Today, the Suez Canal is operated by the Suez Canal Authority. The canal itself is 101 miles long, and 984 feet wide. It begins at the Mediterranean Sea at Point Said flows through Ismailia in Egypt, and ends at Suez on the Gulf of Suez. It also has a railroad running its entire length parallel to its west bank. The Suez Canal can accommodate ships with a vertical height of 62 feet or 210,000 deadweight tons. Most of the Suez Canal is not wide enough for two ships to pass side by side. To accommodate this, there is one shipping lane and several passing bays where ships can wait for others to pass. The Suez Canal has no locks because Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea's Gulf of Suez have approximately the same water level. It takes around 11 to 16 hours to pass through the canal and ships must travel at a low speed to prevent erosion of the canal's banks by the ships' waves.

3-2-1 Summary

Three Things I Learned

• I learned a lot about the Suez Canal. I've heard of it before, but I didn't know where it was, or it's significance.
• I learned about imperialism in the United States. I never put two and two together, and understood how it was that the United States was imperialistic.
  
• I liked learning about the great migration during this chapter. It was neat seeing that people were migrating to other countries besides the United States.
  

Two Things that Interested Me

• Imperialism in the United States. I was really interested when I had to come up with proof on each side. That the US could and could not be imperialistic. It really made me think, and was difficult for me to come up with reasons on both sides.
  
• The political cartoons. I love political cartoons because frankly make me laugh. They are a really neat way of looking at history in a completely different sense.
  

One Question I Still Have

• Why has the United States tried to defend itself and say that it isn't imperialistic, when there are clearly imperialistic tendencies there? I just don't understand why it would be such a problem for us to say that.