What is globalization? How has this affected global politics, nuclear proliferation, and the world economy?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
Students should explain that globalization is the worldwide trend toward increasing political, economic, and cultural integration. In the post-Cold War era, nations have a great deal of freedom; however, the international community needs to protect small or weak states from aggression without completely violating state autonomy. Intervention has occurred through negotiation through the United Nations as well as through military intervention. For example, NATO intervened in the Balkans in 1991 when warring states and separatism led to ethnic cleansing and other atrocities. Free trade in the post-Cold War era of globalization brought problems as well as economic growth. Cycles of "boom and bust" are endemic to free-market capitalism. The economic expansion of the 1990s led to the global recession after 2000. Students should discuss that many countries joined with their neighbors to create regional trade associations such as the European Union to promote free trade and reduce tariffs. NAFTA, Mercosur, and the World Trade Organization are other such examples. Although several treaties were signed stemming the development and testing of nuclear weapons, in the 1990s new anxieties emerged over these weapons. Countries such as China, India, and Pakistan all tested nuclear weapons, and North Korea continued to develop them. It is feared that Israel and Iran have nuclear programs as well. President Bush has violated nuclear nonproliferation agreements by pushing for new nuclear weapons development.