An Interconnected World’s New Challenges

The rising tide of globalization ushered in as many challenges as opportunities. First, world health and the environment came under a multipronged attack from nuclear disaster, acid rain, the global circulation of contagious diseases, and surging population. Second, economic prosperity and physical safety continued to elude great masses of people, especially in the southern half of the globe. Third, as suprastate organizations developed, transnational allegiances and religious and ethnic movements vied for power and influence. Finally, a devastating economic crisis that rippled from Wall Street across the globe challenged the prosperity of the United States and Europe even as Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America developed competitive businesses and trade.