Annual Editions: Global Issues 09/10

Annual Editions is a series of over 65 volumes, each designed to provide convenient, inexpensive access to a wide range of current articles from some of the most respected magazines, newspapers, and journals published today. Annual Editions are updated on a regular basis through a continuous monitoring of over 300 periodical sources. The articles selected are authored by prominent scholars, researchers, and commentators writing for a general audience. The Annual Editions volumes have a number of common organizational features designed to make them particularly useful in the classroom: a general introduction; an annotated table of contents; a topic guide; an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites; and a brief overview for each section. Each volume also offers an online Instructor's Resource Guide with testing materials. Using Annual Editions in the Classroom is the general instructor's guide for our popular Annual Editions series and is available in print (0073301906) or online. Visit www.mhcls.com for more details.

Table of Contents:
AE: Global Issues, 09/10 Preface Correlation Guide Topic Guide Internet References Unit 1: Global Issues in the Twenty-First Century: An OverviewUnit Overview1. A Special Moment in History, Bill McKibben, The Atlantic, May 1998The interconnected dangers of overpopulation, climate change, and pollution have been in the headlines for years, but doomsday has not yet arrived. Bill McKibben examines two important questions: What if we have already inflicted serious damage on the planet? And what if there are only a few decades left to salvage a stable environment?2. Can Extreme Poverty Be Eliminated?, Jeffrey D. Sachs, Scientific American, September 2005One of the United Nations Millennium Project’s goals was reducing by half the level of extreme poverty by 2015. The director of the project describes how business as usual has to be replaced with programs that address the underlying causes of poverty by improving health, education, water, sanitation, food production, and roads.3. The Ideology of Development, William Easterly, Foreign Policy, July/August 2007The author critically evaluates both the economic and political assumptions of development theorists such as Jeffrey Sachs and Thomas Friedman. Easterly argues that the top down approach managed by international bureaucrats has done little to alleviate poverty while at the same time minimizing local solutions to economic challenges. This article is an excellent companion piece to other articles in this section, for it presents a distinctly different perspective.4. The Rise of the Rest, Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek, May 12, 2008There is considerable speculation about the future role of the United States in the international economic system. The author discusses the growing political and economic importance of other countries and how the United States must learn to adapt if it is going to maintain its ability to lead.5. Feminists and Fundamentalists, Kavita Ramdas, Current History, March 2006The women’s movement had great success during the twentieth century. Today, it faces a backlash. The new challenges facing women are discussed along with strategies to meet them. Unit 2: Population and Food ProductionUnit Overview6. The Century Ahead, Chris Wilson, Daedalus, Winter 2006Rapid population growth was the dominant demographic trend in the twentieth century. The author argues that the twenty-first century is likely to be the century of aging. The implications of this demographic transition are examined in different regions of the world.7. Africa’s Restless Youth, Michelle Gavin, Current History, May 2007While much of the world’s population is aging, Africa is in the midst of a demographic youth bulge. The social and political consequences of this are described in this article.8. Still Hungry: One Eighth of the World’s People Do Not Have Enough to Eat, Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Fuzhi Cheng, Scientific American, September 2007The cause of hunger is not insufficient food production. Factors contributing to hunger are discussed along with identifying who is hungry and where they are located.9. Pandemic Pandemonium, Josh N. Ruxin, National Journal, July/August 2008A broad discussion of various diseases and the potential for pandemics is presented here. The article describes the efforts and challenges facing national and international health organizations as they confront the age-old threat to civilization. Unit 3: The Global Environment and Natural Resources UtilizationUnit Overview10. Deflating the World’s Bubble Economy, Lester R. Brown, USA Today Magazine, November 2003Lester Brown is one of the leading commentators on global environmental issues. In this article, he argues that unless damaging trends are reversed, depleted aquifers and exhausted soils could lead to the abandonment of rich agricultural areas. Brown also provides case studies of a number of successful transitions to sustainable practices.11. The Great Leap Backward?, Elizabeth C. Economy, Foreign Affairs, September/October 2007China’s rapid economic growth is resulting in deteriorating environmental conditions. These consequences are described along with the government’s ambitious targets for environmental protection, which are often ignored by local officials.12. Water of Life in Peril, Sharon Palmer, Today’s Dietitian, October 2007The author provides a comprehensive discussion of the strain on fresh water supplies, including inefficient, wasteful irrigation and food production systems. The article examines different efforts to increase efficiency, including recycling waste water.13. Ocean ‘Dead Zones’ Spreading Worldwide, Randolph E. Schmid, The Sacramento Bee, August 15, 2008The number of known areas of the oceans and coastal waters where life has been snuffed out due to oxygen depletion has doubled in the last two years. The article summarizes the research related to this problem.14. Cry of the Wild, Sharon Begley, Newsweek, August 6, 2007Hunting, including protected animals, is a multimillion-dollar business. The impact of hunting on endangered species is described along with the efforts to protect the world’s vanishing wildlife. Unit 4: Political EconomyUnit OverviewPart A. Globalization Debate15. Globalization and Its Contents, Peter Marber, World Policy Journal, Winter 2004/05The term globalization has different meanings for different people, often depending on their political perspective. The debate about the positive and negative impacts of this situation is reviewed from a broad historical perspective. The author concludes that the evidence strongly suggests that human prosperity is improving as boundaries between people are lowered.16. It’s a Flat World, After All, Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times, April 3, 2005Thomas Friedman is a well-known commentator who has contributed significantly to the debate about globalization. This article summarizes his latest book, The World Is Flat. He discusses a number of technological trends that are not only involving new participants in the global economy but also fundamentally changing the way people do business.17. Why the World Isn’t Flat, Pankaj Ghemawat, Foreign Policy, March/April 2007The concept of globalization has defined much of the debate about international economic activity for the past twenty years. The author critically examines the basic assumptions of those that argue that this trend is dominant, and concludes that "the champions of globalization are describing a world that doesn’t exist.''Part B. General Case Studies18. The Case against the West: America and Europe in the Asian Century, Kishore Mahbubani, Foreign Affairs, May/June 2008The changing international, economic roles of both Asian and Western countries is described along with an evaluation of how the West is resisting the rise of the Asian countries. There is specific focus on the issues of nuclear nonproliferation, the Middle East, and trade.19. A Bigger World, The Economist, September 20, 2008Globalization is entering a new phase, one in which companies from emerging markets are competing against rich-country corporations. The article discusses the implications of this trend to the future of capitalism.20. The Lost Continent, Moisés Naím, Foreign Policy, November/December 2006The author observes that the role of Latin America in the world has been declining for decades. He examines the reasons for this diminished role with a special focus on political culture.21. Promises and Poverty, Tom Knudson, Sacramento Bee, September 23, 2007Companies often market their products by boasting about what they do for the environment. Starbuck’s eco-friendly approach is examined with a special focus on the complex story of coffee in East Africa.22. Drugs, Ethan Nadelmann, Foreign Policy, September/October 2007The author challenges the basic assumptions of the war on drugs. He describes the financial and criminal dimensions of illegal drug trafficking. He asserts that prohibition has failed. A smarter drug-control policy is emerging, which focuses on results rather than on rhetoric.Part C. Global Energy Case Studies23. Ensuring Energy Security, Daniel Yergin, Foreign Affairs, March/April 2006Daniel Yergin is a leading expert on global energy politics. He provides a comprehensive overview of the changing energy markets and U.S. national security. New consumers, such as India and China, have changed the supply and demand equation. Increasingly complex systems of oil shipping have further compounded the political economy of global energy.24. The Power and the Glory, Geoffrey Carr, The Economist, June 21, 2008The article provides comprehensive review of the changing patterns of energy consumption as the price of oil increases and efforts to reduce greenhouse gases accelerate. The article focuses on new technologies and the economic dimensions of developing new sources of clean, renewable energy.25. Nuclear Now!: How Clean, Green Atomic Energy Can Stop Global Warming, Peter Schwartz and Spencer Reiss, Wired, February 2005The argument that nuclear power is an environmentally friendly alternative to oil and coal is presented along with a discussion of "interim storage'' and the recycling of nuclear waste. Numerous references are made to the role of nuclear power in Europe and Japan, which provides an international context to the discussion.26. Life After Peak Oil, Gregory Clark, The Sacramento Bee, December 23, 2007The author argues that after an initial period of painful adaptation, Americans can lead happy and healthy lives in a world with high energy costs. Unit 5: ConflictUnit Overview27. Terrorist Rivals: Beyond the State-Centric Model, Louise Richardson, Harvard International Review, Spring 2007An examination of the traditional way of viewing international politics reveals an interesting conclusion: "That a country with secure borders, a formidable nuclear deterrent, and no military rivals . . . feels vulnerable, speaks to the inadequacies of the traditional formulation of the balance of power.'' In addressing the threat of terrorism, the author offers six principles for guiding U.S. policy in the future.28. The Long March to Be a Superpower, The Economist, August 4, 2007The Chinese military is rapidly modernizing itself by purchasing Russian equipment and developing new missiles and other weapons systems. The capability of the People’s Liberation Army to challenge the United States is assessed along with a discussion of the ability to wage asymmetrical warfare.29. What Russia Wants, Ivan Krastev, Foreign Policy, May/June 2008The author examines the foreign policy of Russia and its assumptions about the future of the United States and Europe.30. Lifting the Veil: Understanding the Roots of Islamic Militancy, Henry Munson, Harvard International Review, Winter 2004This article explores the question, "Why do they hate us?'' Using public opinion polls to examine attitudes in the Middle East, Professor Munson identifies two sources of anti-American militancy: U.S. support of Israel and a backlash to the strategy and tactics of the war on terrorism.31. A Mideast Nuclear Chain Reaction?, Joseph Cirincione, Current History, December 2008As Iran develops the technology to enrich uranium suitable for building a nuclear weapon, other countries in the Middle East are beginning to pursue this technology as well. The author discusses the potential for a regional nuclear arms race which could significantly increase the possibility of a nuclear war.32. The Politics of Death in Darfur, Gérard Prunier, Current History, May 2006A complex mix of tribal, ethnic, and religious cross-currents forms the backdrop for the unfolding crisis in the drought-prone Darfur region of Sudan. The French author describes the national and international political maneuvering that impedes a meaningful response to this humanitarian crisis.33. Banning the Bomb: A New Approach, Ward Wilson, Dissent, Winter 2007The military utility of nuclear weapons is challenged along with the doctrine that has supported their development. The author argues that nuclear weapons have no real military value and proposes that they be banned, thereby eliminating the danger of them falling into the hands of terrorists and unstable leaders. Unit 6: CooperationUnit Overview34. Europe as a Global Player: A Parliamentary Perspective, Hans-Gert Poettering, Harvard International Review, Spring 2007The evolution of the European Parliament is chronicled in this article. This expansion of the legislative power and responsibility has resulted in significant changes in both the scope of European Union policy and the integration of member countries.35. The Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus, Scientific American, November 1999A small experiment, begun in Bangladesh to loan money to poor people as a way of helping them become more productive, has turned into a major, new concept in the eradication of poverty.36. Geneva Conventions, Steven R. Ratner, Foreign Policy, March/April 2008The author discusses the international law governing the treatment of soldiers and civilians during war with a focus on 21st century issues, including the War on Terror.37. Is Bigger Better?, David Armstrong, Forbes, June 2, 2008Using market incentives, the world’s largest antipoverty group helped pull Bangladesh out of the ashes. Now it wants to take on Africa. Unit 7: Values and VisionsUnit Overview38. Humanity’s Common Values: Seeking a Positive Future, Wendell Bell, The Futurist, September/October 2004The author argues that, "there is an emerging global ethic, a set of shared values.'' These have evolved and now shape and constrain behavior. Specific principles along with behavior that supports the development of legal and ethical norms necessary for a positive global future are described here.39. And the Winner Is . . ., Alan Wolfe, The Atlantic, March 2008The article is a comprehensive discussion of the relationship between religious practices and per capita income. The author argues that "the secular underpinning of today’s religious growth'' is directly affecting beliefs and practices. The overall trend is for greater understanding between religions and not an expansion of extremism.40. Life, Religion and Everything, Laura Sevier, The Ecologist, September 2007The author examines the renewed focus of all, major religious groups to view the land as alive and sacred with value beyond economic terms.Test-Your-Knowledge From Article Rating Form