Global Issues: An Introduction

The new edition of this text has been fully updated throughout and features expanded sections on issues such as global warming, biotechnology, and energy. "Global Issues" is an introduction to the nature and background of some of the central issues - economic, social, political, environmental - of modern times. It will provide the basis for a stimulating course for beginning students in departments of geography, politics, sociology and environmental science.The book opens with an overview of the complex political, cultural and natural origins of world problems and of why some nations are rich and some are poor. The author then discusses in depth such issues as population growth, hunger, the extinction of species, global warming and climatic change, ozone depletion, energy conservation, deforestation, and the misuse of technology. Highly illustrated with diagrams and photographs, this volume contains guides to further reading, media, and internet resources, and includes suggestions for discussion and studying the material.

Table of Contents:
List of PlatesList of Figures and TablesForewordIntroduction: The Creation of Global Issues1 Wealth and Poverty The Millennium Development Goals Development Assistance and Foreign AidThe Market ApproachThe State ApproachThe Civil Society ApproachGeography and Wealth, Geography and PovertyGlobalizationConclusionsNotesFurther Reading2 PopulationThe Changing Population of the WorldCauses of the Population ExplosionHow Population Growth Affects DevelopmentHow Development Affects Population GrowthGovernmental Population PoliciesThe FutureConclusionsNotesFurther Reading3 FoodWorld Food ProductionHow Many are Hungry?Causes of World HungerHow Food Affects DevelopmentHow Development Affects FoodThe Green RevolutionGovernmental Food PoliciesFuture Food SuppliesConclusionsNotesFurther Reading4 EnergyThe Energy CrisisResponses by Governments to the Energy CrisisThe Effect of the Energy Crisis on the Development Plans of Less Developed NationsThe Relationship between Energy Use and DevelopmentClimate ChangeThe Energy TransitionConclusionsNotesFurther Reading5 The EnvironmentThe AwakeningThe AirThe WaterThe LandThe Workplace and the HomeThe Use of Natural ResourcesThe Extinction of SpeciesThe Extinction of CulturesEnvironmental PoliticsConclusionsNotesFurther Reading6 TechnologyBenefits of TechnologyShort-Term versus Long-Term Benefits -- the Tragedy of the CommonsUnanticipated Consequences of the Use of TechnologyInappropriate Uses of TechnologyLimits to the "Technological Fix"WarThe Threat of Nuclear Weapons: A Case StudyConclusionsNotesFurther Reading7 Alternative FuturesDoomGrowthSustainable DevelopmentConclusionsNotesFurther ReadingAppendix 1: Studying and Teaching Global IssuesAppendix 2: Relevant VideosAppendix 3: Study and Discussion Questions for Students and TeachersAppendix 4: Relevant Internet Web SitesSelected BibliographyIndex

About the Author :
John L. Seitz is Professor of Government at Wofford College. He has extensive first-hand experience of South Korea, Iran, Brazil, Liberia and Pakistan. His Politics of Development was published by Blackwell in 1988.

Review :
"This is a very interesting book. On the one hand its range of titles suggests little out of the ordinary. On the other hand its treatment of the subject matter and the very restrained use of language make it an ideal book to use for discussions on these issues. It doesn't try to preach neither does it over-simplify. Even though the text appears to be pitched at an older audience, lower secondary students would find the text accessible. For a good overview on the pros and cons of key current issues this book is hard to beat." TEGNews "University students, and indeed others, are shown how both the decisions that have been made - and the resulting failures and successes - and the choices that must now be faced if crucial problems are to be solved." Mervyn Richardson, International Journal of Environmental Studies