Global Problems in the 21st CenturyGlobal Problems in the 21st Century

Issues:• 1. Overpopulation

• People have more children in developing countries• 7 Billion and growing (total in the world)• Ideal for environment is less than 2 billion• Population density: Average number of people living in an

area of a specific size

• 2. Poverty/Food/Water Shortages• Over 1 Billion live on $1 a day• Billions do not have clean fresh water

• 3. Urbanization: Growth of cities• Cities become overcrowded slums• Cities cannot keep up with the need for housing, schools, or

even basic health services

Other Issues…

• Destruction of the Environment• Pollution• Depletion of resources (forests)

• Conflict• Terrorism• Drug Trade • Ethnic Cleansing

• Debt Repayment• Developing nations have to spend much of their income

repaying loans, and thus, cannot spend that money on much-needed services

Reasons for conflict• Ethnocentrism• Racism• Imperialism: Control by one country of the

political, economic, or cultural life of another country

Developed world• Definition: Rich countries that have well-organized industrial and

agricultural systems. Developed nations also make use of advanced technologies and have strong educational systems.

• Examples: Western Europe, N. America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan• 1 Billion of world population• Stable Governments• Largely middle class populations

Developing world• Definition: Those countries in which large segments of the economy are

relatively undeveloped and most people are poor. • Examples: S. and C. America, Africa, Asia• 6 billion people• Unstable governments• Prone to (more likely to get) global problems

“Developed Nation." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 8 Sept. 2012.

"Food, Famine, Overpopulation: 1980–Present (Visual)." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 8 Sept. 2012.