What is the state of the world now?

State: the condition of someone/thing at a given time Global Politics/International Relations Its all about who has the power Military power (troops, tanks, nuclear weapons, etc.) Economic power Moral power (doing whats right) Balance of power (pre-WWI alliance system) Ways of being Bi-lateral/bi-polarCold War (US vs. USSR) Uni-lateral/uni-polarPost Cold War (US) Multi-lateralToday (China, US, EU, OPEC, UN) InterdependenceGlobalization (current economic crisis) Tools of international relations 1. Diplomacynegotiations, avoiding war 2. Sanctions 3. War National Interests Each country has its own foreign policy agenda to promote its own national interests Systems Everything is connected Provides structure and order Complex and dynamic Within a system, there are rights and responsibilities A Great Argumentation A strong opinionated thesis which is well supported by convincing evidence (quotes, logic) and a strong conclusion leaving the reader something to think about.

 How do we explain the Congo? Definition of Colonialism The policy/practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. Definition of Imperialism The policy of extending a countrys power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Imperialism Why might a bigger/stronger nation want to take over a smaller/weaker territory? Resources To add more land Labor needed The need to show power The smaller country is not doing what it should The bigger nation wants others to rule the same way Location Problems/issues the stronger country faces Lack of respect from disapproving countries Other country not providing enough to offset costlosing for than they gain Hassle to govern Its hard to stay in power Revolts and revolutions Advantages for the weaker country Better ruling, perhaps Opened to the rest of the world Better lives, perhaps New technology Disadvantages Lack of resources, freedom, land, possessions Death Culture loss

The Renaissance Dark Ages (400-1400) Roman Catholic Church controls everything The Plague (1380) 1/3 of Europe dies Big Changes Humanism Printing pressideas are spread around faster The Bibletranslated to everyday language ArtFrom being based on religion to showing everyday life Literaturecelebrates the living Spirit of Adventure Prince Henry of Portugalexplorations, missions Godconversions to your religion Goldgetting rich Gloryfame, power, respect (for your country) REBIRTH Rebirth of Greek and Roman classic culturesPlato, Aristotle, the classics Established in Italian city-statesthey were wealthy from trade Birth of the modern worldless superstition; education and literature encouraged; sports, art, music important; study of history and science Italian artistsLeonardo da vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael Renaissance spreads from Italy to Northern Europe, helped by Gutenbergs press (leads to Protestant Reformation, spreads to King Henry the 8th (Church of England) TheaterShakespeare writes plays and sonnets HumanismErasmus was very famous, wants people to be the best they can be in this life 15th/16th Century European Exploration Reasons why Money and power (gold, glory)cut out Islamic middlemen in Asia Religious aims (God)Roman Catholic Church out of power, Jesuits came in, want to convert more Renaissance spiritartists began signing their names-> glory, fame, ego Improved technologycompass, caravels, gunpowder, cannons Starts in Portugal Prince Henry the Navigatormade a map school, obsessed with traveling Bartholomew DiasExploration (1487-1488), reached Cape of Good Hopw Vasco de GamaExploration (1497), reached Calcutta, India Spain ColumbusExploration (1492) MagellanCircumnavigated the globe (1519-1522), killed in the Philippines, hits the spice trade, makes it back with one shipPhilippines conquered by Spain 1493: The Treaty of TordesillasWho gets what?

Pope divides the globePortugal claims the right side of the 31st parallel, Spain has the other side> Line of Demarcation 1800-1914The Age of Imperialism Another definition: social, economic, and political domination over another country Clarification: Age of Exploration: Gold Age of Imperialism: consumers, profit, market 1789s: The Industrial Revolution (starts in England) Industrializationfactory laborers Motives: Commerce Civilization Christianity Commerce: Economicprofit, money, trade New market Raw materials into finished goods Investment opportunitiesCapitalism, buy low, sell high Job opportunitiesfarming, military, business Civilization: Nationalism Power and prestige represented by territory building Military rivalries fueled by improved technology Coaling stationsleapfrogging for access to your land Christianity: Religious Beliefs Converts to become part of the empire Missionaries: right in between God and capitalism Sense of Racial and Cultural Superiority make people like us because we are the best White Mans BurdenRudyard Kipling White men had the belief that they needed to civilize men of color for their own good moral justification

To open to civilization the only part of our globe where it has not yet penetrated, to pierce the darkness which envelopes the whole population, is a crusadeworthy of a century of progress. King Leopold of Belgium 1880: 20 million people in the Congo Basin 1910: 8.5 million people remaining David LivingstoneBritish missionary, doctor, explorer 3 expeditions1841-1856, 1858, 1866-1873 Henry StanleyBritish journalist/explorer 1869: New York Herald sends him to Africa to find Livingstone 1871: finds Livingstone, Doctor Livingstone, I presume? 1874-1877: Congo River Expedition, the first east to west expedition He is the first white explorer to navigate the whole course of the Congo River He asks the UK, but they are uninterested King Leopold II of BelgiumHes desperate for his own colony 1878: Stanley signs a 5 year contract with Leopold to set up a series of trading stations along the Congo River Stanley accumulates a million square km of land for Leopold 1884: Stanley returns to Europe Suspicion arisesHow is an individual able to acquire that much land?? Different Perspectives Origin Purpose Value Limitations How was it decided who got what in Africa? 1884 Berlin West Africa ConferenceEuropean countries could take what they wants, if they could maintain effective control over their colonies and no country could take the whole continent. Reality of the Congo Free State Leopold self-portrayed as a great humanitarian The State had the right to seize vacant land, villages lost land, objectors pacified Rubber tax: Africans forced into slavery, populations reduced by 50% Trade rivals crushed, Leopold held antislavery conferences and got the import and export taxes George Washington WilliamsAfrican-American journalist goes because of all the good press Recorded and sent lists of abuses to Leopold and the President (US first recognized the CFS) Died, work picked up by missionaries (who were kept quiet by threats) Aborigines Protection Group, published book of abuses Morel, Reform Movement Discovered abusive system from accounting books at his shipping company 80% of imports went to the military Spokesperson for the Congolese, teamed up with Casement, Morrison

Newspaper for reform, lists of demands for Leopold British Governments call for change, Casement Parliament passed a resolution in 1903, horrific stories and business interests Germany, France did not respond. US, Turkey, Italy did Sir Casement (ex-consul of Britain to Congo) went to investigatefound slavery, death, destructionpublished his report Imperialism Playing Out Today Neo-imperialismdisguised form of imperialism by which a country dominates another politically independent country by control of economic markets for goods or raw materials. Rubber, coffee, minerals, fruits, drugsCommodities They only grow where they grow How much are you willing to pay? What happens when you put all of your eggs in your basket? Monoculturewhen the market crashes, the country crashes Coffee Example: $1 paid for coffee Growers: 10-12gforced to sell lower than production price. Production>Consumption Traders: 2-3coyotes, people basically in indentured servitude Shippers: 4 Roasters: 65-70Now in the US, the big four: Nestle, Proctor and Gamble, etc. Retailers: 10-15loss leader Back to the Congo Kleptocracyruling by theft Mabuto Sese SekoSucked out all of the resources for his private treasury Conflict Minerals Gold Tin Tanalum Tungsten

 Post imperial Countries What accounts for the fact that some ex-colonies are doing well? Singapore vs. Ghana How the empires left them Pre-independence preparation Leadership (selfish, weak, dictatorial?) Level of corruption (ie: bribes, smuggling, theft, nepotism) Resources available (minerals, land, skilled people) Location How do we view these countries? First world=money, privileged, modern technology Developed=finished, modern economy Third world=underprivileged, poor, underdeveloped, unstructured Undeveloped=lack of new technology, money, hope Developing=implies that progress is happening Second world, ex: Mexico How do statistics inform out perceptions? How much does place shape a persons experience? Women from developing countries usually saw education as a way for the parents to be better off financially whereas in more developed countries, the women viewed education as a future economical benefit for their children. Making sense of it: How much does place really matter? Caribbean Islandsinclude Jamaica and Barbados Same Different Islands Barbados: Great healthcare, Ex-British colonies small country, rich A lot of tourism Jamaica: corrupt government, Lots of Africans poor, a mess Drug issues Cash Crops Trade with the US So place might not matter as much as the decisions that the governments make. What was the problem? Oil prices went up, world in recession, no tourism Foreign exchange crisisno tourists=no foreign currency What were the possible solutions? Taking a loan from the IMF=have to restructure the economy, cut government spending, less foreign spending, lower currency value, inflation would make the people poor Decision made Barbados: leaders confronted the IMF, whole country took a cut, union leaders convinced the unions, government did an 8% wage cut for all civil servants Outcome Barbados: fantastic, excellent government Jamaica: Life is so bad the police steal from people selling on the streets Human Rights

The UN Trumans League of Nations failed to prevent WWII United States was absent, Congress didnt allow it Unanimous agreement was required for all decisions Beginning of the UN 1944: Representatives from the US, USSR, UK, and China came up with the idea 1945: 50 nations signed the UN Charter Aims Keep peace throughout the world Develop friendly relations between countries Work together to help people better their lives. Eliminate poverty, disease, illiteracy in the world and stop environmental destruction To be a center in helping nations achieve the above Principles All members must have sovereign equality All member states must obey charter rules Countries must try to settle differences by peaceful means, avoiding force or threat of force UN cannot interfere in the domestic affairs of any country Security Council Permanent members: US, USSR, China, France, UKthey won WWII Misc. 192 official members 6 official languages: English, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese Headquartered in New York Has its own flag, stamp, and post office Men cannot live by bread alone. Eleanor Roosevelt The UNDHR are determined to reaffirm faith in the fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the rights of men and women, and of nations large and small.UN Preamble