A New Era Begins
Eastern Europe
Western Europe
North America
South/ Central America
Africa
Middle East
East Asia
South and Southeast Asia
Economic
Social
Political
Political
Social
Economic
Political
Social
Economic
Political
Social
Economic
Social
Economic
Political
Economic
Political
Social
Political
Social
Economic
Social
Economic
Political
While some African nations show signs of progress toward political stability, most are still racked with problems.In 1991 the Organization of African Unity agreed to establish the African Economic Community. Africa has witnessed a number of women as the leaders of their countries.
Most African states are still poor, and African concerns continue to carry very little weight in the international community. Rapid population growth has slowed economic growth. As in other African countries , civil war has devastated the economy of Cote divore.
Religion has led to violence in parts of Africa. Protesters used social networking to organize the protests. North Africa and the Middle East were rocked by an immense uprising that led to a regime change in Tunisia and Egypt.
As the Cold war ended U.S. politics oscillated between right and left. At the same time Raegan oversaw the largest peacetime military buildup in U.S history. Raegan reduced welfare policies by cutting spending on food stamps, school lunch programs, and job programs.
The Bush administration was largely occupied with the war on terrorisim and the U.S led war on Iraq.In 1995 Quebec voters only narrowly rejected secession.The debate still devides Canadians.
Canadians were also concerned about economic problems and the status of Quebec. The spending policies of the Raegan administrations produced record government budget deficits. Canada approved the North American Free Trade Agreement along with the United States and Mexico.
In 1998, the Polish regime agreed to free parliamentary elections and the first free elections in Eastern Europe in 40 years. A new government was elected, ending 45 years of Communist rule. The new government soon faced old ethnic conflicts.
In 1998 and 1989, mass demonstrations took place throughout Czechoslovakia. Food shortages caused rationing. In December 1989 the secret police murdered thousands of people who were peacefully demonstrating.
In 1980, a worker named Lech Walesa organized a national trade group called solidarity. Rapid free market reforms led to severe unemployment. Slovakia has managed to make the transition from a centrally planned economy to a market economy.
Iran an oil rich country remains under the control of Muslim clerics who enforce strict adherence law. More than half of Egypts 80 million people are under the age of 25. Most of the young people in the Middle East were unemployed.
Much of the Middle east and North Africa faces political instability, ethnic tension, high employment, growing poverty rates, poor education, and limited civil liberties. Iran enforces strict adherence to islamic law, which limits basic rights, yet Iran signed a nuclear deal with powerful countries to limit development and to allow more oversight into its nuclear program.
They limit the rights of women, and the rights to free assembly and freedom of the press. Protests also swept across Iraq in 2011 as people sought better government services.
Leaders of Western Europe faced many economic challenges. The European Union formed in 1993, this economic union established a common European currency called the Euro. Despite their economic woes however the Western European states seemed quite capable of prospering.
Germany reunified in 1990, symbolized by the tearing down of the Berlin wall. One of the big political changes was the women's rights movement because there were some people who were totally for it and some people against it.
France faced problems as resentment grew against foreign born residents, especially Muslims. The collapse of the German economy also led to increasing attacks on foreigners. Especially noticeable where the growing tensions between the Muslim community and the remainder of the French population.
Communism still help strong despite calls for reforms. Political tension between North Korea and South Korea continue, primarily due to North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Despite such achievements, many complained that Deng Xiaopings program had not achieved a fifth modernization- democracy.
In 1979, the Chinese government adopted a one child policy to control population growth. As the economy prospered, students and other groups wanted better living conditions and greater freedom. Discontent led to massive demonstrations in Tiananmen square in Beijing.
The new Chinese government after Mao sought to modernize Chinas industry, agriculture, technology, and national defense. Rapid growth rates has meant poor working conditions and low salaries, leading to labor unrest. Japans economy slipped into a recession in the 1990s facing slow economic growth and deflation. South Korea has become one of the strongest economies in Asia.
Cuba and the united States have begun to repair their relationship, which became strained during the Cold War and Cuban presidency of Fidel Castro. In 2000 Vicente Fox and the National Action Party defeated PRI for he presidency, helping contribute to the rise of a multi party system in Mexico. Since 1990, many South American countries have transitioned to democracies and reformed their social and economic structure.
Mexico has struggled with poverty, unemployment, and a violent drug trade. Haiti has dealt with the devastating effects of an earthquake and continued poverty. Increased public education and economic growth have lessoned the gap between rich and poor.
Honduras began a process of demilitarizing but has suffered setbacks, including hurricane Mitch, a military coup, and continued gang and police violence. El Salvodor still struggles with the effects of a bloody Civil war, gang violence, and poverty.
Important developments in South Asia since the 1990s are the growing economic power of India. India's economy has emerged as one of the fastest and largest growing. Since 1990 , most countries in southeast Asia have experienced strong economic growth.
During the early 1990s the Congress party remained the leading party in India Growing political instability was accompanied by rising tensions between Hindus and Muslims.In recent years some Southeast asian societies have once again moved toward democracy.
Conflict between Hindus and Muslims has continued and religious differences have fueled a long term dispute between India and Pakistan. Muslim rebels on the island of Mindanao for example have used terror to promote their demands for independence. Although the Philippines is democratic, terrorisim still remains a problem.
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