Chapter Summary
The twentieth century has often been called the century of total war. It has certainly been a century that has witnessed the wholesale slaughter of millions of people. Some historians place the number of people who died in the twentieth century as a result of war, famine, disease, and political or religious repression at more than 180 million. Only the twentieth century, thanks to improved technology and communication, could have been able to accomplish such a "feat" of madness. Ethnic and religious conflicts have shown no signs of abating any time soon, and certain areas of the globe-specifically the Middle Eastcontinue to be volatile hot spots. Although decolonization resulted in the collapse of the empires of the great powers, it has also unleashed a powerful global reaction that has proven difficult to completely grasp.
Together with decolonization came the concept of globalization. In general, globalization means the integration of new political, social, economic, and cultural global networks that ultimately involve new technologies, new economic imperatives, and changing laws. Personal computers, the Internet, and new networks of shared information have given the world the power to create, store, and distribute information on a massive scale. Globalization also means that goods and ideas can be exchanged independently of a single nation's control-that is, globalization has meant the blending or blurring of national boundaries. But globalization is not a uniform, leveling process, nor does it necessarily produce peace, equality, or homogeneity.
The rise of international terrorist cells backed by political and religious fundamentalists is evidence that our global village has destroyed as much as it has brought together various peoples of the world. The events of September 11, 2001, have forever altered the manner in which nations understand, and respond to, terrorist threats. One of the most significant consequences of international terrorism is the rise of uncertainty. Nations and people are increasingly uncertain about their futures, and long-term decision making is extraordinarily difficult in that context. This increasing uncertainty, coupled with periods of long-term international financial instability, has produced a complicated environment in which to make short- and long-term decisions.
The twenty-first century is faced with the legacy of globalization, and while it may be gratifying and constantly amazing to accept instant communication worldwide, we have perhaps opened up Pandora's Box. A revolution in information technology has not only offered fantastic vistas in human genetic engineering and nanotechnology, it has also perhaps produced the seeds of our own destruction.