Examples of interaction of global problems. Global issues of our time

To understand how global problems are interconnected, it is important to carefully study each of them. Humanity of the modern world is faced with solving the most difficult problems. Some issues really threaten our existence, as well as all life on the “green” planet.

What are global problems?

Why is the topic of the interconnection of global problems constantly raised at scientific conferences and at UN meetings? Apparently, the previous century became a kind of breaking point in world history into “before” and “after”. Not long ago, humanity lost confidence in immortal existence. And even nature seems to hint with its massive cataclysms that sooner or later one will have to pay too high a price for the desire to endlessly conquer it and receive maximum benefits to the detriment of it.

The interconnection of global problems of our time is a mechanism consisting of individual elements - threats hanging over humanity, and clearly working against life on Earth.

Unlike natural disasters that are temporary and passing in nature, this chain of dangers has an incomparable scale and concerns the future of an entire civilization. Global problems of humanity affect the destinies and interests of all segments of the population, leading to significant socio-economic losses, and therefore their solution requires close interstate cooperation and the efforts of all countries, nations and nationalities.

requiring urgent solutions

Scientists who have studied this topic have presented to the world different understandings of global problems and the relationships between them. They are endowed with inconsistency and disproportion, which is uncharacteristic of the full-fledged life of a modern person. The threats hanging over the world are usually classified as follows:

• International social difficulties. Here we are talking about an example of the interconnection of global problems of our time, such as militarization in most countries and the build-up of the arms race, which in some cases leads to war and slowdown in the formation of states with developing economies.
• Problems of a humanitarian nature. These include the global demographic boom, difficulties in overcoming hunger and incurable diseases, and cultural and ethnic issues.
• The result of the negative impact of society on the world around us. Problems of low level of environmental protection, food production, shortage of natural resources, etc. can be called relevant today.

How global problems are interconnected: obvious examples

Give examples of the interconnection of global problems. Confused? You don't have to be a great scientist to do this. We should start with the most pressing problem of interaction between man and the world around him.

As is known, until the middle of the last century, the causes of environmental chaos were considered to be natural phenomena, i.e., natural disasters. At the moment, no one doubts that the culprit is irresponsible human management, which, in turn, has led to widespread pollution, not limited locally, but affecting the entire globe.

Another example of the interconnection of global problems is the intersection of the demographic crisis with global food supply indicators due to the accelerating growth. The number of inhabitants of the planet increases every year in a stable progression, which inevitably leads to pressure on natural potential, negative anthropogenic development of the natural environment, but not accompanied by an increase in the food supply. Thus, population increases, as a rule, occur in developing countries with a lower cultural and economic level.

The interconnection of global problems of our time can be continued with the next “link” - the exploration of outer space. Considering how young the industry is, it has made significant progress over a half-century period. One way or another, humanity is heading towards the prospect of extracting alien resources in order to replenish the shortage of earthly reserves. However, the problem lies in the financial inaccessibility of space exploration. Today, spending money on research in this industry is beyond the capabilities of most countries.

War as a cause of the global world crisis

The above three examples of the interconnection of global problems of our time are not the only ones. The issues of war and peace are no less pressing. The confrontation between interstate interests often takes on total features: the number of human losses, crazy financial costs and the destruction of material support. The general damage from the escalation of numerous conflicts and the active phase of hostilities in the last century forced humanity to make a sharp scientific and technological leap forward. However, progress and the establishment of industrial society gave rise to other negative consequences. The inability to manage natural resources economically and an unjustified increase in their expenditure led to the backwardness of individual states, while other, more successful countries worked to improve weapons production.

The arms race, despite the relative easing of global tension, has colossal negative consequences, impoverishing the world economy, constantly provoking aggressive attacks in the international arena of individual countries, leveling the culture of spirituality and militarizing political thinking. The desire of individual states to increase their defensive power led to the fact that by the mid-80s the global nuclear potential had reached a hundred times the total firepower of the weapons used by all parties during the Second World War.

Interdependence of demographic and socio-public tasks

It is impossible not to mention one more element in the chain of interrelation of global problems - overcoming the backwardness of developing countries. It's no secret: every fifth inhabitant of the earth is hungry. Returning again to the problem of disappearing resources that are consumed by the annually increasing number of earthlings. As a rule, an increase in the birth rate occurs in economically underdeveloped countries. It is enough to imagine this situation a little differently. What would happen if all representatives of modern humanity had a high standard of living? Unfortunately, our planet would not have been able to cope long ago. One of the ways to solve the problem should be to limit the birth rate while simultaneously reducing mortality rates, accompanied by an increase in the quality of life.

In this context, discord in social relations is added to the interconnection of global problems of humanity. Due to the high importance of religious views in most modern states, birth control, which implies, in particular, the absence of a ban on artificial termination of pregnancy, de facto becomes an inactive and unpopular measure in society. Most religious teachings promote and encourage large families. However, today only a few countries in Western Europe and North America are able to provide “large” families with social guarantees to the extent necessary for a full life. Otherwise, primitive forms of farming (community), illiteracy, lack of education, bad manners, the presence of chronic diseases and the absence of any real prospects “win”.

Almost all examples of the relationship of global problems intersect with each other within the framework of the social system of relations “man-society” and the plane “man-nature-man”. Thus, in order to overcome the difficulties of providing raw materials, it is expected that decisions will be made based on the rational use of energy sources, including the reserves of the World Ocean. To remove barriers to the development of scientific and technological progress, it is not enough to pay attention only to the material and production segment in the state’s economy. Since low indicators of human potential are the result of imperfections in the education, health and cultural systems, contribution to their development can be considered the first step for the successful formation of the scientific and technical sphere.

At the same time, it will be possible to give examples of the relationship between global problems for a long time. Each of the above prerequisites for the total self-destruction of the modern world can be viewed from a different angle, which will help to find completely different cause-and-effect relationships, and therefore more effective solutions. Perhaps, at first glance, the relationship between global environmental problems and the lag in economic development of some states will seem absurd or completely non-existent. But still, finding evidence of its relevance is not so difficult.

Economically developed and backward countries: what difficulties arise?

To begin with, it is worth paying attention to some patterns. Thus, the division of labor within the world economy is implemented according to the scheme in such a way that the role of leading industrial centers is given to promising, rapidly developing urbanized countries. States with a low standard of living “by default” take on the functions of the periphery, aimed at providing the agricultural and raw materials segment.

And what comes out of all this? Stronger and more confident powers find legal (in accordance with international law) ways to use the resources of underdeveloped economic countries, thereby blocking the latter’s path to self-development and formation, increased economic performance and financial independence.

Poverty and hunger as a result of external public debt

In addition, the conditions of the population boom are forcing countries with low living standards to seek financial assistance from international financial organizations. Large loans over and over again tightened the knot of bondage around the borrowers' necks. Today, the problem of the external affairs of modern states is acquiring global features: $1.25 trillion is the debt of the powers of the so-called “third world”.

Interest payments and debts place a pressing burden on the population of these states, and therefore the figures demonstrating the global nature of the problem across the globe are, to put it mildly, impressive:

• more than 700 million people are hungry;
• twice as many people lack access to health care;
• Almost 1.5 billion people live below the extreme poverty line.

Economic stability and financial viability of the state is inversely proportional to the amount of external debt. Using the example of the Russian Federation, it is easy to see that over the past few years, the debt to creditor countries has tripled - from 50 billion to 150 billion dollars.

Scope of potential environmental threat

Against the backdrop of widespread industrialization throughout the world, the environmental problem has radically worsened. The reason for this is the preferential approach to material production. The creation of powerful enterprises in a specific industrial sector still entails the production of one or more consumer goods, while the rest is destroyed due to obscenity or impossibility of storage.

Scientists call the current situation an “ecological infarction.” This is where more than three examples of the interconnection of global problems originate:

1. Of the total mass of raw materials extracted by humans, only a few percent are used for their intended purpose and are of practical importance. The rest is garbage, waste that is sent back into the environment, but in a modified, unacceptable and alien form to nature. With global industrial production doubling every decade, the planet's pollution levels will become critical in the near future.
2. During the disposal of such waste over the past 200 years, almost 200 billion tons of carbon dioxide have been released into the atmosphere. The permissible concentration of the substance is increasing at an unprecedented rate, which has led to a change in the composition of the air envelope and the formation of the so-called greenhouse effect.
3. In turn, the climate “cap” of carbon dioxide has caused a global increase in temperature. Its consequence is the melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice. Warming on a planetary scale leads to the fact that in 70-80 years the air temperature will increase by several degrees Celsius.
4. A change in temperature, in accordance with the elementary laws of physics, will lead to an increase in precipitation. Thus, scientists predict that the level of the World Ocean will rise by 65 cm, hiding entire megacities and billions of lives under its waters.
5. Emissions of other chemical compounds into the atmosphere lead to a reduction in the thickness of the ozone layer. As is known, this atmospheric shell plays the role of a kind of filter, trapping ultraviolet rays. Otherwise, i.e., when the ozone layer thins, the human body is threatened by the negative effects of solar radiation, implying an increase in the number of cancer diseases, pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, genetic abnormalities and a decrease in life expectancy.

AIDS and drug addiction: a problem for young people!

Awareness of the interconnection of global problems in the world ecology is terrifying. But, unfortunately, the list of potential threats to human existence does not end there. What is the cost of AIDS alone? The disease keeps everyone at bay, and not only because of the loss of actual human resources - the disease is striking in its geography. The relationship between the global problem and drug addiction is obvious: a favorable environment for the spread of this “evil” cripples the lives and health of millions of people. Many modern residents associate the term “drug addiction” with a large-scale catastrophe that has befallen entire generations.

If only there was no nuclear war!

However, not a single disease or substance can compare with the danger to humans that nuclear weapons pose. The full-scale interconnectedness of the global problems described above is incomparable with the irreversible consequences of the Third World War. The thermonuclear impact of even an insignificant fraction of the arsenal of superpowers accumulated to date will lead to the final destruction of the planet.

That is why preventing the use of nuclear weapons is the primary task of humanity. Only a peaceful compromise that does not imply the use of nuclear weapons will make it possible to find solutions to other global problems within the framework of close international cooperation.

The global problems of modern society have become a natural continuation of uneven development, both between levels of states (the North-South problem) and within the countries themselves in different areas. This is further aggravated by the large gap between the financial situation, the real standard of living and the capabilities of various segments of society. The emergence of many global problems of our time was facilitated by the scientific and technological revolution, which brought humanity to a new stage of development, gave it modern technologies, allowed it to cope with diseases... And opened the way to the destruction of the entire planet.

Thus, as a result of the arms race, already in the 80s the total stock of weapons was 100 times higher than what all participants used during the Second World War. Thus, the global problems of the modern world raise the acute question of the survival of man as a species. This is so important that they are considered not only by social science, but also by sociology, political science, economics, some branches of geography, statistics, ecology, and so on.

There is an opinion that globalization is to blame for this, which has given rise to such proliferation. Some also place responsibility on certain countries, in particular the economically developed West, as well as Europe, believing that the current state of affairs in the world was largely the result of their exploitation of former monopolies, consumerism and often predatory behavior towards the global ecology.

However, reflecting on whether the following judgments about global problems, that is, those already mentioned, are correct, one cannot help but note that the USSR played its role in how exactly everyone came to the present. And the countries that were part of the USSR, with the exception of the Baltic states and partly Georgia, now cannot be called economically successful and belonging to this group of states. However, this does not relieve them of responsibility, including historical responsibility.

Thus, it is difficult to say that the cause of global problems is somehow connected with prosperity or, on the contrary, with backwardness in terms of economic relations. And the phenomenon is much deeper; it is not a simple sum of national or regional problems that have reached a new level. There is an opinion among scientists that man found himself at the next stage of development and faced new problems. The more opportunities he has, the more serious problems he has to solve. And the higher the bet - the price for a probable loss. In fact, in the present, the economic, scientific, technological, transport, etc. capabilities of people as a whole are unprecedented. And, accordingly, the risk is also maximum.

What are they?

Global problems of humanity, social science and philosophy are divided into 3 large groups. The first includes those that arose through the relationship between people and nature. In particular, global environmental problems (and this is what we are talking about) include issues of environmental pollution, rapid decline in biodiversity, destruction of ecological systems, lack of clean drinking water and food. The issue of resources is also often included in this list, although it is rather at the junction.

In terms of people and society as a whole, there is a demographic crisis, which has now become more complex than just the issue of overpopulation of the planet. Thus, in some countries there is too much density, while others cannot even simply ensure a guaranteed change of generations due to a sharp drop in the birth rate. This also includes the problem of poverty, terrorism, social inequality, although the latter will already be controversial, many consider them rather regional, just some - very large-scale.

And finally, intersocial. These are the problems of preventing nuclear war, the backwardness of developing countries compared to developed ones. And not only. In general, the global problems of the world economy are associated with hyperinflation, periodic crises, as well as with the amount of resources spent on permanent weapons. And now this issue has again become acutely raised in connection with the confrontation between Russia and the West.

Selected global problems of humanity

Some problems are so acute that they stand out from the main group and receive special status. This is exactly what happened at one time with the greenhouse effect, which began to be discussed separately at the international level when they realized that among all environmental problems, this could be the most critical in the near future. Today, the topic of the World Ocean has a similar status.

Let us remember that it occupies 70% of the land. Without it there would be no life on the planet. At the same time, pollution of the World Ocean is much more difficult to control, which many developing countries take advantage of by dumping waste there and thus saving on their disposal or processing. Developed countries are trying to control this process, but, firstly, they do not always have enough legal capabilities, because no country can fully tell another what to do. Secondly, the World Ocean is huge. To cover the entire space, too many resources will be needed.

In addition, let us recall that the global problems of the world economy are, among other things, also a question of resources and the provision of raw materials. What does oil production include, and it is now increasingly affecting the oceans. Of course, most companies monitor safety precautions, try to prevent leaks, and carefully monitor the process. However, one major accident is enough for a significant part of the territory to be affected. But it is difficult to localize a disaster zone in the World Ocean.

In general, global problems have plenty of examples of this kind. Sometimes it is a simple mistake, sometimes it is a technical imperfection. But most often, tragedies are caused by negligence, neglect of one’s own responsibilities, malicious intent, and even more often by poverty (people in developing countries cut down forests because for them this is often almost the only way to feed themselves) and illiteracy.

Let me explain about the latter: in the modern world, with the availability of education, as well as the Internet, everyone can, if desired, find out what types of plants and (or) animals are listed in the Red Book, why their destruction is dangerous, and how to behave in nature. But there are quite a large number of people living in areas where wild animals are concentrated, who do not understand the whole picture. They don't have Internet access and may not be aware of the problem. And yet such people

exploit nature without thinking. Many do not understand what other way out they might have. Educational programs in India, for example, helped save the lives of many leopards: local residents began to help them when they accidentally ended up in traps designed for other animals.

Interconnection of global problems

The global nature of modern existing problems is connected not only with the fact that they affect the entire planet. Among other things, they cannot be solved by the efforts of one country or even a group of states. This requires joint efforts. And it is also critically important to consider the relationship. It is impossible to find something that would relate to the global problems of our time, but at the same time did not influence others or did not experience a corresponding influence - in turn.

In general, the chain can be viewed as follows. About two hundred years ago, a critical mass of discontent accumulated in different countries, which led to dramatic social changes and revolutions that occurred somewhere earlier, somewhere later. People were no longer satisfied with religion, they began to look for answers in science, which resulted in a scientific and technological revolution. And it led to the creation of new medicines, an increase in living standards, and a solution to the problem of hunger (despite the fact that food shortages continue to be one of the global ones, fewer people are now undernourished than before). As a result, there was a demographic explosion, and as a consequence, overpopulation.

Which, in turn, entailed the threat of resource depletion and environmental pollution. A large number of people in itself can also aggravate problems between countries and lead to new conflicts. And scientific and technological progress has given states new, more powerful and dangerous weapons. Which led to the current state of affairs.

Global problems of our time, workshop

Exercise 1. Find a term that summarizes all other terms in the series below. Write down this word (phrase).

threat of a new world war

increase in drug addiction

spread of AIDS

threat of the 21st century

Task 2. Below is a list of terms. All of them, with the exception of two, are associated with the concept of “globalization”. Find two terms that “fall out” from the general series and write down the numbers under which they are indicated in your answer.

2) protectionism

3) Internet networks

4) World Bank

5) world markets

6) subsistence farming

Task 3. Find in the list below the features that distinguish global problems from other problems of humanity. Write down the numbers under which they are indicated.

1) require joint efforts of the states of the world for their resolution

2) arose in the second half of the last century

3) reflect the contradiction between people’s needs and capabilities

4) caused by a lack of natural resources

5) are large-scale in nature

Task 4. Choose the correct statements about the global food problem and write down the numbersin ascending order , under which they are indicated.

1) The solution to the global food problem is associated with the use of scientific and technological progress.

2) This problem manifests itself mainly in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere.

3) The severity of the problem is determined primarily by natural and climatic differences between the regions of the Earth.

4) The problem requires the development and implementation of advanced agricultural techniques.

5) This problem is interconnected with the global demographic problem.

Task 5. Establish a correspondence between examples of manifestation and characteristics of global problems: for each position given in the first column, select the corresponding position from the second column.

B) intensification of the activities of extremist groups (taking hostages, preparing and carrying out explosions in crowded places)

C) rapid population growth in Asia, Africa and Latin America

D) an increase in the gap in the level of gross national income per capita between groups of countries

D) an increase in diseases caused by waste from hazardous industries

1) the threat of global terrorism

2) the threat of an environmental crisis

3) the “North-South” problem

Write down the numbers in your answer, arranging them in the order corresponding to the letters:

Task 6. Which of the following measures are aimed at overcoming the North-South problem? Write down the numbers under which they are indicated.

2) activities of international governmental organizations aimed at combating terrorism

3) provision of trade preferences for countries with raw material exports

4) reducing costs to overcome illiteracy

5) development of weapons supply programs

6) limiting the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere

Task 7. At the international conference, measures to overcome the problem of providing humanity with resources were discussed. What could be included in the program of this conference? Choose the correct positions and write down the numbers under which they are indicated.

1) use of alternative energy sources

2) program to support developing countries

3) reduction in military spending

4) allocation of funds to eliminate illiteracy

5) saving fresh water for industrial and domestic needs

6) creation of underground storage facilities for rain and melt water

Task 8.

(A) A group of scientists led by A. Pecchetti organized the so-called Club of Rome - an international non-governmental organization whose goal is to study the problems of the modern world. (B) Uncontrolled population growth, environmental problems, modern achievements of science and technology have raised the problem of assessing the quality of social progress. (B) The aggravation of global problems indicates, in our opinion, a crisis in modern civilization. (D) At the same time, we admit that attempts to resolve global problems strengthen the unity of countries and peoples. (D) Experts from different countries take part in the work of the Club of Rome.

1) factual nature

Task 9. Read the text below, each position indicated by a specific letter.

(A) Global problems of the modern world threaten the survival of humanity as a biological species. (B) Downplaying the danger of a new world war in modern conditions is unjustified. (B) According to official information, there are about 70 thousand nuclear weapons on Earth. (D) Calculations show that this arsenal is capable of completely destroying life on the planet. (D) We believe that an appeal to the world community with a call for disarmament is extremely necessary.

Determine which provisions of the text are

1) factual nature

2) the nature of value judgments

3) the nature of theoretical statements

Task 10. Read the text below, in which a number of words (phrases) are missing. Select from the list of words (phrases) that need to be inserted in place of the gaps.

“___________ (A) modern scientists call the process of formation of a single humanity. The world economy and the world system ___________(B) are actively developing, common ideas about the optimal socio-political structure are being introduced, ___________(B) are spreading. Globalization is a ___________(D) process that has both a positive and negative impact on the development of modern humanity. On the one hand, the formation of ___________(E) society is taking place, on the other hand, the economic disagreements between Western countries and the countries of the “third world” are intensifying, and the problem of ___________(E) is worsening.”

The words in the list are given in the nominative case. Each word (phrase) can be used only once. Select one word after another, mentally filling in each gap with words. Keep in mind that there are more words in the list than you need to select.

2) division of labor

3) society

4) globalization

5) controversial

6) popular culture

7) agriculture

8) informational

9) computer

The table below shows the letters that indicate missing words. Write down the number of the word you chose in the table under each letter.

Task 11. Read the text below, in which a number of words are missing. Select from the list provided the words that need to be inserted in place of the gaps.

“On our planet there are countries that differ sharply in their socio-economic___ (A) and, accordingly, in the level of ____ (B) population. On the one hand, there is a relatively small group of ___ (B), on the other, a large number of states in which economic development is characterized by backwardness and the quality of life of the population is low. The economy ___ (D) is based on the extraction and export of raw materials. The population of underdeveloped and moderately developed countries is ____ (D). The planet's population is already 7 billion. The general trend of modern development is that the gap between the “golden billion” and the rest of humanity is ____ (E).”

The words in the list are given in the nominative case. Each word (phrase) can be used only once. Choose one word after another, mentally filling in each gap. Please note that there are more words in the list than you will need to fill in the blanks.

2) minority

3) backward countries

4) the vast majority

5) shrinks

6) level

7) welfare

8) gap

9) development

Task 12. What meaning do social scientists give to the concept of “globalization”? Using knowledge from a social science course, make two sentences: one sentence containing information about the manifestations of globalization in the political sphere, and one sentence revealing the process of globalization in the economic sphere

Task 13. Using three examples, illustrate the interrelationship of global problems of our time.

Task 14. Name and illustrate with examples three positive consequences of globalization.

Task 15. Population growth in developing countries has made the food problem more acute. To solve this problem, an extensive path of agricultural development is used - the development of ever new lands. This leads to the deforestation of large areas of tropical forests. The intensive development of agricultural production associated with the use of modern technology is often inaccessible to these states due to their economic backwardness. What global problems are interconnected here? List three problems

Task 16. In solving the global problems of our time, two schools of thought have emerged: neo-Malthusians, who believe that the growth of humanity must be strictly controlled and needs to be limited, and Cornucopians, who believe that technological progress and discoveries can make the resources necessary for human life limitless. Scientists interviewed different categories of scientists and ordinary citizens to find out their attitude to the problem posed. The respondents were asked the following questions:“Who is right: the neo-Malthusians or the Cornucopians?”

The survey results were calculated by scientists and presented in table form (data are given in%):

Ways to solve global problems of our time

Task 17. You will have to prepare a detailed answer on the topic “The problem of the North and South and ways to solve it.”

Make a plan according to which you will cover this topic. The plan must contain at least three points, of which two or more are detailed in subparagraphs.

Global problems of our time, answers:

1 – threat XXIcenturies –1b.

2 – 26 – 1 b.

3 – 125 – 2 b .

4 – 145 – 2 b.

5 – 21332 – 2 b .

6 – 13 – 1 b.

7 – 156 – 2 b.

8 – 13221 – 2 b.

9 – 32112 – 2 b.

10 – 426581 – 3 b .

11 – 971345 – 3 b .

12 - - 3 b. 1) the meaning of the concept, for example: the process of becoming a united humanity;

(Another definition similar in meaning may be given.)

2) one sentence with information about the manifestations of globalization in the political sphere, based on knowledge of the course, for example: “In the political sphere, globalization is expressed in the fact that international organizations are taking on an increasing part of the powers of national governments”;

(Other sentences may be written containing information about the manifestations of globalization in the political sphere.)

3) one sentence, based on knowledge of the course, revealing the process of globalization in the economic sphere, for example: “The globalization of the economy is manifested in the formation of a world economic space in which industries, the geography of production, the exchange of information and technology are determined by considerations of the development of the world economy, and economic booms and crises occur on a global scale.”

13 - - 3 b. 1) the economic backwardness of developing countries gives rise to the use of technologies that cause great damage to nature;

2) rapid population growth in developing countries aggravates economic problems and increases the gap with developed countries;

3) the low socio-economic level of a number of developing countries, the lack of developed healthcare systems and education leads to the growth of dangerous diseases such as AIDS.

14 - 3 b. - One of the most positive effects or consequences of globalization is the improved quality of goods and services due to increased competition.

Globalization has a net positive effect on the world economy. Liberation from the rules that hinder globalization will allow money to move more freely.

The overall level of education will increase due to the demands of globalization. Communication technologies are making the world a smaller place.

Globalization makes it easier for people to access information, while simultaneously increasing the amount of new, interesting, accessible information for every inhabitant of the planet.

Once upon a time, limited jurisdiction was a hindrance in prosecuting criminals located in another country. Already now, due to international courts, these criminals can no longer request political asylum in a foreign country, they will be expelled from the country or brought to justice in which they committed the crime

15 - 2 b. - demographic;

- environmental;

- the gap in the levels of economic development of the countries of the “North” and the “South”.

16 - 3 b. Three conclusions have been drawn, for example: 1) The majority of globalist scientists believe in the capabilities of science and the human mind, believing that humanity will be able to find a solution to all current problems (58% of the surveyed scientists are supporters of the Cornucopians).

2) Ordinary citizens, far from the problems of global studies, are poorly versed in the problems of human survival and determining the strategy of the future (this is evidenced by the fact that approximately a third of those surveyed were undecided in their views, and the remaining two-thirds were distributed equally between two positions).

3) The most pessimistic in their views on the prospects of humanity are academic demographers and humanists, who believe that people need to limit themselves and strictly control the growth of inhabitants on Earth (56% of demographers and 54% of humanists, respectively, are supporters of neo-Malthusians).

17 - 3 b . 1) The problem of North and South is one of the global problems of our time.

2) The essence of the problem of North and South and its connection with other global problems.

3) Manifestations and consequences of the named problem:

a) “demographic explosion”;

b) hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease;

c) unemployment and migration to economically prosperous countries of the world.

4) Ways to overcome economic backwardness, poverty and poverty in the “third world” countries:

a) implementation of a well-thought-out demographic policy;

b) establishment of a new world economic order;

c) international cooperation in solving problems of the North and South.

Mark yourself:

30-38 b. - "5"

22-29 b. - "4"

11-21 b. – “3”

I. Read the text and complete tasks C1 – C4.

It seems to me that today, when humanity has come close to an ecological catastrophe, when all the terrible consequences of utopian claims for total control of social processes are extremely clear, the fate of the humanistic ideal is connected with the rejection of the idea of ​​mastery, suppression and domination. The new understanding of the relationship between nature and man corresponds not to the ideal of anthropocentrism, but to that developed by a number of modern thinkers, in particular, the famous scientist N.I. Moiseev’s idea of ​​co-evolution, the joint evolution of nature and humanity, which can be interpreted as the relationship of equal partners, if you will, interlocutors in an unplanned dialogue...

This can and should be understood in a broader sense. Freedom as an integral characteristic of the humanistic ideal is conceived not as mastery and control, but as the establishment of equal partnerships with what is outside of man: with natural processes, with another person, with the values ​​of a different culture, with social processes, even with unreflected and “ opaque” processes of my own psyche.

C5 (1). Name the 3 main global problems of our time.

C 6. Illustrate with three examples the relationship between the problems associated with the widening gap between developed countries and third world countries with the problem of preventing a new world war.

C6 (1). Give three examples of the interconnection of global problems of our time.

C7 (1). Today, due to the existence of global problems of our time, there are quite loud calls for the abandonment of scientific and technological progress and the cessation of research in the field of new technologies. Do you share this point of view? Are these calls consistent with the concept of sustainable development? Give three reasons to support your opinion.

C7 (2). Speaking at a scientific conference, an environmental scientist said: “It’s time to realize that humanity is coming to its end. We do not have the strength and ability to save ourselves. We are doomed". Do you agree with this opinion? Give three arguments to support your position.

C8. You are instructed to prepare a detailed answer on the topic “The environmental crisis as a global problem of our time.” Make a plan according to which you will cover this topic. The plan must contain at least three points, of which two or more are detailed in subparagraphs.

Answers to tasks in the topic " Global problems of our time"

Part 1

1. 
   C1 – C4

1) realities modern society:

- “humanity has come close to an environmental catastrophe”;

- “all the terrible consequences of utopian claims for total control of social processes are extremely clear”;

2) essence of new understanding humanistic ideal:

“the idea of ​​co-evolution, the joint evolution of nature and humanity, which can be interpreted as a relationship of equal partners, if you like, interlocutors in an unprogrammed dialogue.”

1. 
   “Freedom as an integral characteristic of the humanistic ideal is conceived ... as the establishment of equal partnership relations with what is outside of man: with natural processes, with another person, with the values ​​of another culture, with social processes, even with unreflective and “opaque” processes of my own psyche";
2. 
   “freedom is understood as such a relationship when I accept another, and the other accepts me”;
3. 
   “free acceptance based on understanding resulting from communication.”

1. 
   the establishment of human dominance over nature led to irreversible changes in the external environment;
2. 
   irreversible changes in the external environment negatively affect human health and the functioning of society;
3. 
   the amount of resources that a rapidly growing population of humanity can use for its development has been significantly reduced;
4. 
   the attitude of dominance extended to man’s relationship to his own kind and to public interests.

1. 
   “relations with natural processes”: human use of nature-saving and resource-saving technologies, limiting consumption;
2. 
   “relationships with another person”: recognition of the unconditional value of the personality of another person, respect for his freedom;
3. 
   “relations with the values ​​of another culture”: a tolerant attitude towards the values ​​of another culture and the bearers of these values;
4. 
   “relations with social processes”: rejection of personal and group egoism, consumerism, desire for social peace;
5. 
   “relationships with unreflective and “opaque” processes of my own psyche”: attentive attitude to one’s own psychological state, its gentle adjustment in necessary cases, maximum use of one’s own mental capabilities and states in activities.

1. 
   C1 – C4

Limited resources;

North-South problem;

Demographic;

Consequences of scientific and technological revolution.

C2. Assumptions:

Availability of scientific knowledge and technical means for global transformative activities (and means of destroying life on the planet);

Formation of a consumer society in which speed and comfort are among the dominant values.

C3. Examples confirming the author's statement:

Communist ideologies;

Ideology of Enlightenment;

The illusion of the omnipotence of science and the possibility of its victory over hunger and disease.

C4. Overcoming the contrasts between “rich” and “poor” countries is hardly possible in the near future, since this is hampered by the following:

The situation of uncontrolled fertility in conditions of limited resources and unfavorable living conditions;

Small share of participation in the global division of labor;

The growth of military and other expenses of developed countries, preventing the redistribution of funds in favor of “poor” countries.

C5 (1). The main global problems of our time:

Ecological;

Demographic;

The North-South problem.

C6 (1). Examples of the relationship between global problems of our time:

The threat of an environmental crisis forces economically developed countries to transfer harmful, environmentally hazardous industries to third world countries, which aggravates the North-South problem;

The threat of international terrorism in modern conditions is closely related to the problem of preventing nuclear war and maintaining peace (terrorists are trying to gain access to technologies for the production of weapons of mass destruction);

The demographic problem in the modern world appears primarily as a problem of rapid demographic growth in third world countries, which increases the gap with economically developed countries.

C6 (2). Examples that reveal the global nature of environmental problems in the modern world:

Climate warming leads to the melting of polar ice and an increase in the level of the world's oceans, which in the future may change the contours of continents and swallow islands and archipelagos, i.e. the environment for human existence is endangered;

The population of all countries of the continents suffers from pollution of the soil, atmosphere and oceans by industrial and household waste;

The disappearance of certain animal species affects not only local ecosystems, but in its long-term consequences disrupts the balance of the global ecosystem.

Detailed solution paragraph § 27 on history for 9th grade students, authors L.N. Aleksashkina 2011

Questions and tasks:

1. Explain how the diversity of the modern world is manifested.

The 20th century was filled with many large-scale events that changed the face of the world. If we look at a modern political map, instead of the empires and colonial possessions that existed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, we see over 200 sovereign states, most of which gained independence during the 20th century.

Today, more than 6 billion people live on planet Earth, representing three main (equatorial, Mongoloid and Caucasoid) and several transitional racial groups, united in more than 1000 ethnic groups speaking different languages, the number of which cannot be accurately counted (from two to three thousand) and which are divided into 23 language families; in the modern world there are more than 200 independent states, independently pursuing domestic and foreign policies, having various forms of government and territorial structure; These states differ in the level of economic development and living standards of people.

Along with countries that have a highly developed economic structure and provide a high level of income for citizens, there are dozens of states that maintain a primitive economic system and a low standard of living.

The religious face of the modern world is diverse. The bulk of humanity adheres to one of the world religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism. Others profess Hinduism, Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism, and local traditional beliefs. Many hold atheistic beliefs; There is a great diversity of cultures, national and local traditions, lifestyles and styles of behavior.

The diversity of the modern world is explained by the difference in natural and climatic conditions that determine the uniqueness of the relationship between a particular society and the natural world; the specifics of the historical path traversed by peoples and states; a variety of external influences; a multitude of natural and random events that are not always amenable to accounting and unambiguous interpretation.

2. Name the main groups of contradictions that existed in the world in the second half of the 20th century. What were the ways to resolve them? *Which of them do you consider effective? How can you prove this?

The main groups of contradictions that existed in the world in the second half of the twentieth century

1. confrontation between two systems – the “capitalist” West and the “socialist” East. For several decades, this confrontation focused on the main contradictions of world development. States that were not included in these two blocs, i.e., most countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa, were then called the “third world.”

2. contradictions between the “North” and the “South” - a group of developed industrial powers and developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They were due to many circumstances, including significant differences in the levels of economic and social development, the neocolonialist policies of transnational corporations, aggravated problems of population and use of natural resources in developing countries, their increasing external debt, etc.

3. separatist movements (separatism is the desire for isolation, separation of certain territories on national-ethnic, religious or other grounds).

4. fundamentalist movements. Their supporters oppose following Western models, against the ideas of rationalism, technocratism, political pluralism, etc. They insisted on strict adherence to the original, “fundamental” norms of life and relations between people for a given society. Often such movements acquire a very tough, offensive character. This is what happened with Islamic fundamentalism, in which the demand to return to the roots of Islam is combined with the ideas of uniting all believers and decisively combating deviations from the precepts of the Muslim religion. At the end of the 20th century. fundamentalists were active in Iran, Afghanistan, Algeria, Pakistan and other countries. In some cases, for example in Iran and Afghanistan, they achieved significant political influence and came to power. Where it was not possible to obtain government support (as in Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood group was outlawed after the assassination of President A. Sadat), groups of conspirators arose that carried out terrorist acts against public figures, journalists, foreign tourists, etc. d.

Observing the manifestations of the civilizational, social, ethnonational, and religious diversity of the world at the end of the 20th century, one cannot help but notice that during this century the ability of people to choose a way of existence, a path of development - traditional or new, taking into account the experience of others, or special - has significantly expanded. At the same time, the desire of one or another community or group of people to establish its values ​​and laws, trampling on the rights, freedom and lives of others, led to the most difficult, tragic consequences.

I believe that the most effective way to resolve conflict is the ability to negotiate.

3. *Do you think the expansion of contacts between peoples, the dissemination of the latest technical achievements and media, the establishment of generally accepted norms of international relations can lead to unification and monotony of the world? Give reasons for your point of view.

Yes, I believe that the expansion of contacts between peoples, the dissemination of the latest technical achievements and media, the establishment of generally accepted norms of international relations will lead to the unification and monotony of the world. Moreover, this uniformity will be created according to the Western model. Due to their greater development, the United States and Western countries impose their culture, way of life and views on other countries, which leads to the loss of their own uniqueness.

4. Explain what tasks the national movements set for themselves at the end of the 20th century. What methods were used to solve these problems?

National movements at the end of the twentieth century set themselves separatist goals, i.e. strive for isolation, separation of their territories on national-ethnic, religious or other grounds. For several decades, such movements have been active, for example, in Spain (in the Basque Country), India (among the Sikhs in the north of the country and the Tamils ​​in the south), Turkey (among the Kurdish population), etc. Separatists most often use illegal, terrorist methods . In Spain, the Basque organization ETA carried out assassinations of senior government officials and military personnel; in India, the country's leaders I. Gandhi and R. Gandhi died at the hands of separatist conspirators.

5. Show what is the relationship between the global problems of our time.

Contradictions in relations between states, peoples, and groups of people have given rise to two world wars, many regional conflicts and wars, weapons of mass destruction and an arms race. Preventing the threat of global thermonuclear war has become one of humanity's global problems. This is the name given to problems related to the existence and livelihoods of people, which require the collective efforts of the entire world community to be solved. These include: conservation and protection of the natural environment; providing the planet's inhabitants with food, energy and raw materials; overcoming socio-economic backwardness and poverty; demographic problem - achieving a balanced relationship between population growth (over the second half of the 20th century, its number in the world increased from 2 to 5 billion people) and the development of productive forces; elimination of the most dangerous diseases; integrated use of the resources of the World Ocean, space exploration.

The severity of these problems lies in the fact that they affect the daily lives of millions of people. Mismanagement and irresponsible attitude towards the natural environment led to catastrophic pollution of air and water bodies, the extermination of many species of animals and plants, destruction of forests, etc. As a result of atmospheric pollution, “acid rain”, the “greenhouse effect” appeared, and the destruction of the Earth’s ozone layer began.

Smog (photochemical fog) has become the scourge of large cities, in which people are not recommended to go outside. “Acid rain” in the mid-1970s caused enormous damage to the forests of Europe, affecting between a third and half of the forest area. As a result of pollution in Sweden, 18 thousand of the 100 thousand lakes existing in the country were “dead”. The "greenhouse effect" is leading to global warming of the Earth's climate, which threatens agriculture in dry areas, and many island and coastal areas may be flooded due to rising sea levels.

The destruction of forests dealt a heavy blow to the natural environment. If in the early 1980s, 10-12 million hectares of forest were cut down annually in the world, then a decade later - almost 2 times more. The attack was carried out on a particularly broad front against the tropical forests of South America and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, these forests are called “the lungs of the planet,” enriching the atmosphere with oxygen; more than half of all plant and animal species existing on Earth live in them. Destruction of forests, especially in mountainous areas, leads to changes in topography and hydrological conditions, resulting in catastrophic floods, landslides, etc.

A serious environmental problem in many regions of the world is the encroachment of deserts. The area of ​​deserts and semi-deserts, occupying more than a third of the earth's land (and in Africa - over 55%), is increasing every year. This occurs under the influence of natural factors and as a result of human activity - cutting down trees and shrubs, slash-and-burn agriculture, which exists among some African peoples, “overgrazing” of livestock, etc. The territories of more than 100 countries are exposed to the dangers of desertification, most of which are developing states. In the early 1980s, severe and prolonged drought affected more than half of the countries in Africa, and famine affected about 200 million people.

Despite the achievements of science and technology, in the last decades of the 20th century. humanity is faced with a global food problem. According to international experts, at the end of the century, more than 1 billion people in the world were systematically undernourished, and over 150 million suffered from hunger. Most of them lived in countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Here, hunger was the lot of 25% of the population; in some states this figure reached 40%. Every year, 13 million people worldwide died from hunger and diseases caused by malnutrition, 75% of them were children. At the same time, in Western countries, many people intensively struggled with overeating, obesity and excess weight, using special low-calorie diets.

Global problems are closely interconnected. Rapid population growth leads to more intensive use of natural resources and aggravates the food problem. As a result of environmental disasters, hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods become refugees, which deepens social problems and causes interethnic and ethnic clashes. Mass malnutrition and hunger in many countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America are caused not only by natural disasters (droughts, floods, crop failures), but primarily by economic and social backwardness. It is estimated that Africa's natural resources, with their rational use, protection and restoration, can ensure food production sufficient for the entire population of the continent, even if its population increases by 2–3 times.

6. Describe the activities of international organizations to overcome the most acute contradictions and solve problems in the modern world. Also use current information from newspapers and television.

In the early 1970s, a real shock in Western countries was caused by the reports of scientists who were members of the Club of Rome (founded in 1968 by a group of researchers from different countries to consider problems of global significance). They predicted that in the near future humanity would face a catastrophe caused by a lack of food, energy, raw materials and pollution of the biosphere. The validity of such fears was confirmed by concrete evidence of environmental distress in many regions - in the early 1970s, there were a number of crop failures, “acid rain” was observed, etc. The problems mentioned in the reports became the subject of discussion in international organizations and scientific circles. Concrete steps have been taken to resolve them.

UN agencies have taken on an organizing role in the practical solution of most global problems. Food and medical aid were delivered to disaster areas. Observer missions, reconciliation groups, special representatives, and, if necessary, units of the UN Peacekeeping Forces (“blue helmets”) were sent to places of military conflicts. Peacekeeping troops operated in the Congo, Cyprus, the Middle East, Angola, Afghanistan, Bosnia, etc. In 1988, the UN Armed Forces were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Public organizations and movements make a significant contribution to solving global problems of humanity. The struggle for peace and security was discussed above. Among the environmental movements since the mid-1970s, the “greens” have stood out. Their activities began in Western European countries as a “civil initiative” to protect the environment. It was attended by people of different professions and ages, political views, and religious affiliations. Gradually, the “greens” became involved in anti-nuclear protests, turned to problems of unemployment and other social issues, thereby showing that the problems of human survival in the modern world have many interconnected aspects. In the early 1980s, the green movement in some countries took shape into political parties. Their representatives were elected to the parliaments of a number of states and to the European Parliament.

In the last decades of the 20th century. The international organization Greenpeace (translated from English as “green world”) declared itself with active actions. Its participants staged protest demonstrations near military installations, in places where there was a threat of environmental disaster. A significant part of their work consisted of practical actions to save wildlife.

8. *Express your opinion about what an individual can do to solve the global, most pressing problems of our time. Give arguments and specific examples.

I believe that since global problems concern everyone together and everyone individually, international governmental and public organizations, leaders and ordinary citizens, adults and children should participate in their resolution. The point of action is not only to overcome the consequences of environmental or social disasters that have already occurred, but also to eliminate their causes. It is much easier to preserve a forest, lake, or river than to later revive life in them. And most importantly, there is no end to the movement towards a harmonious, safe world.

For example, we can all resist environmental pollution by following basic rules - simply picking up trash after ourselves.