1.Briefly describe three of the greatest global challenges facing the world in the 20th century. What impact are they likely to have on the international politics 2.Briefly explain the demographic transition mode;. 3.Is globalization on balance benefi - Essay Example

Teacher Briefly describe three of the greatest global challenges facing the world in the 20th century. What impact are they likelyto have on the international politics? Global warming – Global warming cannot be resolved by one country alone working independently from the others to reverse or at least mitigate the destructive effects of climate change. Thus, the issue of global warming will compel world leaders to work together to tackle the issue of global warming (Massawe, 2012). These world leaders will include leaders of those countries who traditionally do not along well due to various differences (i.e. ideological differences, conflict of interest) such as China and United States.

It will however result in greater cooperation in international politics. Security – almost every known civilization today is under threat from terrorism. Terrorism intends to sow fear to undermine or disrupt our way (www.terrorism-research.com, nd). The greater mobility of people also made terrorism global that it now requires cooperation among countries to effectively combat terrorism. For example, countries who normally do not share information to countries they have differences with are compelled to share security information for everybody’s benefit and security.

Concretely, this is practiced in the forming of a list of criminals and terrorists that everyone should watch out where countries will provide information through the Interpol. Again, this would entail countries to cooperate for their mutual security and benefit. Poverty – eradicating poverty had always been a challenge and it will remain a challenge in the 20th century. It can no longer be ignored by world leaders because poverty spawns many other social issues such as crime, violence and terrorism that affect even those who do not suffer from poverty.

World leaders will also need to cooperate on how to generate jobs and wealth that is equitable so that poverty will end. 2. Briefly explain the demographic transition mode;. The demographic transition mode is the transition from high birth rate to lower birth rate. This happens when a country moves from an industrial or pastoral economy to an industrial and/or information based economy (papp.iussp.org, nd). This shift is peculiar to those countries that have transitioned to an industrial economy.

Countries that have developed earlier to industrialization had also early demographic transitioned while others who achieved industrialization later also transitioned late. Some are still in the pre-industrial stage where population is still characterized many. This phenomenon can be attributed to the lesser need of more people to till the land in a developed economy. In the pre-industrial economies, people are perceived as economic assets because they can help till the land which is no longer the case when an economy has achieved an industrial status because output is measured not in terms of muscle power tilling the land but is already knowledge and information based.

One of the reasons of the demographic transition mode is the lowering of mortality rate in the developed countries due to advances in medical technology and greater availability of medical care. Since life becomes longer, the need for higher birth rate is no longer necessary and thus, birth rate naturally declines. The higher standard of living in an industrialized economy also helps to precipitate the demographic transition mode. Whereas during the pre-industrial stage where more people are perceived as economic assets that would help to till the land, more birth rate are now perceived to require social cost that would require education, food, energy, security, among others. 3. Is globalization on balance beneficial or harmful? Argue.  Globalization is the integration of world economy (www.

globalization101.org, nd). In general, globalization is beneficial to the world economy albeit there are also harmful effects to it such as lowering of wage among wage workers and stiffening of competition that prompted company to downsize and thereby reducing available jobs (www-tc.pbs.org, nd). Its beneficial effects however outweigh its harmful effects. Globalization allows the freer movement of products, services, capital and people by reducing costly trade barriers such as tariffs and quotas.

As a result, cost of trade was reduced making them more available and more affordable to everyone. And as goods and services are now cheaper, the quality of the lives of people improved. Things which used to be expensive such as household appliances became cheaper and people started buying them because they can already afford it. Also, people became more mobile which expanded not only their horizons but opportunities as well. People are no longer restricted in their country of origin for jobs but could now go to other countries where the “grass is greener”.

This has a positive effect of not only making people earn more but also on fostering understanding between people of different cultures and background as diversity becomes more common in the workplace due to globalization. Again, this has a positive effect on the quality of the life as people are able to earn more from greener pastures which would not have been possible without globalization. References Commanding Heights. (n.d.). Up for Debate: Free Flow of Capital. Retrieved May 25, 2014, from http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/share Globalization101. (n.d.). Globalization101.

Retrieved May 23, 2014, from http://www.globalization101.org/ PAPP101 - S01: Demography on the world stage. (n.d.). PAPP101 - S01: Demography on the world stage. Retrieved May 25, 2014, from http://papp.iussp.org/sessions/papp101_s0 Massawe, Antipas T. S (2012). Global Warming Control To Mitigate Climate Change. Engineering 4.5. 252-255. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 May. 2014. terrorism RESEARCH. (n.d.). Terrorism Research. Retrieved May 23, 2014, from http://www.terrorism-research.com/