War+and+peace+in+a+global+context

=**B. International Organizations**=

> → Economies nationalized/centrally planned > → Collectivization under state control > → Massive industrialization > → "socialist division of labor" – every nation focuses in a few areas > → Soviet welfare systems > a. education, medical care, pensions > → Poor quality consumer goods > → Focus on heavy industry/weapons > → Maintained through political repression > → A "miracle" – helped prevent the spread of communism > → W. Germany rose from ruins – European economic powerhouse > → Technical innovation – move to postindustrial world > → Put into place social welfare systems > → Created "third way" – blend of capitalism and social-welfare
 * Soviet Bloc – COMECON - Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
 * Western Europe – Marshall Plan – European Recovery Plan

By the early 21st century, the unfolding of globalization - the increasing interconnectedness of all world parts - reflected the close of the Cold War and the lessening of international conflict, a movement to free markets, new technical developments (especially the computer), and a general acceptance of global connections. Complicating factors to globalization were lingering nationalism, an important religious surge, persisting nationalism, and terrorism.
 * Globalization.

International investment has accelerated significantly. Exports and imports have increased and multinational corporations have extended business organization across political boundaries. They continue the search for cheap raw materials, and invest in nations with high interest rates. Because of their resources, multinational companies were able to determine policies in weaker nations. Even as they polluted the environment, multinationals promoted industrial skills and brought more-enlightened labor policies. Their long-term impact is unknown.
 * Business Organization and Investment.

Political forms globalized slower than technology, business, and consumer culture. The United Nations, with mixed success, attempted to calm conflicts and help refugee populations. It similarly dealt with gender and population control issues, and combated the AIDS epidemic. The importance of other international organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) grew. So did regional economic arrangements. A resurgence of particular loyalties complicated globalization. Nationalism, sub-national loyalties, and religious differences all helped stimulate intolerance or violence.
 * Institutions of Globalization.
 * A World of Religious and Ethnic Conflict.**

In the 1950s, a movement began in western Europe that continues to have great import. The European Union as it is currently known went through several stages of development. Its initial purpose was to drop tariffs between member nations, but as time passed, it expanded its scope into projecting a single governing body of much of Europe. Nationalist tensions within Europe reached their lowest point in history and the continent enjoyed its longest period of internal peace in history.
 * The Diplomatic Context.