The U.S. Role in a Changing World: Part II – Flashcards
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What has been the effect of economic globalization?
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Some countries have been helped, as they have the resources to expand production worldwide and produce in-demand goods, while other countries have been hurt, as they are not able to keep up with the increasingly stronger producers.
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Which country's economy is the largest? Why?
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The U.S., as we hold the lead in biotechnology, space technology, and computer software.
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How has the U.S. responded to economic globalization?
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We have used it to our advantage.
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How have U.S. leaders used trade policy to stimulate economic growth?
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They have been promoting new trade agreements like the WTO, and NAFTA.
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Why are inequality and poverty important concerns?
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The gap between highest and lowest incomes between and within countries has grown and continues to grow, which is making it even harder for poor countries to join international markets.
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What has changed recently about environmental and health-related problems?
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They have become increasingly global in scope.
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What are three current health concerns?
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HIV/AIDS, malaria, and malnutrition.
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In what kinds of countries is HIV/AIDS seen in the highest concentration? Give an example.
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In poor countries. Sub-Saharan Africa has 68 percent of the world's cases. In Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland, 20 percent of the adult population is infected.
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Who donates the most to HIV/AIDS?
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The U.S.
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What are questions that come up when the HIV/AIDS battle is discussed?
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Should the U.S. be focusing on fighting it here? What should our foreign aid priorities be? (fighting the disease by increasing access to medicine or fighting it by assisting economic development?)
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Where is malaria most prevalent?
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In tropical countries.
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What is the problem with treatment of malaria?
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It is simple and cheap, but unaffordable or inaccessible for poor people who contract the disease.
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What is the recent trend of malaria cases?
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The number of cases has dropped significantly.
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In what types of countries is malnutrition most prevalent? Where are famines least common? Why?
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In poor countries. Famines never occur in countries with a free press, as the government isn't hiding information about small issues that then turn into large ones.
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What is most often the cause of malnutrition?
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Lack of access to food.
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Who is the largest contributor to the WFP?
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The U.S.
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What questions have been raised about our fight against malnutrition?
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Should the U.S. be focusing efforts here, abroad, or both?
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What are some leading environmental concerns?
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Climate change, the destruction of the ozone layer, water pollution and acid rain, deforestation, and the decline of biodiversity.
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What will climate change affect?
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Agricultural production and the availability of freshwater. Weather will be more extreme.
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How have international leaders begun to deal with environmental problems?
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At the largest meeting of international leaders (150) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992, called the Earth Summit, they signed a U.N. protocol that set off a series of conferences about climate change.
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What unresolved conflicts prevent cooperation among nations on environmental issues?
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Wealthy (North) vs. poor (South) countries' access to healthcare, resource usage, and pollution emission levels.
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How has the U.S. participated in environmental regulation?
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The U.S supplied much of the early initiative to address global environmental issues, but has dropped back since. Current policy dictates that economies must strengthen before environmental issues can be solved.
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Does the U.S. follow the same pattern as the other Northern nations do in regard to willingness to reduce environmental threats at the cost of their economy?
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No. The Kyoto conference treaty was not signed by the U.S. because of this.
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What questions have risen in regard to the U.S. role in environmental regulations?
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Should the U.S. take an active role in promoting "green" technology and reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Should the U.S. work more closely within international frameworks and guidelines for environmental protection? Should the government stay of the regulating business?
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What is one of the U.S.'s principal foreign policies? Why?
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Promoting democracy, as the U.S. believes that democratic states respect the rights of their citizens, and wars between democratic states have been virtually nonexistent.
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What is the role of international organizations? What are the main opposing views on them?
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To resolve problems that affect multiple states. Some see the authority as competing with the government, while others believe that they bolster national power by pooling resources and increasing cooperation,
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What concerns exist about international organizations? What has these concerns brought up?
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That some countries' voices hold more power than others. The importance of democratization in IGOs.
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What other groups have challenged the role of states in world politics? What do they do?
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NGOs, terrorists, and criminal organizations. NGOs push for reform in education, human rights, environmental policy, health care, and poverty alleviation.
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What questions have come up as a result of the role these organizations play?
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How should the U.S. manage its relationship with these organizations? What role should the U.N. play in foreign policy?
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How have human rights been incorporated into the values of many nations?
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by U.N. member states.
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What do China, Russia, and other non-Western states believe that an emphasis on human rights will do?
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Topple the principle of state sovereignty.
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Is the U.S. an international leader of human rights?
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Yes, as it was instrumental in founding the U.N., creating international human rights treaties, and because the constitution protects the rights of citizens, but no because it sometimes places political interests above conforming to human rights agreements.
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What questions have come up pertaining to U.S. foreign policy?
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What values and principles should shape U.S. foreign policy? Should the U.S. strive to spread its values and culture? Should the human rights records of other countries influence U.S. foreign relations?
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Give an example of when the U.S put political interest above human rights enforcement.
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In Bahrain, when the government tortured pro-democracy protestors, the U.S. did not voice clear support for the democrats. This is because the U.S. has been an ally to Bahrain for decades and has a Navy fleet headquartered there.
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WTO
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World Trade Organization. Reduces barriers to international trade.
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NAFTA
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North American Free Trade Agreement. Reduces barriers to international trade.
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WFP
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World Food Program. Provides food aid to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
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IGOs
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International governmental organizations. Seek to resolve problems that affect multiple states.
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State
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A country that is recognized by its citizens and other countries and has sole control over its military power.
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State sovereignty
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The right of a country to make its own decisions free from outside influence.
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