The topics covered in Contemporary World shed light on the world we live in, with a specific focus on current issues. These issues are grouped into five main themes:
Environment
Population
Wealth
Power
Tensions and Conflicts
However, these topics are interrelated because any issue can be interpreted using several angles. A conflict caused by the desire to control natural resources may involve international institutions such as the United Nations and its Security Council. This conflict may have consequences for state power and for the population, which may have to migrate to less dangerous locations.
The environment, and more specifically protecting the environment, is a very important contemporary issue. Humans depend on the environment in which they live. The various actions made by humans can have direct or indirect impacts on the different ecosystems. With this in mind, this section deals with environmental management, environmental groups involved in protecting the environment, international agreements adopted and the intervention of states to address different environmental problems.
A major element of the contemporary world is its population. The world’s population and its distribution across the globe play an important role in understanding various current issues. Demographic changes in populations around the world as well as migratory movements can have major impacts on how different societies function, how urban areas are organized and the quality of life of individuals. To ensure societies that experience migratory movement function well, immigration policies are put in place. The labour market must also adapt to the realities of population migrations.
Power can take different forms. In addition to states, various international institutions and organizations hold different types of power. This can redefine the powers of the state. The globalized economy and the establishment of multinational corporations have changed the power of states, since these companies operate in several different countries. To ensure that the economy and diplomatic relations run smoothly, international and multilateral agreements are signed and political unions are created.
The global economy has changed significantly. The world economy has developed quickly and unequally. The inequality of wealth distribution has increased around the world, making the rich richer and the poor poorer. The section on wealth addresses this issue from several angles. First, it is important to understand how wealth is created and how it is distributed around the world. By analyzing a country’s wealth, standards of living and economic activities, it is possible to classify countries according to three levels of development. Global wealth distribution is partly explained by the consequences of colonization, decolonization and neo-colonization. Regardless of its wealth or level of development, a state can go into debt to pay for its expenses. The recent phenomenon of globalization has led to a significant increase in international trade and interdependence between states. This has resulted in both positive and negative global consequences. In response to a number of issues, several international organizations are working to boost economic development around the world.
Tensions and conflicts are unfortunately on the rise everywhere in the world. To understand them, it is important to know about the sources of tensions and conflicts. External intervention is often necessary in areas of tension and conflict to help civilians. However, it is difficult to intervene in a sovereign country. Organizations such as the United Nations are trying to set up agreements and protocols for intervention in these areas. Various non-governmental organizations also provide aid to conflict victims. In an attempt to end tension and conflicts around the world, international alliances as well as peace missions and processes are being established.