The global problems of modern society have become a natural continuation of the uneven development, both between the levels of states (the problem of the North-South), and within the countries themselves in different areas. Which is further aggravated by a large gap between the financial situation, the real standard of living and the opportunities of various strata 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 to cope with diseases ... And opened the way to the destruction of the entire planet.
So, as a result of the arms race, already in the 80s, the total stock of weapons was 100 times higher than that used by all participants during the Second World War. Thus, global problems modern world raise sharply the 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 the blame for everything was globalization, which gave rise to such growth. Some also blame 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 attitude towards the world ecology.
However, thinking about 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 exactly how 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 belong to this group of states. Nevertheless, this does not relieve them of responsibility, including historical.
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. Yes, and the phenomenon is much deeper, it is not a simple sum of national or regional problems that have come to light. new level. There is an opinion of scientists that a person found himself on the next stage of development and faced new problems for himself. The more opportunities he has, the more serious tasks have to be solved. And the higher the bet - the price for a probable loss. In fact, in the present, the economic, scientific, technological, transportation, etc. capabilities of people as a whole are unprecedented. And, accordingly, the risk is also maximum.
What are they?
Social science and philosophy divide the global problems of mankind into 3 large groups. The first includes those that arose along the line of the relationship between people and nature. In particular, global environmental problems (and we are talking about them) include environmental pollution, the rapid decline in biodiversity, the destruction of ecological systems, the 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 complicated than just a matter of overpopulation of the planet. So, in some countries there is too much density, while others cannot even simply provide a guaranteed generational change 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, backwardness 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 the amount of resources spent on permanent weapons. And now this issue has again been sharply raised in connection with the confrontation between Russia and the West.
Separate global problems of mankind
Some problems are so acute that they stand out from the main group and receive a 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 it was 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.
Recall that it occupies 70% of the land. Without it, there would be no life on the planet. At the same time, ocean pollution is much more difficult to control than many developing countries take advantage of, dumping waste there and thus saving on their disposal or recycling. Developed countries are trying to control this process, but, firstly, they do not always have enough legal capacity, because no country can fully tell another what to do. Secondly, the oceans are huge. To cover the entire space, too large resources will be needed.
In addition, let us recall that the global problems of the world economy are, among other things, also a matter of resources, the provision of raw materials. What does oil production refer to, and now it is increasingly affecting the oceans. Of course, most companies follow safety precautions, try to prevent leaks, and carefully control the process. However, one major accident is enough to affect a significant part of the territory. And it is difficult to localize the disaster zone in the World Ocean.
In general, examples of this kind of global problems are known in large numbers. Sometimes we are talking about a simple mistake, sometimes - about technical imperfection. But most often, tragedies are caused by negligence, neglect of one's own duties, malicious intent, and even more often - 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, what is the danger of their destruction, how to behave in nature. But there are a fairly large number of people living just in places where wild animals gather, who do not understand the whole picture. They do not have Internet access, they may not be aware of the problem. And yet such people
exploit nature without thinking. Many do not understand what else they can have a way out. Educational programs in India, for example, helped save the lives of many leopards: local residents began to help them when they found themselves, quite by accident, in traps designed for other animals.
The relationship of global problems
The global nature of today's existing problems is connected not only with the fact that they have an impact on the entire planet. Among other things, they cannot be solved by the forces of one country or even a group of states. This is where efforts need to be made. And it is also critical 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 considered as follows. Approximately two hundred years ago, a critical mass of discontent accumulated in different countries, which led to dramatic social changes and revolutions that took place 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 issue of hunger (despite the fact that food shortage continues to be one of the global ones, fewer people are now undernourished than before). As a result, there was a population explosion, as a result - overpopulation.
Which, in turn, led to the threat of resource depletion and environmental pollution. A large number of people in itself can also exacerbate problems between countries and lead to new conflicts. And scientific and technological progress has put new, more powerful and dangerous weapons in the hands of states. Which led to the current state of affairs.
The existing contradictions of the modern world give rise to global problems humanity. Global problems differ from other problems in that, firstly, they concern all mankind, affecting the interests and destinies of all countries and peoples. Secondly, they lead to significant economic and social losses, and in cases of exacerbation, they can threaten the very existence of human civilization. Thirdly, they demand joint actions of all mankind for their solution. Modern civilization first encountered these problems in the second half of the 20th century.
The most important global problem is preventing a world thermonuclear war and ensuring peaceful conditions for the development of all peoples. Its solution requires a set of measures, starting with a tendency to curtail the arms race and reduce military spending in the budgets of states, ending with a reorientation of public consciousness. The last sentence needs some explanation. The fact is that for centuries war was seen as effective method solving political and other problems. But at present (due to the threat of the use of nuclear weapons) war is absolutely unacceptable for solving the problems of mankind. This problem is becoming more complicated today due to the intensification of international terrorism.
No less important is the problem overcoming the consequences of the world ecological crisis. In particular, we are talking about the prevention of catastrophic pollution of the environment (including the atmosphere, oceans, soil). The solution of this problem requires specific measures to harmonize human activity with the possibilities of nature. In 1982, the UN adopted a special document - the World Charter for Conservation of Nature, and then a special commission on the environment was created. In addition to the UN, non-governmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, play an important role in ensuring the environmental safety of the whole world. The governments of the leading countries of the world today are developing and adopting special environmental legislation.
Other global issues include:
- ? overcoming the growing gap in economic level and per capita income between developed and developing countries by eliminating the backwardness of the latter;
- ? elimination of hunger, poverty and illiteracy in the world;
- ? stopping rapid population growth (“population explosion”) in developing countries, and eliminating the danger of “depopulation” in developed countries;
- ? security further development humanity with essential natural resources, including food, industrial raw materials and energy sources;
- ? prevention of immediate and remote negative consequences of the scientific and technological revolution.
Some researchers also include among the global problems problems of improving healthcare and education, as well as problems of relations between generations(among which youth problems stand out).
Under the influence of the scientific and technological revolution, the global problems of our time are becoming even more aggravated.
An international public organization created with the aim of "deepening the understanding of the features of human development in the era of the scientific and technological revolution" is roman club, which was founded in 1968 by the Italian economist Aurelio Peccei. This organization at the time of its creation included 30 countries and more than 100 scientists, public figures, and businessmen. Main activities: discussion and stimulation of research on global problems, assistance in the formation of world public opinion regarding these problems, dialogue with state leaders. The main forms of work - encouragement of special research projects; meetings at which projects of relevant scientific research are discussed, decisions are made on their publication. The reports of the Club of Rome are recommended to government agencies and world leaders.
The global problems of our time have reached extraordinary severity by the beginning of the 21st century. due to the extremely intensified unevenness of socio-economic, political, scientific, technical, demographic, environmental and cultural development various countries. Today, the global problems of mankind have become an important object of interdisciplinary research.
" comes from the Latin word "globe", i.e. Earth, the globe, and means the planetary nature of certain phenomena and processes. Global problems of mankind These are problems that affect the vital interests of all the peoples of the planet. To a large extent, these problems pose a threat to the survival of the planet Earth, to the preservation of its biosphere, and therefore require an urgent solution by the efforts of the peoples of all countries.The global problems of mankind are the following problems.:
- Ecological problem- Disorder of the system of interaction with nature, exhaustibility of natural resources, irreversible changes in the environment.
- The threat of thermonuclear war- the arms race, pollution caused by nuclear weapons tests, the genetic consequences of these tests, the uncontrolled development of nuclear technologies, the possibility of thermonuclear terrorism and blackmail both at the interstate level and at the level of criminal structures and individual terrorists.
- Economic crisis- economic, financial, industrial shocks, gap in the level economic development between the developed countries of the West and the developing countries of the "third world".
- demographic problem- Uneven and uncontrolled population growth in developing countries, while reducing the population in developed countries.
- Human Survival Crisis- depletion of food resources, energy, drinking (fresh) water, clean air, mineral reserves.
- Health issues- prevention of the spread of AIDS, drug addiction, alcohol, tobacco smoking, elimination of hunger, poverty and illiteracy on the globe.
- The crisis of human spirituality- loss moral values, the collapse of ideals, dependence on alcohol and drugs.
- Overcoming the immediate and long-term negative consequences of scientific and technological revolution- scientific and technological revolution. The negative consequences of NTR include:
- the destruction of nature and the undermining of the natural conditions for the existence of society;
- the creation of new types of weapons (atomic, hydrogen) that pose a threat to the existence of mankind;
- the computer revolution has led to a deterioration in the vision of a significant number of the population, to mental disorders, to a lack of communication, additional nervous overload;
- in general, the burden on human body increased stress, diseases of the nervous and vascular systems of people.
- Solving global problems requires the efforts of all countries of the world.
- It is necessary to change the course of development of modern technogenic civilization, to reorient people from worldly, utilitarian values to spiritual values.
- It is necessary to limit production and consumption, the goal of a person should be spiritual self-improvement.
Global problems - this is a set of the most acute global problems affecting the vital interests of all mankind and requiring coordinated international actions for their solution.
Features of global problems: 1) Have a planetary, global character, affect the interests of all the peoples of the world. 2) They threaten the degradation and death of all mankind. 3) Need urgent and effective solutions. 4) They require collective efforts of all states, joint actions of peoples.
Causes of global problems
Global problems are generated uneven development of world civilization:
firstly, technical power has surpassed the achieved level of social organization and threatens to destroy all life;
secondly, political thinking has lagged behind political reality and can no longer manage it effectively;
thirdly, the motives for the activities of the predominant mass of people, their moral values are very far from the social, environmental and demographic imperatives (general moral prescription) of the era;
fourthly, Western countries are ahead of the rest of the world in the economic, social, scientific and technical fields, which leads to the flow of the main resources to them.
Types of global problems (by type of public relations):
1. Man's relationship to nature generates natural and social global problems: environment, lack of resources, energy, lack of food.
The peculiarity of modernity is that in order to continue its history, a person needs to learn how to coordinate his global activities with the needs of nature.
2. Relations between people in society, that is, social relations led to the emergence social global problems: peace and disarmament, world socio-economic development, overcoming the backwardness of poor countries.
3. The relationship between man and society has given rise to anthroposocial global problems: population growth, scientific and technological progress, education and culture, health care.
Human socialization: significance in human life, periods of socialization, main factors.
Man is a social being. From the first days of his existence, he is surrounded by his own kind, included in all sorts of social interactions. A person acquires the first experience of social communication even before he begins to speak. Being part of society, a person acquires a certain subjective experience, which becomes an integral part of the personality. Socialization is the process and result of the assimilation and subsequent active reproduction of social experience by the individual. The process of socialization is inextricably linked with communication and joint activities of people.
Stages of socialization.
In any society, the socialization of a person has features at various stages. In the most general form, the stages of socialization can be correlated with the age periodization of a person's life. There are various periodizations, and the one below is not generally accepted. It is very conditional (especially after the stage of adolescence), but quite convenient from a socio-pedagogical point of view.
A person in the process of socialization goes through the following stages: infancy (from birth to 1 year), early childhood (1-3 years), preschool childhood (3-6 years), primary school age (6-10 years), younger adolescence (10- 12 years old), senior teenage (12-14 years old), early youthful (15-17 years old), youthful (18-23 years old) age, youth (23-30 years old), early maturity (30-40 years old), late maturity (40-55 years), old age (55-65 years), old age (65-70 years), longevity (over 70 years).
factors of socialization.
Socialization proceeds in the interaction of children, adolescents, young men with a huge number of various conditions that more or less actively influence their development. These conditions acting on a person are usually called factors. In fact, not all of them have been identified, and far from all of the known ones have been studied. About those factors that were studied, knowledge is very uneven: quite a lot is known about some, little about others, and very little about others. More or less studied conditions or factors of socialization can conditionally be combined into four groups.
The first is megafactors, (mega - very large, universal) - space, planet, world, which to some extent through other groups of factors influence the socialization of all inhabitants of the Earth.
The second - macro factors (macro - large) - country, ethnic group, society, state, which affect the socialization of all living in certain countries (this influence is indirectly mediated by two other groups of factors)
The third - mezafactory (meso - medium, intermediate), conditions of socialization large groups people allocated: by area and type of settlement in which they live (region, village, city, settlement); by belonging to the audience of certain networks of mass communication (radio, television, etc.); by belonging to certain subcultures. Mesofactors affect the socialization of a person both directly and indirectly through the fourth group - microfactors. These include factors that directly affect specific people who interact with them - family and home, neighborhood, peer groups, educational organizations, various public, religious, private organizations, microsociety.
OR 31. Human socialization
The process of becoming a personality in society, that is, the process of becoming a social "I" of an individual, is called socialization. Outside of society, outside of social communication, there can be no individual.
Under socialization, it is customary to understand the assimilation by an individual of the accumulated social experience, culture, as a result of which his “suitability” for life in society is ensured.
Socialization is a very important process, without which the individual would not be "fit" to live in society. Socialization not only gives people the opportunity to communicate with each other, find their place in society, but also ensures the preservation of the integrity of society.
Thus, the socialization of the individual covers the main stages of the human life cycle: childhood, youth, maturity, old age. At each stage of life, socialization has its own characteristics: it is carried out more intensively at a young age, and in old age its intensity decreases. (He also talked about seven-year periods of life there, but I don’t remember anything, if anyone has it, please add it).
The English sociologist Anthony Giddens identifies the following means of socialization:
1. Family. With any type of culture, it is in the family that parents pass on to the child the experience, culture that they have learned in the process of their own socialization.
2. "Groups of equals." Any individual needs a group of people among whom he feels "an equal among equals." These are, as a rule, peers, friends of the same age, among whom the individual learns norms, rules and patterns of behavior. Peers act as intermediaries in the process of transition from childhood to adulthood.
3. School, education system. They direct socialization in accordance with the goals of society, and not only instill new knowledge.
4. Labor. This is the most important means of socialization, in the process of which the individual begins to meet the requirements of society.
5. Church. In the past, it determined and directed socialization, contributed to the formation of the value core of the individual. Today, its role in the process of socialization has changed somewhat, but in many countries it still remains significant.
6. Mass media. In modern society, their importance can hardly be overestimated. They "set" the patterns and style of behavior, especially for young people, influence the formation of the value core of the individual.
Socialization should be distinguished from:
Adaptation is a time-limited process of adaptation to new conditions;
Education is a purposeful impact on the spiritual sphere and the behavior of individuals;
Training, education - acquisition of new knowledge and skills;
Growing up is the sociopsychological development of a person in a narrow age range (approximately from 10 to 20 years).
Socialization is not limited to any of the processes listed above, and at the same time they are included in the process of socialization as elements.
Global problems of mankind
For many centuries and even millennia, people have been solving eternal questions about the meaning of their existence, about ways to improve the world, about improving nature. The turn of the third millennium, the beginning of a new era brought to mankind such upheavals and problems that until now did not excite the minds and feelings of people. In fact, these are problems accumulated throughout the course of previous history, but which have acquired particular relevance in the modern period.
Therefore, today we often talk not about “eternal questions”, but about “threats and challenges”. These words are heard from the pages of newspapers, in the speeches of presidents, politicians, representatives of the media, and scientists.
Under the challenges and threats, researchers understand the totality of problems that affect people in a certain era and are the difference of this era. And the further survival of mankind sometimes depends on how successfully people manage to find answers to these challenges.
These challenges cannot be unambiguously assessed as either positive or negative. This is something new, unknown, which sweeps away the old in its path, inevitably leads to a change in outdated social structures, stereotypes, values, and life guidelines. All traditional attitudes and norms are being seriously tested. And sometimes it is this new, unknown, something that cannot be learned from the experience of ancestors, that frightens with its novelty.
Scientists refer to challenges- new phenomena for mankind that have a positive significance - the widespread development of democratic orders, the establishment in the practice of peoples and states of peaceful ways to resolve conflict situations, ensuring free and quick access of people to information.
So, in the modern civilized world, nationalism, racism, intolerant attitude towards people of a different skin color, a different culture are universally condemned. Any manifestation of such behavior is considered by people as savagery. Fundamental human rights and freedoms have become universally recognized in the world.
But at the same time, it is impossible not to single out that which carries a serious danger to humanity and threatens the very foundations of its existence. In contrast to the term "challenges", we will apply the term "threats" to the characteristics of these phenomena. The modern Russian scientist R. B. Rybakov names three main groups threats:
- Threats to nature. These include environmental and man-made disasters, environmental pollution with harmful emissions, problems of population growth.
- Threats to human health. This is the distribution of drugs, AIDS. AT last years these problems are becoming one of the leading national threats for our country. In addition to the danger to physical health, the threat to spiritual health is increasing; the level of culture is rapidly falling, commercialization is taking place, high art is being replaced by cheap stamps and fakes.
- Threats to the stable development of society. The scientist identifies among them various social ills: hunger, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment. These woes are increasingly affecting the underdeveloped countries, the "south of the world."
Among the most important threats of our time are wars and terrorism.
There are other classifications of these challenges, also called the global problems of modern humanity. They are characteristic of the modern world. And in former times there were questions that can be classified as universal, - these are questions of war and peace, hunger, the spread of terrible diseases. But they have never been so acute that people have questions: to be or not to be humanity tomorrow? Will the human race survive or perish, destroying its green planet along with it? It is this type of problem that is called global.
Global problems of mankind concern all earthlings, regardless of their state affiliation. Modern man finally realized that the Earth is not as big as it seemed to him before. The world is fragile, the life of man and all creatures living on our planet is fragile. Much needs to be solved for humanity to continue its existence. The greenhouse effect and the rapid depletion of resources, overpopulation in a number of regions and the danger of nuclear war - all this is only a small part of what threatens life on Earth.
Classification of global problems. It is possible to distinguish environmental, social, political and economic problems related to the category of global ones. Environmental problems include such problems as the "greenhouse" effect, "ozone holes", deforestation, pollution of the atmosphere, ocean waters, soil depletion, and many others. Social problems- this is a huge number of illiterate people, a difficult demographic situation and moral and ethical problems. Political problems primarily include issues of international terrorism, the threat of local wars, the danger of a global war.
Economic problems- this is the depletion of resources and the division of the world into poles of economic development, the problems of food supply and scientific and technological revolution.
The threat of international terrorism
International terrorism has become one of the leading global problems of the modern world. Terror as a method of solving political problems did not arise in our days. Acts of terror have been committed in the distant past. In science under terrorism refers to the method by which an organized group or party seeks to achieve its stated goals primarily through the systematic use of violence. The concepts of "terrorism" and "terrorist" themselves appeared at the end of the 18th century. According to one of the French explanatory dictionaries, the Jacobins often used this concept in relation to themselves - and always with a positive connotation. However, already during the French Revolution, the word "terrorist" acquired an offensive meaning, turning into a synonym for "criminal". Subsequently, the term received a broader interpretation and began to mean any system of government based on fear. Until very recently, the word "terrorism" was used very broadly and meant the whole range of different shades of violence.
Terrorism- violent influence on people in order to intimidate them and achieve the implementation of their plans.
Terrorist actions are always public in nature and are carried out with the aim of influencing society or the authorities.
Terror scholars distinguish three main stages in the history of the development of terrorism.
First stage covers the period until the middle of the 20th century, when terrorist acts were organized and carried out mainly by small groups of conspirators or loners. In the words of Albert Camus, it was "handicraft terrorism."
The history of Russia knows examples of this kind of political terror. The loudest of them are the elimination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881 by the Narodnaya Volya group, the assassination attempt on the Ministers of the Interior D. Sipyagin and V. Plehve, the assassination of Prime Minister P. Stolypin. The act of terrorism - the assassination by a member of the Serbian nationalist organization G. Princip of the Austrian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand - served as a pretext for unleashing the First World War.
Second phase in the history of terrorism is associated with the period of World War II and the Cold War, when terror began to be actively used at the state level. Not only separate groups of conspirators, political parties and movements, but also entire states began to use methods of terror to fight their opponents. Thus, in the era of the Cold War, terrorist activity as a means of struggle was encouraged by the governments of the two superpowers - the USA and the USSR.
And finally at the third stage, that is, in the modern era, terror has gone beyond the borders of states. It has acquired a global, transnational character. Terror is now an integral system that combines large financial resources, the possibility of their flow and use in various regions of the world, the most powerful information support, a single network - a web covering the whole world. Terror has become a means of not only political pressure on certain states, but also an economy that allows you to receive significant income. Today it is unthinkable to solve the issues of combating terrorism within the framework of one or several countries - this is a task that requires the utmost concentration of efforts of many countries and peoples.
A feature of terrorism today is the use by terrorist organizations and groups of the specific features of modern society. These, undoubtedly, include a significant influence on the power of public opinion, the development of mass media focused on reflecting sensations, the habit of most people in developed countries to a quiet life in abundance.
Russian researchers D. Gusev, O. Matveychev, R. Khazeev and S. Chernakov emphasize: “Whatever slogan a terrorist comes up with, he is an adept and a product of globalism. The main precepts of globalization: 1) everyone must be heard; 2) there should be space for statements. A terrorist is one who believes that he is not being listened to and who is not considered in communication and practice. Therefore, he takes the floor and the whole "world of publicity" rushes to him. Terrorism today - how piece of art like a show, like a picture. It is happening in front of the lens of hundreds of thousands of photo and movie cameras. It is only possible where there are these cameras and this publicity. That is, in the civilized world. Indeed, information about terrorist acts is presented on the front pages of newspapers and in all news releases. The actions of terrorists are aimed at making people stop supporting a state that is unable to ensure the safety of its citizens.
These conditions have led to the fact that today terrorists prefer not to encroach on the lives of leaders, politicians, but to take hostage or destroy as many innocent people as possible. ordinary people"out of the mass". The psychological effect of such crimes is very significant. Let's look at the lines of one of the newspaper articles: "It's scary to ride the subway, fly by plane, go to theaters and concert halls, it's scary just to relax in your own house in the evening after a working day ...". This is precisely the purpose of the actions of modern terrorists. Intimidate people, plant fear in their hearts.
Russian scientist D. Olshansky highlights several types of modern terrorism: 1) political(aimed at directly influencing political leaders and their decisions, perhaps getting them eliminated); 2) informational(direct, often violent, impact on the psyche and consciousness of people in order to form the necessary opinions and judgments, the spread of certain "frightening" rumors); economic(discriminatory economic actions with the aim of putting pressure on competitors, which may include both individual companies and states); social(domestic) (everyday intimidation that we may encounter on the street, at school, in everyday life, for example, from "skinheads", racketeers who terrorize small businesses).
All these types of terrorism are connected in one way or another - they pose a threat to people's lives and lead to the spread of fear among the population. “Terrorists are capable of changing the social atmosphere in the most serious way, sowing fear, uncertainty, and distrust in the institutions of power. Their actions can be especially destructive for democratic states, where the irritation and indignation of citizens may well be expressed in supporting in the elections the one whose only promise will be to end terrorism, ”notes Russian scientist L. Ya. Gozman. It can be stated that as a result of the actions of terrorists, there is often a change in the government's course, a change in the ruling circles.
Terrorism has made serious changes in the life of peoples and states. Habitual connections and way of life are broken. It turns out that the openness of society, the trust in citizens by the state is actively used by terrorists to achieve their goals. An important problem for a modern state is the need to limit the rights and freedoms of an individual in order to more successfully counter terror. After the terrorist attacks that shocked the whole world on September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington, the US authorities took unprecedented security measures at airports, introduced a new procedure for entering the country, and tightened control over citizens. At airports, checks have been tightened considerably. And people realized that in the name of security, they should agree to these restrictions. But, as the popular magazine Business Week points out, “surveillance and surveillance are under the control of a law that requires citizens to be made aware that some kind of verification is underway and that gives citizens the right to correct misinformation about themselves.” The dilemma faced by modern society, under the pressure of the terrorist threat, is "freedom in exchange for security."
A new wave of terror is growing every year of the beginning of the 21st century. The modern world has experienced a number of serious terrorist attacks. The largest of these was the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 in New York, which led to the collapse of the towers of the World Trade Center. More than 3,000 people died under the ruins of the twin towers - people from various countries of the world. Many began to consider this terrorist attack the beginning of a new era. The year 2004 became tragically memorable for the people of Spain, when terrorists blew up a passenger train arriving at Madrid's Atocha station. The explosion claimed the lives of more than 100 people.
The mournful list of victims of terror in our country is also significant. In September 1999, terrorists blew up houses with civilians in Moscow and Volgodonsk. About 300 people died. We learned a terrible word - hexogen. There were explosions in passenger trains, markets, bus stops.
In October 2002, in Moscow, the theater center on Dubrovka was seized by bandits. The name of the musical performance "Nord-Ost" has become a symbol of a terrible tragedy in the modern history of Russia. During the release of the hostages, of which there were more than 800, about 130 people died. 70 people were killed in an explosion near the Government House in Grozny. Dozens of people died as a result of an explosion near the Tushinskaya metro station at the Wings festival in the summer of 2003, during the explosion of a car in the Moscow metro at the Avtozavodskaya station in February 2004. A new wave of terror swept over our country in August-September 2004. Suicide bombers blew up two passenger planes with 90 people on board. An explosion near the Rizhskaya metro station claimed the lives of 10 people.
And the most terrible tragedy, which is difficult to describe in words, occurred in the North Ossetian city of Beslan, at a school where on September 1, on Knowledge Day, about 1,200 people, most of whom were children, were taken hostage by terrorist militants. During the release of the hostages, 338 people died. A monstrous crime that resulted in the death of children! What is this if not a war declared to us by terrorists and those who stand behind them and allocate huge financial resources for their activities?
How to counter terror? How can we prevent such a nightmare from happening again? These questions are asked by ordinary people, the military, and the heads of the leading states of the world. Each of us must seek answers to these questions. Unfortunately, today terrorism outstrips the reaction of peoples and states. In many ways, public and state structures turned out to be unprepared to adequately repel the threat from terrorists. The war on terror is becoming all-out. And one of its fronts is the one that passes through the consciousness and heart of each of our contemporaries. We - normal people striving to preserve and maintain a peaceful life - are the overwhelming majority. Terrorists are fighting for our souls, seeking to instill fear in them and take away our dignity and reason. In his address to the citizens of Russia on the occasion of the tragedy in Beslan, V. V. Putin said: “We ... more than once faced crises, rebellions and terrorist acts. But what has happened now is an inhuman, unprecedented in its cruelty crime by terrorists. This is not a challenge to the president, parliament or government. This is a challenge to all of Russia. To all our people. This is an attack on our country. The terrorists think they are stronger than us. That they will be able to intimidate us with their cruelty, they will be able to paralyze our will and corrupt our society. And, it would seem, we have a choice - to repulse them or to agree with their claims. Surrender, allow Russia to be destroyed and pulled apart in the hope that they will eventually leave us alone... ...I am convinced that in reality we simply have no choice. ... All world experience shows that such wars, unfortunately, do not end quickly.
Under these conditions, we simply cannot, we must not live as carelessly as before. We must create much more effective system security, to demand from our law enforcement agencies actions that would be adequate to the level and scope of the emerging new threats.
But the most important thing is the mobilization of the nation in the face of a common danger. Events in other countries show that terrorists receive the most effective rebuff precisely where they encounter not only the power of the state, but also an organized, cohesive civil society.
The validity of these words is repeatedly confirmed by examples from recent history. What, if not a negative attitude towards terrorists on the part of society, forced terrorist organizations in Germany, Italy, Northern Ireland to abandon radical actions, which a couple of decades ago terrified civilians. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have expressed their protest against the terror since September 11, 2001; after the explosion at the Atocha station, all of Spain, all of Europe, took to the streets. More than 130,000 Muscovites took part in a rally against terror during the days of the Beslan tragedy. And millions of Russians on September 9 at 9 o'clock in the morning (the time the terrorists seized the school in Beslan) honored the memory of the dead with a minute of silence, with the horns of their cars. Society mourns, but this mourning does not lead to weakness and confusion. People unite, support each other, become stronger from the pain experienced together.
Global problems: environmental, economic, political, social
Environmental pollution. It arises due to the fact that we get used to any actions, and when we find out how harmful they are, we cannot refuse them. So our habits become our enemies. The essence of pollution is the accumulation of harmful, toxic substances (toxins) in the environment. Currently, this process is so intense that natural cleansing mechanisms are unable to cope with the influx of toxins. And the consequences of environmental pollution will be that in all natural products that we considered safe, substances created by us and often life-threatening will appear. In addition, an increase in the concentration of harmful substances will lead to the extinction of many species of animals and plants on Earth.
Rapid population growth. At the end of the 18th century, the level of medical care in general increased in European countries. The death rate began to decrease, but the birth rate remained at the same level. This led to an increase in the population. However, by the middle of the 20th century, a decline in the birth rate occurred in these countries, as a result of which the natural increase was greatly reduced. Another picture is typical for those countries that now have the status of developing countries. In these countries, medical care has improved significantly in the middle of the 20th century. At the same time, the birth rate remained high, and as a result, huge population growth rates. The so-called "population explosion" is one of the most important problems today. As a rule, a high rate of natural increase is characteristic of countries with an underdeveloped economy, where the state cannot provide a decent existence for the population. The “population explosion” is connected, in particular, with the fact that in countries with traditionally high mortality and high birth rates, the level of medical care has been increased. The death rate has declined, but the birth rate has remained high. The results of the "population explosion" are already visible today. Territories with a surplus of population are subject to destructive processes: soil erosion, deforestation; acute problems of food, unsanitary conditions and many others.
The problem of the overpopulated "south" is due to the fact that the "population explosion" is associated with specific regions: Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America. The reason for the existing problem lies in the fact that these countries do not have sufficiently developed economies and cannot independently solve the problems they face.
International strife. In a number of regions of the world, inter-ethnic contradictions have not been completely overcome; many peoples have not been able to create their own national states, self-determine, and for them the problem of ethnic self-identity is very relevant (for example, for the Kurds, a number of Balkan peoples and peoples former USSR). In a number of cases, inter-confessional strife is added to inter-ethnic strife: if the peoples living nearby profess different religions, then such neighborhood often gives rise to conflicts, including armed ones. Thus, the problem of interethnic strife is closely connected with the existence of local conflicts.
local conflicts. They bear in themselves, first of all, all the horrors and disasters of war. But, besides this, there is always a danger of a local conflict growing into a global one, because strong developed countries can take the positions of different sides in conflict resolution.
The threat of nuclear war. There is a serious danger that in the course of hostilities weapons of mass destruction based on obtaining energy in the course of nuclear and thermonuclear reactions will be used. Firstly, the destructive effect of such weapons is quite long in time, secondly, there is practically no protection from them, and thirdly, the nuclear weapons available today are enough to destroy all life on Earth several times. In addition, after the massive use of nuclear weapons, even in one point on the globe, we are all in danger of a nuclear winter. Thus, nuclear weapons are an easy way to destroy humanity. It doesn't matter who is first, what matters is that if someone presses the button first, nothing else will happen. That is why many countries sign conventions on the prohibition of the use and testing of nuclear weapons.
Among the global political problems can be attributed to those remaining on the world stage poles of power, difference of interests(USA - Europe - Russia - Asia-Pacific), struggle for spheres of influence. The path to a just world order is still long enough.
One of the problems is difference in political systems. Most modern states have fully realized the advantages of democracy, the age of totalitarian regimes on Earth is ending, but this problem has not yet been fully exhausted - original reserves of totalitarianism remain in the East (North Korea, Iraq, a number of African countries), political modernization of China, Cuba, yes and many countries, having declared their commitment to democracy, are in no hurry to confirm words with deeds.
food problem is the inability of developing countries to fully feed their populations. In fact, the potential of the planet and modern technologies make it possible to feed twice as many people as the entire population of the Earth today, moreover, the volume of food production in the world can satisfy the needs of the entire planet. However, for economic reasons, a “take and share” solution is not possible.
Resource depletion. Previously, a person could calmly develop deposits, caring only that it was economically profitable for him. But the current situation shows that soon the minerals will simply run out. So, at the current level of production, oil reserves can be enough for 100-200 years; natural gas - for 100 years. Depletion threatens not only non-renewable resources, but also those that are classified as renewable.
Designated by the "Club of Rome" back in the 1970s, remains difficult. the problem of economic growth and its limits.
Spiritual problems. Global problems are diverse, complex and contradictory. They cover a wide range of human relationships and activities. How can a person preserve his humanity, remain himself? Solving global problems is the task of the entire planet, and this requires peaceful, voluntary, conscious cooperation of all people.
The problems of modern humanity are associated with spiritual life, the degradation of "mass culture", the erosion of established moral, ethical guidelines, people's departure from real problems into the world of illusions generated by drug intoxication, the use of special psychotropic drugs; Scientific and technological revolution poses complex questions for humanity, especially its modern stage - mass computerization, progress towards solving the problem of creating artificial intelligence. Humanity risks losing its spirituality, its ability to perceive, feel and create beauty. In the struggle for the preservation of man, scientists rallied, creating the movement of the "blue" (as opposed to the "green" - fighters in defense of nature). This movement defends the right of a person to remain himself, even in the age of modern technology.
People must follow a single path that will lead them out of the crisis. There are several points of view on this path. Let's consider two opposing views on what should be the role of man in the world, how serious the existing and expected problems with the environment and resources really are and how to solve them.
Neo-Malthusians (followers of the 19th-century scientist Malthus) believe that if modern trends continue, the world will become even more overpopulated and more polluted, and many types of resources will be depleted. They are confident that such a situation will lead to serious political and economic collisions and increase the threat of nuclear and conventional war as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Members of the opposition group are called Cornucopians. This name comes from the word cornucopia(lat.) - "cornucopia, a symbol of wealth." Most Cornucopians are economists. They are confident that, if current trends continue, economic growth and technological advances will create a less crowded, less polluted, and more resource-rich world community.
Advanced modern scientists could not stay away from the discussion and search for ways to resolve global problems. They created a number of authoritative, international organizations that influence the adoption of important political decisions. One of these organizations - the "Club of Rome" - was established in 1968 to discuss the problems of the survival of human civilization. For many years, the Club of Rome was headed by the Italian public figure Aurelio Peccei. It was Peccei who formulated the main task of the organization - conducting research in the field of ecology, depletion of resources, economic growth, "demographic explosion", etc. Among the organizers is Eduard Pestel, a well-known German scientist, a specialist in the theory of system analysis and automated control methods . The first report to the Club of Rome was called The Limits to Growth. It was prepared by a research team led by Dennis and Donela Meadows of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(USA) and published in 1972. The report denounced the rampant growth of world production. The second report appeared in 1974. it was called "Humanity at the Crossroads". Its compilers were E. Pestel and M. Mesarovic. In it, unlike the first report, as promising for human civilization, the “concept of organic growth” was put forward, in which the world was likened to a living organism, where each region has its own functions within the framework of a single whole.
The third report to the Club of Rome was compiled by the well-known Dutch economist J. Tinberger and his group. It was called Rebuilding the International Order, or RIO. The RIO project proceeded from the idea of interdependence of all countries and peoples, the need for changes in the socio-economic, political and cultural spheres and the formation of a new world order. The purpose of this order is to, by coordinating the interests of all countries, both developed and developing, to create an effective system of regulation international relations: the problem of creditor states and debtor states must be resolved. Those of them that, in principle, are not able to pay the debts accumulated over decades of unequal existence in the world market, they should be written off. The arms race must be stopped. All efforts should be directed towards rational use resources of the Earth, the preservation of the natural balance, the achievement by all people on Earth of a decent standard of living.
