Global problems of modernity social science. Global Problems: Examples, Relationships and Causes

People living in the 21st century are bound by the need to solve common problems facing humanity. Today, society is faced with problems that pose a threat to its existence and further development. Such problems are called global (from French word global - worldwide, universal).

We advise you to remember!
Global problems humanity - problems characteristic of all mankind, posing a threat to its existence and further development. Global problems can only be overcome by the efforts of all mankind.

Scientists and experts name a number of major global problems, such as conservation environment, the threat of wars and the spread nuclear weapons, international terrorism, the growth of contradictions between economically developed and developing countries, social inequality, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and crime (especially in underdeveloped countries), conflicts in society. Everything greater value acquire problems of health care, prevention of the spread of AIDS and drug addiction.

Environmental pollution and lack of natural resources

Some problems arose in ancient times, gradually accumulated and by now have reached catastrophic proportions.

Already primitive people began to cause noticeable damage to nature, using fire to drive animals, burning vegetation to till the soil. Social progress not only improved the means of satisfying human needs, but also led to a constant increase in the number of new needs, man more and more intensively influenced nature. It is in our time that the accumulated local problems have turned into global ones.

The more comfortable human life and the successes of medicine became, the more people were added on the planet, and in society the number of needs that must be satisfied increased. To do this, it is necessary to strengthen the industry, to extract minerals, which are not unlimited. As a result, man polluted the planet so much that it became dangerous for people, animals, and plants to live on it.

Additional reading
Some of the changes caused by human activity are already irreversible. For example, dams that block rivers, ports at estuaries change the nature of the flow of water. Water pollution leads to the reproduction of malaria mosquitoes, which kills about 2 million people every year.

What do you think, what other consequences of human activity cause irreversible harm to the environment?

Soil pollution leads to the fact that toxic substances are absorbed by a person along with food and water. Air pollution with toxic emissions causes various diseases.

Demographic problems and contradictions between rich and poor countries

The study of the composition of the population is engaged in a special science - demography.

The accelerated growth of the world's population, which is 7 billion, has led the world to a global demographic problem. Its essence lies in the uncontrolled growth of the Earth's population, on the one hand, and the constant decrease in the proportion of the population of economically developed countries in the total population of the world, on the other. This means that the population of developed countries is aging. That is, the growth of the world population occurs at the expense of poor countries (for example, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Congo, etc.), where the majority of the world's population lives. They have many problems: food shortages, a growing gap in living standards between the poor and the rich, periodic mass starvation, regular armed conflicts, outbreaks of disease and epidemics, crime and terrorism.

Interesting Facts
In the developing, poorest countries of the world, 1.5 billion people are deprived of basic health care. About 2 billion people do not have access to safe water. Millions of people die of hunger every year, including children. The United Nations has recognized that the problem of hunger will not be completely solved within the next 50-60 years.

The threat of wars and the proliferation of nuclear weapons

The more people on Earth became, the more their needs increased, the more often they fought with each other. Over the past 5 thousand years, there have been 14.5 thousand wars in the world. Moreover, from century to century the number of human casualties increased, so, in the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945), tens of millions of people already died. As a result, the problem of war and peace, which was previously of interest to individual tribes and peoples, has now become a global problem. Military operations cover vast territories where the natural environment is being destroyed, people are dying (for example, during the years of the war in the Congo at the turn of the 20th-21st centuries, about 4 million Africans died, mainly from epidemics and famine).

Today, nuclear weapons alone have accumulated so much that their explosive power is several thousand times greater than the power of ammunition used in all wars that have been fought before. This weapon can destroy life on Earth dozens of times.

Interesting Facts
Most of all nuclear charges are accumulated in the USA and Russia. In addition, Britain, France and China have nuclear weapons. These five states constitute the "nuclear club" of powers, which global community in the person of the UN allows to have nuclear weapons. But besides them, India, Pakistan, Israel and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea created nuclear weapons. The more states possess nuclear weapons, the higher the risk of their use.

International terrorism

One of the most dangerous problems of mankind can be called international terrorism.

Acts of international terrorism include brutality, senseless killings, hostage-taking, street bombings, hijacking, extortion, and the use or threat of torture for political purposes.

We advise you to remember!
Terrorism (from the Latin terror - fear) - violent actions (persecution, destruction, hostage-taking, murder, etc.) or the threat of their use for political or economic purposes.

The wave of terrorist attacks that swept through recent times around the planet, confirmed that terrorism has no borders (attack on the buildings of the World shopping center in New York, the seizure of a school in Beslan, explosions in the Moscow metro, terrorist attacks in Norway, Ukraine, etc.). In addition, it is becoming more and more obvious that the fight against terrorism is not a problem of any single state, but of the entire world community. After all, terrorists, continuing to commit their atrocities in various parts of the world, do not just challenge humanity. In essence, they unleashed a war against the entire world community. A war without rules, cruel, in which civilians, including women, children, the elderly, become victims. At the international level, a number of documents have been adopted aimed at combating international terrorism, including the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism (1994), the UN Security Council established the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

Today, over 300 terrorist organizations are known to operate in various countries ah world.

Summing up
Global problems of modern society - preservation of the environment, lack of natural resources, the spread of nuclear weapons, counteraction to international terrorism, etc. - can only be solved by the efforts of all mankind.

Basic terms and concepts
Global problems of mankind, terrorism.

Test your knowledge

1. What problems did humanity face at the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st century? Why are they global?
2. What is the global demographic problem of mankind? Give examples.
3. Why has the problem of terrorism become one of the most dangerous problems of mankind? Give examples.

Workshop

1. Make a presentation on the topic "Global problems of modern society." Prepare a computer presentation.
2. Explain what a nuclear threat is. Pick up materials in the media about how humanity is struggling with it.
3. Write a story on the topic "How can I help fight the global problems of humanity."

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 world thermo prevention nuclear 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 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, a major role in ensuring environmental safety around the world are played by non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace. 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;
• ? termination rapid growth population ("population explosion") in developing countries, and the elimination of the danger of "depopulation" in developed countries;
• ? ensuring the further development of mankind with the necessary 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.

International public organization, created with the aim of "deepening the understanding of the features of the development of mankind 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 are the promotion 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 increased unevenness of the socio-economic, political, scientific, technical, demographic, environmental and cultural development of various countries. Today, the global problems of mankind have become an important object of interdisciplinary research.

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 that have accumulated throughout the course of previous history, but 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. Everyone is put to the test traditional relationship and norms. 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- phenomena that are new to mankind and have a positive significance - the widespread development of democratic orders, the establishment in the practice of peoples and states of peaceful ways of resolving conflict situations, providing people with free and quick access 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. In recent years, these problems have become one of the leading ones for our country. national threats. 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 are 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 is the depletion of resources and the division of the world into poles economic development, 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. Terrorist act - murder by a member of the Serbian nationalist organization D. The principle 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 " 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 is like a work of art, like a show, like a painting. 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 to just 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, 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. important problem for the modern state is the need to limit the rights and freedoms of the individual for a more successful opposition to 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."

New wave 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 passenger train arriving at the Madrid Atocha train 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" became a symbol of a terrible tragedy in modern history 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, took place 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 ... have faced crises, rebellions and terrorist acts more than once. 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 a much more effective security system, require our law enforcement actions that would be adequate to the level and scope of 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 with an organized, cohesive civil society.

The validity of these words is repeatedly confirmed by examples from recent history. What if not negative attitude to 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 in European countries improved the level of medical care in general. 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 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 risk that weapons will be used in hostilities mass destruction based on obtaining energy during nuclear and thermonuclear reactions. 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), the political modernization of China, Cuba has not been carried out, 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 wide range human relations 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 mankind, 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 sure that while saving current trends 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 Donella 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, the “concept of organic growth” was put forward as promising for human civilization, 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 "Restructuring 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.

5. Global problems of our time

Global problems are the totality of the problems of mankind that confronted him in the second half of20th century and on the solution of which the existence of civilization depends. These problems were the result of contradictions that have accumulated in the relationship between man and nature for a long time.

The first people who appeared on Earth, getting food for themselves, did not violate natural laws and natural circuits. But in the process of evolution, the relationship between man and the environment has changed significantly. With the development of tools, man increasingly increased his "pressure" on nature. Already in antiquity, this led to the desertification of vast areas of Malaya and Central Asia and the Mediterranean.

The period of the Great geographical discoveries was marked by the beginning of the predatory exploitation of the natural resources of Africa, America and Australia, which seriously affected the state of the biosphere on the entire planet. And the development of capitalism and the industrial revolutions that took place in Europe gave rise to environmental problems in this region as well. The impact of the human community on nature reached global proportions in the second half of the 20th century. And today the problem of overcoming the ecological crisis and its consequences is perhaps the most urgent and serious.

In the course of his business activity, a person for a long time occupied the position of a consumer in relation to nature, exploited it mercilessly, believing that natural resources are inexhaustible.

One of the negative results of human activity has been the depletion of natural resources. Yes, in progress historical development people gradually mastered more and more new types of energy: physical strength (first of their own, and then of animals), wind energy, falling or flowing water, steam, electricity and, finally, atomic energy.

Currently, work is underway to obtain energy by thermonuclear fusion. However, the development of nuclear energy is constrained public opinion seriously concerned about the problem of ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants. As for other common energy sources - oil, gas, peat, coal - the danger of their depletion in the very near future is very high. So, if the growth rate of modern oil consumption does not grow (which is unlikely), then its proven reserves will last at best for the next fifty years. Meanwhile, most scientists do not confirm the forecasts, according to which in the near future it is possible to create this type of energy, the resources of which will become practically inexhaustible. Even if we assume that in the next 15-20 years thermonuclear fusion will still be able to "tame", then its widespread introduction (with the creation of the necessary infrastructure for this) will be delayed for more than one decade. And therefore humanity, apparently, should heed the opinion of those scientists who recommend him voluntary self-restraint both in the production and consumption of energy.

The second aspect of this problem is environmental pollution. Every year, industrial enterprises, energy and transport complexes emit into the Earth's atmosphere more than 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide and up to 700 million tons of vapor and gaseous compounds that are harmful to the human body.

The most powerful accumulations of harmful substances lead to the appearance of the so-called "ozone holes" - such places in the atmosphere through which the depleted ozone layer allows ultraviolet rays sunlight reach the earth's surface more freely. This has a negative impact on the health of the world's population. "Ozone holes" - one of the reasons for the increase in the number of cancers in humans. The tragedy of the situation, according to scientists, is also that in the event of the final depletion of the ozone layer, humanity will not have the means to restore it.

Not only air and land are polluted, but also the waters of the oceans. From 6 to 10 million tons of crude oil and oil products get into it every year (and taking into account their effluents, this figure can be doubled). All this leads both to the destruction (extinction) of entire species of animals and plants, and to the deterioration of the gene pool of all mankind. It is obvious that the problem of general degradation of the environment, the consequence of which is the deterioration of the living conditions of people, is a problem for all mankind. Humanity can solve it only together. In 1982, the UN adopted a special document - the World Charter for Conservation of Nature, and then created a special commission on the environment. In addition to the UN, non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace, the Club of Rome, etc. play an important role in developing and ensuring the environmental safety of mankind. As for the governments of the leading powers of the world, they are trying to combat environmental pollution by adopting special environmental legislation.

Another problem is the problem of world population growth (demographic problem). It is associated with a continuous increase in the number of people living on the territory of the planet and has its own background. Approximately 7 thousand years ago, in the Neolithic era, according to scientists, no more than 10 million people lived on the planet. By the beginning of the XV century. this figure doubled, and by the beginning of the XIX century. approached a billion. The two-billion mark was crossed in the 20s. XX century, and as of 2000, the population of the Earth has already exceeded 6 billion people.

The demographic problem is generated by two global demographic processes: the so-called population explosion in developing countries and underreproduction of the population in developed countries. However, it is obvious that the Earth's resources (primarily food) are limited, and today a number of developing countries have had to face the problem of birth control. But, according to scientists, the birth rate will reach simple reproduction (that is, replacement of generations without an increase in the number of people) in Latin America no earlier than 2035, in South Asia - no earlier than 2060, in Africa - no earlier than 2070. Between Therefore, it is necessary to solve the demographic problem now, because the current population is hardly feasible for the planet, which is not able to provide such a number of people with the food necessary for survival.

Some demographic scientists also point to such an aspect of the demographic problem as the change in the structure of the world population that occurs as a result of the population explosion in the second half of the 20th century. In this structure, the number of residents and immigrants from developing countries is growing - people who are poorly educated, unsettled, who do not have positive life guidelines and the habit of observing the norms of civilized behavior. this leads to a significant decrease in the intellectual level of mankind and the spread of such antisocial phenomena as drug addiction, vagrancy, crime, etc.

FROM demographic problem closely intertwined is the problem of reducing the gap in the level of economic development between the developed countries of the West and the developing countries of the "third world" (the so-called "North-South" problem).

The essence of this problem lies in the fact that most of those who were released in the second half of the 20th century. from the colonial dependence of countries, embarking on the path of catching up economic development, they could not, despite relative success, catch up with the developed countries in terms of basic economic indicators (primarily in terms of GNP per capita). This was largely due to the demographic situation: population growth in these countries actually leveled the successes achieved in the economy.

And finally, another global problem, which for a long time was considered the most important, is the problem of preventing a new - third world war.

The search for ways to prevent world conflicts began almost immediately after the end of the World War of 1939-1945. It was then that the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition decided to create the UN - a universal international organization, whose main goal was to develop interstate cooperation and, in the event of a conflict between countries, to assist the opposing parties in resolving contentious issues in peaceful way. However, the final division of the world into two systems, capitalist and socialist, which soon took place, as well as the beginning of the Cold War and a new arms race, more than once brought the world to the brink of a nuclear catastrophe. Especially real threat the beginning of the third world war was during the so-called Caribbean crisis of 1962 caused by the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. But thanks to the reasonable position of the leaders of the USSR and the USA, the crisis was resolved peacefully. In subsequent decades, a number of agreements on the limitation of nuclear weapons were signed by the leading nuclear powers of the world, and some of them nuclear powers made a commitment to stop nuclear tests. In many respects, the decision of governments to accept such obligations was influenced by the public movement for peace, as well as such an authoritative interstate association of scientists who advocated universal and complete disarmament like the Pugwash movement. It was scientists who, using scientific models, convincingly proved that the main consequence of a nuclear war would be ecological catastrophy resulting in climate change on Earth. The latter can lead to genetic changes in human nature and, possibly, to the complete extinction of mankind.

To date, we can state the fact that the likelihood of conflict between the leading powers of the world is much less than before. However, there is a possibility of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of authoritarian regimes (Iraq) or individual terrorists. On the other hand, recent events related to the activities of the UN Commission in Iraq, the new aggravation of the Middle East crisis once again prove that, despite the end of the Cold War, the threat of a third world war still exists.

In connection with the end of the "cold war" in the mid-1980s. there was a global problem of conversion. Conversion is the gradual transfer of excess resources (capital, labor force technologies, etc.), which were previously employed in the military sphere, into the civil sphere. The conversion is in the interest of most people, since it greatly reduces the threat of military clashes.

All global problems are interconnected. It is impossible to solve each of them separately: humanity must solve them together in order to save life on the planet.

Global problems of our time is a set of socio-natural problems, on the solution of which the social progress of mankind and the preservation of civilization depend. These problems are characterized by dynamism, arise as an objective factor in the development of society, and for their solution require the combined efforts of all mankind. Global problems are interconnected, cover all aspects of people's lives and concern all countries of the world.

List of global issues

The unresolved problem of reversing aging in humans and poor public awareness of negligible aging.

the problem of "North-South" - the gap in development between rich and poor countries, poverty, hunger and illiteracy;

prevention of thermonuclear war and ensuring peace for all peoples, prevention by the world community of unauthorized proliferation of nuclear technologies, radioactive contamination of the environment;

prevention of catastrophic environmental pollution and reduction of biodiversity;

providing humanity with resources;

global warming;

ozone holes;

the problem of cardiovascular, oncological diseases and AIDS.

demographic development (population explosion in developing countries and demographic crisis in developed ones).

terrorism;

crime;

Global problems are the result of the confrontation between nature and human culture, as well as the inconsistency or incompatibility of multidirectional trends in the course of the development of human culture itself. Natural nature exists on the principle of negative feedback (see biotic regulation of the environment), while human culture - on the principle of positive feedback.

Solution attempts

Demographic transition - the natural end of the 1960s population explosion

Nuclear disarmament

energy saving

Montreal Protocol (1989) - fight against ozone holes

Kyoto Protocol (1997) - fight against global warming.

Scientific prizes for successful radical life extension in mammals (mice) and their rejuvenation.

Club of Rome (1968)

Global problems of our time

Global problems of the present.

Features of integration processes covering various spheres of life

people most profoundly and acutely manifest themselves in the so-called global

problems of the present.

Global problems:

The problem of ecology

Save the world

Exploration of space and the oceans

food problem

population problem

The problem of overcoming backwardness

Raw material problem

Features of global problems.

1) Have a planetary, global character, affect the interests of all

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.

Most of the problems that today we associate with global problems

modernity, have accompanied humanity throughout its history. To

first of all, they should include the problems of ecology, the preservation of peace,

overcoming poverty, hunger and illiteracy.

But after the Second World War, thanks to the unprecedented scale

transformative human activity, all these problems have turned into

global, expressing the contradictions of the integral modern world and

denoting with unprecedented force the need for cooperation and unity of all

people of the earth.

Today's global problems:

On the one hand, they demonstrate the closest interconnection of states;

On the other hand, they reveal the deep inconsistency of this unity.

The development of human society has always been controversial. It is constantly

was accompanied not only by the establishment of a harmonious connection with nature, but also

destructive effect on her.

Apparently, synanthropes (about 400 thousand

years ago) who began to use fire. As a result of the

Due to fires, significant areas of vegetation were destroyed.

Scientists believe that the intensive hunting of ancient people for mammoths was one of the

the most important reasons for the extinction of this species of animals.

Starting about 12 thousand years ago, the transition from the appropriating nature

management to the producer, associated primarily with the development

agriculture, also led to very significant negative impacts on

the surrounding nature.

The technology of agriculture in those days was as follows: on a certain

the forest was burned on the site, then elementary tillage and sowing were carried out

plant seeds. Such a field could produce a crop for only 2-3 years, after which

the soil was depleted and it was necessary to move to a new site.

In addition, environmental problems in ancient times were often caused by mining

mineral.

So, in the 7th - 4th centuries BC. intensive development in ancient Greece

silver-lead mines, which required large volumes of strong

forests, led to the actual destruction of forests on the Antique Peninsula.

Significant changes in natural landscapes were caused by the construction of cities,

which began to be carried out in the Middle East about 5 thousand years ago, and

of course, a significant burden on nature was accompanied by the development

industry.

But although these human impacts on the environment have become increasingly

scale, however, until the second half of the 20th century, they had a local

character.

Mankind, developing along the path of progress, gradually accumulated

material and spiritual resources to meet their needs, however

he never managed to completely get rid of hunger, poverty and

illiteracy. The acuteness of these problems was felt by each nation in its own way, and

ways to solve them have never before gone beyond the boundaries of individual

states.

Meanwhile, it is known from history that the steadily growing interactions between

peoples, the exchange of products of industrial and agricultural

production, spiritual values ​​were constantly accompanied by the sharpest

military clashes. For the period from 3500 BC. there were 14530 wars.

And only 292 years people lived without wars.

Killed in wars (million people)

XVII century 3.3

18th century 5.5

About 70 million people lost their lives in the first and second world wars.

These were the first world wars in the history of mankind in which

participated by the vast majority of the world's countries. They marked the beginning

transformation of the problem of war and peace into a global one.

And what gave rise to global problems? The answer to this question is basically

pretty simple. Global problems were the result of:

FROM one side of the vast scale of human activity, radically

changing nature, society, people's way of life.

FROM other side of a person's inability to rationally manage this

mighty force.

Ecological problem.

Economic activity in a number of states today is developed so powerfully that

that it affects the ecological situation not only within a separate

country, but also far beyond its borders.

Typical examples:

The UK "exports" 2/3 of its industrial emissions.

75-90% of acid rain in the Scandinavian countries are of foreign origin.

Acid rain in the UK affects 2/3 of the forests, and in

countries of continental Europe - about half of their area.

The United States lacks the oxygen that is naturally produced in their

territory.

The largest rivers, lakes, seas of Europe and North America are intensively

polluted by industrial waste from enterprises in various countries,

using their water resources.

From 1950 to 1984, the production of mineral fertilizers increased from 13.5 million tons.

tons to 121 million tons per year. Their use gave 1/3 of the increase

agricultural products.

At the same time, the use of chemical

fertilizers, as well as various chemical plant protection products has become one

one of the most important causes of global environmental pollution. Carried

water and air over vast distances, they are included in the geochemical

the circulation of substances throughout the Earth, often causing significant damage to nature,

and even to the person himself.

A rapidly developing process has become very characteristic of our time.

the withdrawal of environmentally harmful enterprises to underdeveloped countries.

The vast and ever-increasing use of natural resources

mineral resources led not only to the depletion of raw materials in individual countries,

but also to a significant depletion of the entire resource base of the planet.

Before our eyes, the era of extensive use of the potential is ending

biosphere. This is confirmed by the following factors:

§ Today, there is very little undeveloped land left for

Agriculture;

§ The area of ​​deserts is systematically increasing. From 1975 to 2000

it increases by 20%;

§ Of great concern is the reduction of the planet's forest cover. Since 1950

by 2000, the forest area will decrease by almost 10%, and yet forests are light

the whole earth;

§ Exploitation water basins, including the oceans,

carried out on such a scale that nature does not have time to reproduce what

what the person takes.

Constant development of industry, transport, agriculture, etc.

requires a sharp increase in energy costs and entails an ever-increasing

load on nature. Currently, as a result of intense human

even climate change is happening.

Compared with the beginning of the last century, the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

increased by 30%, with 10% of this increase given the last 30 years. Raise

its concentration leads to the so-called greenhouse effect, as a result

which is global warming.

Scientists believe that such changes are already taking place in our time.

As a result of human activity, warming has occurred within 0.5

degrees. However, if the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere doubles

compared with its level in the pre-industrial era, i.e. increase by another 70%

then there will be very drastic changes in the life of the Earth. First of all, for 2-4

degrees, and at the poles the average temperature will increase by 6-8 degrees, which, in

in turn, will cause irreversible processes:

Melting ice

One meter sea level rise

Flooding of many coastal areas

Changes in moisture exchange on the Earth's surface

Reduced rainfall

Wind direction change

It is clear that such changes will pose enormous problems for people,

related to the management of the economy, the reproduction of the necessary conditions for their

Today, as rightly one of the first marks of V.I. Vernadsky,

humanity has gained such power in transforming the surrounding world that it

begins to significantly affect the evolution of the biosphere as a whole.

The economic activity of man in our time already entails

climate change, it affects the chemical composition of water and air

basins of the Earth on the flora and fauna of the planet, on its entire appearance.

The problem of war and peace.

The problem of war and peace has turned into a global one literally before our very eyes, and

primarily as a result of the sharply increased power of weapons.

Today, there are so many accumulated nuclear weapons alone that their explosive

strength is several thousand times greater than the power of ammunition used in all

wars that have been fought before.

In the arsenals different countries nuclear charges are stored, the total power

which is several million times greater than the power of a bomb dropped on

Hiroshima. But more than 200 thousand people died from this bomb! 40% area

the city turned into ashes, 92% was mutilated beyond recognition. Fatal

The consequences of the atomic bombing are still felt by thousands of people.

For every person now only in the form of nuclear weapons

accounts for such a quantity of explosives that their trinitrotoluene

the equivalent exceeds 10 tons. If people had so much food,

how many types of weapons and explosives exist on the planet!..

weapons can destroy all life on Earth many dozens of times. But

today even "conventional" means of warfare are quite capable of causing

global damage to both humanity and nature. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that

technology of warfare is evolving towards more and more destruction

civilian population. The ratio between the number of civilian deaths and