THE WEST AFTER THE END OF THE

COLD WAR

AMERICAN GLOBAL DOMINANCE

As a result of the end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the USSR, the USA became the only remaining superpower.

AMERICAN GLOBAL DOMINANCE

At the beggining of the 1980s, President Reagan had initiated a policy of nuclear reamament designed to strengthen the USA´s military defences.

This policy continued until 1987, when Reagan signed a disarmament agreement with Gorbachev.

During the administration of George Bush Sr., the USSR collapsed and the Cold War ended.

After 1991, the West entered in a new era: The USA became the only power with

truly global influence.

AMERICAN GLOBAL DOMINANCE

George Bush senior (1989-1993)

AMERICAN GLOBAL DOMINANCE

To maintain this influence, the USA has frequently used international

organisations in which it has great influence and power:

U.N. N.A.T.O.

NATO has been transformed into a European military alliance.

AMERICAN GLOBAL DOMINANCE

Presidents Clinto, Bush Jr. and Obama have governed the USA from this position of global dominance .

AMERICAN GLOBAL DOMINANCE

On September 2001, the USA suffered a series of terrorist attacks.

The most serious were those against: The Twin Towers in New York The Pentagon in Washington DC.

More than 2800 people died as a result of these attacks.

They also had a dramatic impact on the Bush Jr. Administration´s foreign policy: in response to the attacks, the USA declared a «War of Terror».

AMERICAN GLOBAL DOMINANCE

THE OIL CRISIS In 1973, an economic crisis

began in the Western Bloc. CAUSE:

This was caused by the Arab oil-producing countries´ decision to increase the price of oil.

This increase in oil prices, known as the Oil Crisis, made raw materials, transport, electricity and industrial production more expensive.

As a result, many companies had to close.

THE EVOLUTION OF CAPITALISM

THE OIL CRISISTo solve this problem,

Western governments began to develop alternative energy sources such as nuclear, solar and wind power.

Their aim is to reduce their dependence on oil and avoid a repetition of the Oil Crisis.

THE EVOLUTION OF CAPITALISM

NEOLIBERALISM

EVOLUTION OF CAPITALISM

In the 1980s, governments in Great Britain and the USA implemented economic policies based on the theories of neoliberalism.

TAX CUTSThese allow businesses

to invest more.

People would have more disposable income to

spend on consumer goods.

SPENDING CUTSThese included

privatisation of state-owned industries.

Cuts to the public services such as healthcare and education. These measures aimed to reduce state

intervention in the economy.

Despite these changes, the capitalist world has continued to suffer from periodic recessions.

The most recent was the global financial crisis which began in 2008, known as the Credit Crunch . Banks have speculated and accumulated too many debts, so

they reduced the amount of money they lent to businesses and individuals.

EVOLUTION OF CAPITALISM

As a result, many companies went out of business and unemployment increased dramatically.

EVOLUTION OF CAPITALISM

As a result, many companies went out of business and unemployment increased dramatically.

EVOLUTION OF CAPITALISM

FROM EEC TO EUROPEAN UNION

Al Quaeda Video 1 Video 2

Democratic revolutions Video Arab Spring 2011

THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND GLOBALISATION