CONTENT STATEMENT
Focusing on foreign policy, the United States faces ongoing economic, political, military, and social challenges in the post-Cold War era and following the attacks of September 11, 2001
CONTENT ELABORATION
The post-Cold War period and the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, presented new foreign policy challenges for the United States.
Economic challenges of a globalized world have led to the following:
- international demand for the U.S. dollar;
- balance of trade;
- international economic partnerships (World Economic Forum and World Trade Organization); and
- outsourcing of U.S. jobs.
- Social and political challenges of a globalized world include:
- pandemic diseases;
- an increase in the immigration of refugees from war-torn regions of the world;
- international humanitarian aid; and
- the debate over the treatment of enemy combatants.
The post-Cold War period and the attacks on September 11, 2001 impacted the military in the following ways:
- increased defense spending as a result of the war on terrorism;
- role of the United States and United Nations in addressing political and social unrest in the Middle East; and
- the control of weapons of mass destruction in areas of the world perceived as a threat to world stability.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Explain the social, political, economic, and national security challenges the United States’ foreign policy faced in the post-Cold War period and following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.