Global Geopolitics and the New World Order

The New World Order and Recent Global Conflicts

Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the United States became the global hegemon. When the Gulf War ended in 1991, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed before the U.S. Congress the beginning of a "new world order" that would promote peace based on respect for human rights, the establishment and defense of democracy, and the rule of the market economy and free trade. This consolidated the dominance of the United States and its NATO allies worldwide.

The War on Terror and the 21st Century

In the 21st century, several serious events occurred. On September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked three commercial aircraft and crashed them into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. This prompted President George W. Bush to order a war against terrorism, finding support from NATO members who viewed the attack as an assault on the entire alliance.

A war was launched in Afghanistan due to the government's refusal to surrender Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, to the Americans. After this war, the Taliban were defeated, and a pro-American government was established.

The Iraq War and Regional Instability

In 2003, the Iraq War began under the pretext that the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. The United States unilaterally decided to invade Iraq with support from Britain. The war led to the disbanding of the Iraqi army and a military occupation that lasted until 2009. While Saddam Hussein was toppled, the weapons of mass destruction were never found. The country remains in chaos, characterized by continuing terrorist attacks and sectarian clashes between Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds.

The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

U.S. actions have been widely criticized, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has worsened following the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his replacement by Mahmoud Abbas. Although negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government have taken place, they have been boycotted by the radical Islamist group Hamas, which does not recognize the State of Israel and led the intifada.

However, there have been steps toward peace, such as the Israeli evacuation of the Gaza Strip, intended to allow Palestinians an independent state and help Israelis reach normal relations with the Arab world. In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian elections, leading the European and U.S. governments to impose an economic blockade because they consider Hamas a terrorist organization. In 2007, a civil war began between supporters of Hamas and Fatah, who control Gaza and the West Bank, respectively.

The UN Millennium Report: An Agenda for 2015

In 2000, the United Nations Millennium Report was released. This document sets out the major problems facing society in the 21st century and identifies the following objectives:

• Ensuring universal access to education.
• Achieving universal compliance with the Kyoto Protocol.
• Promoting prevention campaigns against AIDS.