The Impact of Globalization to Our World - Annotated Bibliography Example

Define, discuss and explain the impact of Globalization to our world. The process of Globalization has occupied almost every country in the world, except emerging nations. In fact, it serves as a uniting factor due to its specifics of spreading and interchanging of numerous useful and beneficial ideas on earth. In such a way, states turn to be integrated into development of the united area that makes it possible for people of different cultures to share advantages of their world with others and simultaneously to appreciate and make use of other nations’ benefits. Thus, Globalization is an objective reality, which plays a great role in the current process of social life. It affects a variety of areas in their different aspects, from totally material to spiritual and cultural ones. This phenomenon must be considered while perception of people’s reality, since Globalization appears to be a natural stage of the world development contributing to its productivity and effectiveness in solution of different socio-economic issues. Notably, “It is changing the political scenario thus deep-seated problems like unemployment; poverty and shift in power are coming to the picture” (Ganguly). In such a way, Globalization is a kind of a transitional phase and one of investors to the improved future of mankind, since it provides means for handling certain problems of the present day. Ganguly, Poushali. Pros and Cons of Globalization. Buzzle, Dec. 19, 2011. . Retrieved June 27 from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-globalization.html 2) Identify and discuss population trends in Europe. Population trends in European countries have begun to play an increasingly important role in their domestic and foreign policies, which are directly influenced by certain factors in relation to various aspects of human factors. Despite the changing of geographic borders of the region, the latter has its particular population trends that can be traced in their more or less stability for more than fifty years, namely: non-significant surplus of births over deaths primarily due to migration providing Europe with young women of child-bearing age (20-34 years), low terms of population increase, changes in ageing of population (65 plus), changes in ages of death (decline of infant mortality, tendency for deaths after the age of 75 years), high rates of migration flows, trend of both marital and non-marital child-bearing without control of sibship size, as a result of females’ independence gained by them in the long struggle for equality (Avdeev et al. 16-90). It is obvious that the modern time with its specific features of mass migrations, present-day scientific discoveries and current worldview of females determines the analyzed state of population trends in Europe and brings particular (though non-significant) positive effects for the whole demographic situation of the region. Avdeev, A., Eremenko, T., Festy, P., Gaymu, J., Bouteillec, N., and Springer, S. Populations and Demographic Trends of European Countries, 1980-2010. Population-E, 66(1), 2011, 9 – 130. Retrieved June 27 from: http://www.academia.edu/1607365/Populations_and_Demographic_Trends_of_European_Countries_1980-2010 3) Discuss the transition from the USSR to the new Russia. The transition from the USSR to the new Russia has its characteristic features. Specifically, it relates to numerous aftereffects for the life of Russians, for such a complicated process just could not pass without traces. Among positive outcomes are collapse of totalitarian system and transition to the multiparty system, approval of parliamentarism, people’s acquisition of political freedoms and the freedom of conscience, liquidation of arms race and military confrontation (Adomanis). Naturally, there are some negative aspects of the Soviet Union demise. They have touched both national and international aspects related to Russia, namely: aggravation of inter-ethnic relations, drop of most citizens’ living standards, economic crisis, actual loss of great power status, and deprivation of former allies. At any rate, the new Russia is another country, as it has crossed the line of the beginning of its modern development. Despite the fact that it is considered to be a neo-Soviet unit (Adomanis), Russia proves the opposite aspect at least in its cultural area penetrated with numerous advanced achievements of Europe and the USA. So, the new Russia has opened its borders for positive influences of the current world. This very fact evidences Russia’s key difference from the USSR with its policy of total privacy. Adomanis, Mark. 7 Reasons That Russia Is Not The Soviet Union. Forbes, Dec. 31, 2013. Retrieved June 27 from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/markadomanis/2013/12/31/7-reasons-that-russia-is-not-the-soviet-union/ 4) Discuss urbanization factors and trends in North America. Urbanization of North America has its specific factors and trends influencing in a very direct way peculiarities of people’s settlement within countries of the continent. As a matter of fact, “North America contains some of the most urbanized landscapes in the world”(McPhearson et al. 280). Its cities serve as home for 3/4 of North America’s population. There is a characteristic feature of modern urbanization in the territory, that is, the rapid growth and widespread of suburban forms of settlement associated with the suburbanization or the formation around the cities, especially large ones, of extensive suburban areas and development of urban agglomerations on that basis, as a leading form of urban settlement. More than half of the population of urban agglomerations lives in suburban areas, where the majority of rich people have come from decaying central districts of cities. This factor has caused the crisis afflicting big cities of North America. At the same time there is another specific aspect of urbanization in North America – more recent decline in growth of urban population on the background of a larger outflow of people to country-side. This feature is peculiar to the fifth degree of urbanization and promotes more equal distribution of human resources (McPhearson et al. 280). McPhearson, Timon, Auch, Roger, and Alberti, Marina. Chapter 14. Regional Assessment of North America: Urbanization Trends, Biodiversity Patterns, and Ecosystem Services. 2013. Retrieved June 27 from: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-94-007-7088-1_14#page-1 5) Describe and discuss the concept of Altitudinal Zonation. The concept of Altitudinal Zonation has its certain effect on nature that surrounds people’s world and provides them with numerous conditions essential for life support. The fact is that Altitudinal Zonation is a typical change of natural conditions, natural habitats, and landscapes, which can be noticed during ascent in the mountains (Encyclo.co.uk). The very impact of Altitudinal Zonation on the climate and nature feels in frigid climate, low barometer, lack of oxygen, and abundance of ultra-violet rays. Certainly, these factors are determined by mountain height. Further, territories close to higher mountains are aware of the concept of Altitudinal Zonation in its functioning, for very often tops of high mountains play the role of deterrent of rain clouds and, as a result, areas suffer from droughts. In the case of locations of mountains in cold zones, they serve as saddle points, for after crossing over the mountain cold air flows down to earth. Encyclo.co.uk. Altitudinal Zonation. Retrieved June 27 from: http://www.encyclo.co.uk/meaning-of-Altitudinal%20zonation 6) Identify and discuss deforestation trends in the Amazon Basin. Deforestation in the Amazon Basin is another issue in need of its solution for the benefit of humanity’s future. “Figures published Wednesday by Brazils National Space Research Institute (INPE) show that 4,848 square kilometers (1,871 square miles) of forest … were cleared between August 2013 and July 2014” (Butler). According to environmental team, these figures are connected not only with the expansion of agricultural production in Brazil, but also with speeding up of construction of major energy and infrastructure projects, such as hydroelectric power stations, high-speed highways and railways. Moreover, some lands are used for grazing cattle and growing crops, particularly soybeans. In such a way, people dig their own grave with their own hands, since there is no doubt, such figures do not bode well for environment of planet Earth, for Amazonian forests are a major carbon sink in the world, every year catching billions of tons of carbon dioxide from atmosphere. In addition, the Amazon basin is still famous for its great biodiversity of flora and fauna, which appears to be on threat due to the fact of deforestation. Surely, the government invests efforts into containment of the continued deforestation by the means of lawful persecution of poachers, but still the results are almost not seen due to the high rates of illegal logging. Butler, Rhett. Amazon Deforestation in Brazil Drops 18% in 2013/2014. Mongabay, Nov. 26, 2014. Retrieved June 27 from: http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1126-brazil-amazon-deforestation.html 7) Describe and discuss the physiography of Subsaharan Africa. The physiography of Subsaharan Africa “… is dominated a series of lowland basins, highland plateaus and by tropical savanna zones, which are characterized by a wet summer season and a dry winter season…” (Kelly). Such conditions add to more or less attractiveness of the region for some species of plants and animals, which inhabit it. Generally, grasslands form a transitional zone between areas of deserts and tropical forests. These territories are characterized by seasonal rainfall, which moisture content is sufficient to support the growth of drought-resistant vegetation of grasses, shrubs and sometimes trees, which are able to feed animals living in the region. Consequently, all these specifications contribute to food support of Subsaharan Africa’s population, which has a strong tendency for stable increase. Kelly, Ryan. Sub-Saharan Africa. KCTCS. Retrieved June 27 from: http://district.bluegrass.kctcs.edu/ryan.kelly/Africa.htm Read More