Global Issues An Introduction

About this book

An introduction to the most important issues facing an increasingly globalized world with this thoroughly updated and revised sixth edition.

Global Issues: An Introduction is an accessible, wide-ranging introduction to the major environmental and development issues confronting the modern world. Spanning disciplines such as political science, economics, sociology, ecology, international relations, and development studies, this popular textbook enables students to develop a broad perspective on the relationships between nations, society, corporations, and the environment in various contexts. Exploring issues surrounding wealth, poverty, inequality, climate change, natural resources, pollution, technology, and others, the text illustrates the importance of global solutions to the issues facing increasingly interdependent nations around the world.

This sixth edition has been extensively revised to ensure contemporary relevance, featuring updated case studies and compelling research on food security, poverty, and the impact of climate change on development. New discussions explore energy, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, differences in the social and economic conditions of rich and poor countries, and environmental trends. Providing an integrated, multidisciplinary perspective, this unique text:
- Examines the intersection of development, inequality, environment, and society
- Covers topically relevant issues such as population growth, shifting demographics, renewable energy, and the threats that development poses to the environment
- Discusses possible future scenarios and governance concerns related to global issues
- Explores shifts in traditional development pathways and policies around the world
- Offers numerous student-friendly features, including chapter summaries, a glossary of key terms, further reading suggestions, and extensive online media and learning tools

Global Issues: An Introduction, sixth edition is an ideal entry-level textbook for a range of courses including global studies, international studies, environmental studies, geography, politics, sociology, sustainable development, and more.

Contents

List of Plates xiii
List of Figures, Maps, and Tables xv
Acknowledgements xix
Introduction 1

1 What is Development? 3
2 Wealth and Poverty 21
3 Population 55
4 Food 108
5 Energy 158
6 Climate Change 203
7 The Environment: Natural Resources 225
8 The Environment: Pollution 249
9 Technology 283
10 Alternative Futures 310

Appendix 1: Studying and Teaching Global Issues 332
Appendix 2: Relevant Videos 340
Glossary 349
Index 355

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Biography

Kristen A. Hite leads Climate work for Oxfam America and teaches on global issues at the graduate level. Professor Hite has consulted for UN and nonprofit organizations, served as an attorney for the US government and environmental clients, and instructed graduate students at Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, American University, and the University of Maryland. Her approach centers on working across geographies to bridge the intersections of rights, land, and climate in pursuit of sustainable development.

John L. Seitz is Professor Emeritus of Government at Wofford College, USA. He earned a BA and MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin. He is a Member of Phi Beta Kappa and has extensive first-hand experience of South Korea, Iran, Brazil, Liberia, and Pakistan. Previous editions of this book, for which he was sole author, have been used around the world and have been translated into a number of languages, including Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese.