Africa News: Gambia's Barrow reshuffles cabinet, appoints Darboe as Vice President

President Barrow has reshuffled his cabinet in attempt to avoid political crisis. Gambia is continuing to struggle after the removal of Yahya Jemmeh in 2017. When a longtime leader gone, the successors often struggle to reform or change political systems. President Barrow did not give a specific reason for the change in positions and ministries. One can only speculate that he is attempting to consolidate political power. Adama Burrow has been in office for a year and yet debt as well as corruption continues to plague the Gambian nation. This will take some time to reverse. However, if Barrow continues to embrace a economic policy that does not promote development, employment, or  infrastructure projects his presidency might not survive. Gambians are growing restless and want change, but it may not happen as rapidly as some would hope. President Barrow did inherit a country that was under stern rule of Jemmeh from 1994 to 2017, but at some point this may not be a suitable excuse for a public struggling economically and demanding political change.  

The Consequences of Withdrawing From The Iran Nuclear Deal

The United States announced that it would be withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal after contentious debate. President Donald Trump has been stating that the  Iran nuclear agreement was not in the best interest of the United States or international community. This change in policy could have consequences beyond the Middle East. If  there is no concrete alternative the possible scenarios could be perilous. The meeting between Kim Jung Un and Donald Trump could be complicated by the sudden event related to Iran. Tension with Russia will increase to a higher level.  The United States will be more alienated from its European allies. France, Germany, and the U.K. want to see the nuclear agreement continue. If  such tension grows between Iran and the US it could lead to war. A regional war would attract world powers. Such a war would involve the US and Israel fighting Iran, Syria, as well as Russia. It appears at the moment the Donald Trump administration has embraced the neoconservative foreign policy in which warfare and nation building are pillars. It is not entirely certain if regime change is the objective, but it could become a possibility. A war of that scale would be devastating. The repercussions could range from increased refugee traffic, regional instability, and economic turmoil. The news of war can effect stocks and fuel prices. If a conflict were to be long term it could cause financial damage to the United States and the world economy as a whole. Withdraw has consequences that may result in sparking mass global conflict, diplomatic complications, and the breakdown of US foreign policy. 

       The withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal complicates the delicate situation with North Korea. Donald Trump and Kim Jung Un are expected to meet to discuss matters of nuclear disarmament and possible peace terms. Media sources allege that North Korea promised to denuclearize on the condition that the US does not wage war on the peninsula. South Korean President Moon Jae-In has through his efforts produced an atmosphere of negotiation. The reason the political situation is different is that it is a Korean solution to a Korean problem. When the US or China were involved in talks, these were not successful  due to the fact the two nations have used Korea as an indirect confrontation ground. There is a lack of trust directed at the United States. If Donald Trump is willing to withdraw from a nuclear agreement with Iran when they were compliant, this would cause a level of trepidation in the North Korean leadership. What happens in West Asia can have an impact on East Asia. Nuclear weapons for North Korea and Iran are basically used a deterrence against a future US invasion. Witnessing the invasions of Iraq and Libya have made many governments around the world more paranoid about US intentions. 

Donald Trump's unpredictable approaches to international affairs and politics only increases the amount of distrust. North Korea is a different situation, because political power is concentrated in one person. Kim Jung Un conducted a purge of the Korean Communist Party ensuring that his power is consolidated and unchallenged. This may make it easier for the US to negotiate with a political system and leader that will not change in terms of operation. Iran's political structure is different. There are factions within the government that are divided between extreme anti-US conservatives and moderates who want to use diplomacy, rather than confrontation. President Hassan Rouhani represents a moderate faction in the Islamic Republic. During the Obama administration it seemed as if US-Iranian relations were improving. The progress made could be completely erased. If Rouhani's political base is neutralized this would mean the more conservative elements would take power. Donald Trump's reasoning is that what worked for North Korea can be replicated with Iran. The reason this would not work is that China and South Korea were a factor in North Korea's decision to change behavior.  Xi Jingping's government decided to vote at the UN in favor of sanctions for North Korea. It also threatened to stop purchases of coal from North Korea. If relations with North Korea's major ally were deteriorating this could have caused collapse. President Moon Jae-In favored peace, rather than confrontation that the previous administration of Park Geun Hye. Depending on what happens to Iran, Kim Jung Un  may not be willing to denuclearize if the US behaves belligerently. 

         US and Russia relations are at a nadir. The withdraw from the nuclear agreement only complicates matters. Russia and Iran have close relations. They have a common foreign policy objective in Syria. Both Russia and Iran want to see the Baathist government remain in power. President Bashar Al-Assad has remained a political survivor during the country's brutal civil war. Ethnic conflict, terrorism, and wars of proxy have torn the country apart. Iran and Hezbollah have provided military assistance to Syria in its fight against ISIS and armed groups seeking an overthrow of  President Assad. Russia also became involved conducting airstrikes against various targets. Russia has vital interests in Syria and the status of that would be uncertain if the Assad government were to be deposed. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are aiding Sunni terrorist groups with the intent to eliminate the only remaining Baathist government. The Sunni Muslim states are attempting to stop the rise of Iranian power in the region. Donald Trump erroneously claimed that Iran is responsible for the rise in terrorism in the Middle East. A large portion of the emergent terrorist groups are Sunni Muslim oriented ISIS being the most recognizable. Saudi Arabia for decades has been arming numerous groups and teaching extreme Whabbist ideology in madrassas around the globe.   

   

Lebanon has become part of the rivalry with Saudi Arabia exerting a huge amount of influence over Prime Minister  Saad Hariri. Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman has risen in prominence since the anti-corruption crackdown and is next in line for the Saudi throne. He has more control over policy and day to day governance. His ideas and perspectives do not differ from that of King Salman Abdelaziz Al-Saud. Iran is considered a threat and competitor. Yemen must be made compliant to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia wants the fall of Assad mainly because it will reduce Iranian influence. The US and Russia are using Syria as a war of proxy front. Russia's continued support of Assad is a reaction to events in Libya and Ukraine. US external interference in the affairs of other nations has caused Russia to defend its interests even more aggressively. The logical step that Russia would take would be to support Iran as a means of opposing the United States. Russia has shown this support by providing Iran with S-300 air defense missiles. Russia has also done the same with Syria. Iran, Russia , and Hezbollah have allowed the survival of the Assad presidency to the ire of the West. The intent was regime change and the US under the Obama administration was calling for Assad's removal. The obstacle to this is Iran locally and Russia externally. If there is any move against Iran or Syria this will induce a Russian response. If both the Syrian and Iranian governments were to collapse, Russia would be effectively isolated from the Middle East. The Russian Federation would not allow that to happen with out projecting military force. President Donald Trump intended to improve relations with Russia, but an investigation into collusion and a general anti-Russian sentiment makes this insuperable. A conflict with Iran will inevitably lead to confrontation with Russia. 

         The US leaving the nuclear agreement only increases chances for war. Putting sanctions back on the country is close to economic warfare. This is functioning on the theory that if conditions are so terrible, this will cause insurrection. Such sanctions do not causing hate for the government of Iran, but allows for unity among the population against the United States. Israel could have a desire to see a war beak out with US support. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also proclaimed that the Iran nuclear deal was not strict enough or adequate. The reason Israel is in conflict with Iran is due to the fact it does not want regional challengers. The Zionist  state wants to remain dominant in the region and seeks to expand. The refusal to stop the establishment of settlements in the West Bank or negotiate a peace with the Palestinians is clear evidence. When the announcement was made about the nuclear deal, only a day afterwards there was an alleged rocket attack on the Golan Heights. Israel has conducted a multitude of airstrikes on Syria during the course of the civil war with no repercussion. The US withdrawing from the nuclear deal has created an atmosphere in which Israel is encouraged to take more aggressive action. This reckless behavior will escalate into full scale war. it may start with confrontations between Iran and Israel with the Gulf states following after. 

This hostility comes from religious and ethnic conflict. Arabs and Persians have through history been in a state of rivalry. The bloodiest of these recent conflicts was the Iran-Iraq War. During the 1980s the Gulf monarchies were alarmed by the rise of the Islamic Republic  and how the Shah was deposed. The fear was that such a revolution would come to their countries. They supported Saddam Hussein's war that lasted eight years. The most powerful Shia Muslim state this cause trepidation among the majority Sunni Muslin states. When Saddam Hussein was removed by a US invasion in 2003, Iranian power grew. While the Bush administration took a belligerent tone, the situation never reached a level to what is seen currently. The difference was that the Arab Spring was a factor. Nimir al-Nimr a Shia Muslim cleric who was popular in Iran and Syria was executed in Saudi Arabia. His Arab Spring like movement called for free elections in Saudi Arabia and more rights for Shia Muslims. The protests that occurred in 2011 to 2012 were not tolerated by the Saudi government. Nimr was later executed causing relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia to decline. Yemen became a war of proxy between Houthi rebels with Iranian support and the Saudi supported Abdrabbuh  Mansur Hadi.  Yemen and Syria will become fronts in the regional war. The United States and Russia may get involved directly. The United States still has troops and Syria assisting rebels or other armed groups. Iraq could be caught between warring nations. Turkey would respond in either occupying parts of Syria or Iraq. A wider conflict would give them an opportunity to go after the PKK and YPG. It is likely that a Kurdistan could emerge if the Arab nations and Turkey exhausted themselves with a regional war. The only Gulf states that may not go to war against Iran are Oman and Qatar. Qatar has better relations with Iran compared to its Gulf neighbors. Since the diplomatic isolation that other Gulf states were putting Qatar through relations with Iran improved tremendously. Oman shares a unique bilateral economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic. These countries may either remain neutral or fight with Iran in a large scale regional war. Hezbollah will play a major role in such a war and Israel will be a theater of operations. Israel was never able to defeat Hezbollah in 2006 and their appears to be a desire for revenge. Military victories for Hezbollah means success for Iran against Israel. Hamas which governs the Gaza Strip has renewed ties to Iran and with a full scale war it would mean Israel would be fighting a war on two fronts. Saudi Arabia could engage in naval battles with Iran while launching ground invasions with Kuwait. Saudi Arabia has already invaded Bahrain before to stop the Arab Spring movement there and this could be done as a counter measure. If Russia is involved NATO could be activated to not only attack in the Middle East, but on Russia 's border. The result would be a mass global conflict formed from smaller disputes. A war of such proportions may result in more refugee traffic, inflated fuel prices, and destabilization across continents. 

         The United States has become more isolated from its European allies. France, Germany, and the UK do not agree with the America First policy that has been promoted by the Trump administration. French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the United States urged the president to remain with the Iranian nuclear deal. It was apparent that President Donald Trump was unwilling to let go of his campaign promise or seek an alternative. The perspective from the America First policy is that Europe should pay more for the burdens of military assistance. Chancellor Angela Merkel even suggested in the the face of this new policy, Europe should be moving away from the US guidance and have a more defined path. While European nations still observe the Iran nuclear agreement this complicates enacting sanctions. If France and Germany were to establish business ties to Iran this means their companies or government could face US sanctions. 

What Donald Trump has done unwittingly is moved France and Germany closer together. Both Merkel and Macron are pushing for greater EU integration as means of opposing growing euroscepticism. The America First policy is based on the foundation of anti-globalism , economic nationalism, and the idea that the US should only use other countries for its own benefit. The withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal was more than the US being hostile to the Islamic Republic, rather it was a test of Trump's undefined foreign policy. Donald Trump wants to take the United States in a radically different directions doubtless of the admonishments or possible risks. The new tariffs that Trump has proposed not only effect China, but EU countries as well. Germany which has become an economic power on the continent could retaliate by investing in Iran. France may also follow similar actions if there is a lack on consensus on Iran or other topics of foreign policy. It would seem that the US has become more alienated from Europe compared to the Obama administration. At the time, there was an attempt to reverse the effects of unilateral action in global affairs. President Donald Trump has reversed that policy by putting an even greater emphasis on unilateral action. If the United States decides to attack Iran, Germany and France will not come to aid in such an operation. There is a divide emerging between American and European leaders. There are leaders of the EU who favor a diplomatic solution to the issue of nuclear weapons. The American approach is that of either unilateral action or regime change. President Macron and Chancellor Merkel have been willing to meet with President Putin to discuss economic as well as political issues. President Donald Trump has not attempted to do so. Even though the West and Russia are having a number of disputes there is at least room for dialogue. Trump may have an ally with Prime Minister Theresa May. Recently, the United Kingdom  has come into negative relations with the Russian Federation  over the murder of a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal . The UK will most likely still be close to the US even with the coming changes brought on by the withdraw from the nuclear agreement. Doing so would mean the UK would be more willing to follow the United States into a war with Iran. Other than the UK, the US is gradually becoming more diplomatically estranged from the rest of Europe. 

         The conclusion of this decision may follow a foreign policy break down. Iran may retaliate under pressure from severe sanctions. North Korea realizing that the US may not be trustworthy could refuse to denuclearize. The meeting between Kim Jung Un and Donald Trump would not amount to anything permanent or substantive. An error with Iran could mean more tension in North Korea. Nuclear weapons for countries that are not as powerful as a superpower ensure that aggression will not be directed at them or their people. Donald Trump when announcing withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement stated that"Iran having nuclear weapons would cause an arms race." The reality is that stopping the spread of nuclear technology may not be possible. There may be in the future many countries that have nuclear weapons. If the concern is able security, then Israel must be held accountable for its nuclear capabilities. The United States and Russia have the world's largest nuclear arsenals. To say certain nations should not have nuclear weapons is contradictory when a possible arms race could be emerging between the US and Russia. The Iran nuclear deal was a diplomatic solution that was working. Iran has not detonated nuclear weapons and so far there is no evidence that they are enriching uranium. North Korea has a nuclear program, but has not faced such harsh scrutiny. The agreement will eventually expire, but the intention should be for a permanent end to contention between the US, the West, and Iran. Possibly, over a number of decades relations could be normalized, while ensuring a stable Middle East. This seems unrealistic seeing as Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia are in competition for regional dominance. The United States and Russia are now using the conflicts in the Middle East as a geopolitical chessboard. Donald Trump has yet to provide an alternative agreement that could replace the current one. There may not even be a coherent plan or path forward. The United States is facing an identity crisis. The image of being the leader of the free world has been gradually shown to be a myth masking a system of perpetual warfare and neocolonialism. The America First policy came about from the frustration of neoconservative nation building projects and multilateral military action . The withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement demonstrates the America First policy in practice going against world opinion. The manner in which  events unfold, the Middle East will never be the same.         

         

      

The Need For Scientific Literacy

As technology advances and more discoveries are made the world population must have a level of scientific literacy. The lay person must at minimum a basic understanding of biology, astronomy, chemistry, and mathematics. Humanity through the power of computer science has more access to information than ever before. This requires certain skills people must obtain to decipher enormous amounts of information. Science and its method of verification can contribute to the full understanding of the world.Such methods are essential to critical thinking skills and aid in a less credulous public. The post-industrial society has become more knowledge based. Mastery and comprehension of science has almost become a requirement. This is not only important to economics, nation-states, but to the very quality of  civilization itself. When a society becomes philistine it will cease to grow or prosper. Religious fundamentalism, superstition,  and irrationality are the symbols of a rapidly declining civilization. The global population must must have a strong comprehension of the sciences. Reading and writing  levels are used as measurements in geographic data in terms of  educational attainment in various nations of the world. Scientific literacy should be a part of such data. Having such knowledge can prevent various problems. Learning about science can provide a guideline for reasoned thought. It can prevent manipulation of the public by giving them the skills and tools to question information presented to them. Scientific knowledge can even be applied to daily life. There still is a vast portion of the public that rejects science, even though they are living in a technology based world. Science can have a positive effect on society as long as it does not become dogmatic. Scientism should not be a replacement for the monotheism that is prevalent around the globe. The goal should be for the whole of the world to embrace knowledge and discovery. 

           The scientific method at its core is a technique of fact verification. Too often opinion, ideology, and fact are confused with one another. Facts can be proven with evidence. The scientific method uses observation, experimentation, and data collection to produce facts. During this process it must have the ability to be reproduced. If experiments cannot be replicated then a proposed hypothesis is just a mere theory. The scientific method uses an immense amount of critical thinking. Applying such a technique is helpful in a society in which mass amounts of information is available. The information a person consumes may not always be entirely accurate. There needs to be a means of  deciphering large amounts of information when it is constantly flowing. The most important aspect of the scientific method is that experiments can be replicated to produce the same results. Whenever a study is released claiming a particular position, the observer should utilize these techniques to question what is being presented. Statistics can often be used to confirm a bias, however when examined fully another element can be presented. Science can be to a degree a type of investigation. A person almost takes on a role of detective when discovering the attributes of the natural world and existence. Fact verification has become more important now with multiple sources of information active on a consistent basis. The scientific method can provide a basic blueprint for avoiding confusion about the nature of the world.
         Science has relevance to human experience on both a personal and society wide level. Biomedical science and health are important to many populations. Biology, anatomy, and physiology explain the attributes of the human body. The human population is now living longer than ever before. The public must have a strong understanding of anatomy, biology, and physiology for the sake of  maintaining optimum health. Besides personal choice , genetics, and environment health can be effected by a lack of knowledge. If one was never educated about the function and nature of the human body it would be difficult to maintain good health. Learning about nutrition, diet, and general health science can improve public health and quality of life. Often when patients visit a doctor they may have a difficult time describing a certain aliment. Doctors are left either guessing what a disease or medical condition is because a person may have difficulty describing it in specific terms. Having the knowledge of biomedical science could assist with improvement to  individual and public health. Scientific knowledge can also help protect against medical malpractice. There are many drugs that are sold to the public that have adverse side effects. Many doctors prescribe them knowing the side effects. Unless a patient has some knowledge about drugs on the the market, they could be vulnerable to such malpractice. Governments often fail to protect citizens from pharmaceutical corporations that could be producing drugs that are potentially harmful. Basic knowledge related to health science is required to maintain a stable condition for public health. Understanding of the human body can contribute to improving public health and quality of life.
         The need for scientific literacy also has relevance for a changing economic structure. The worker of the technology based world will have to have more skills. Technology has already changed the nature of the global economy and the labor force. Most worker will need a university education or more to be competitive. It will be a work environment that requires a commitment to life long learning. There is a possibility that many jobs and various occupations will disappear due to robotics and artificial intelligence. Most manual labor jobs or low skilled work may vanish in the coming centuries. Children will have to be educated in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to fill future job positions. Information technology has become so much a part of global society that most of the world's population comes into contact with it. There remains a digital divide in some regions of the world,but it is only a matter of time before this disappears. Much like the spread of automobiles, radio, television, or nuclear technology personal computers and internet access will be ubiquitous on every continent. While younger people are more open to learning about new technology, older people must learn to adapt to change. Technology continues to be a part of daily life and resisting change will only cause certain people to fall behind. The global population will need basic computer skills and a general knowledge of computer science. The future requires a strong emphasis on scientific literacy. If this is not done economic stability could be jeopardized. Public education will have to be readjusted to meet the needs of the emerging techoscientific society. Knowledge and awareness should be the major goal of a modern education. Scientific literacy can make an improved workforce,, which can maintain economic health.
         Scientific literacy is needed to combat the rise of misinformation, falsehoods, and a growing anti-intellectual movement. There are falsehoods that are commonly presented as factual among global society. Climate change has been vigorous denied even though it is a fact of geological history. Evolution still has a sizable amount of opposition, which is so great that intelligent design is taught in some public schools. Technology has in general seen as a negative development with some calling for the return to a pre-technological society. Superstition and religious fundamentalism has become the enemy of  rational thought. Such blind devotion has become ubiquitous. There is almost a blur between organized religion and the extreme fanaticism. The dogmatic thinking and blind worship suspends critical thinking skills. It makes populations easier to control and manipulate for political purposes. Dogma can effect any area of life. Science can even fall victim to it. Scientism represents a worship of the sciences to an extent of becoming a religion without a God. One should always be critical of the ideology or thoughts they adopt. To find facts one should not immediately accept what is presented. Faith is not a fact, but a belief system. Convictions are not based on facts rather the independent thoughts and conclusions reached by an individual. Facts must be established by evidence. The falsehoods and superstitions are presented as fact even in a highly technological society. Astrology, fortune telling, and the belief in ghosts still have devoted followers. Pseudoscience also poses a challenge damaging genuine scientific research. The lack of scientific literacy makes it difficult for the public to distinguish fact from fiction. A more serious consequence is when a society become philistine, its civilization will gradually decline. Civilizations cannot last without a strong emphasis on arts and sciences. Engineering provides infrastructure, medicine allows for improved public health, and scientific knowledge allows for an informed citizenry.
      There is an emergent anti-intellectual movement centered around the more traditionalist and culturally conservative elements. They oppose science, because it challenges their religious convictions. This extends  to promoting an attitude that science is not worth learning or believing it does not have relevance. The promotion of such ignorance is nothing new. Normally, such attitudes came from the Church. When the Church became intertwined with the state. scientists and those who questioned the order were either persecuted or face execution. It was not until the Enlightenment did this change. The priests and the Pope at one time wielded immense power over society, culture, and politics. The Catholic Church and then its Protestant competitors battled for the control of Europe. They also fought to control what knowledge and information the public had access to. The contemporary period has enabled individuals to gain access to a vast assortment of information. The traditionalists want to stop this from happening out of fear it will reduce their followers. This group of modern day traditionalists parallel the fanatics of the Medieval and Reformation past. They oppose free thought and have a desire to eliminate any idea that challenges their world view. This explains why stem cell research, evolution, and climate change have become contentious issues in the public consciousness. Science has the ability to encourage free thought and to examine the world in various perspectives. Denying people of the excitement and wonder science has to offer is a missed opportunity. A person cannot advance in life if their mind and its full potential is stifled. The world becomes a much more interesting place when seen through the lens of scientific knowledge.
          Scientific literacy should be one of the major foundations of a modern education. The rapid expansion of human knowledge require people who can decipher it. Our universe is being explored with more exoplanets being discovered and more information about space is being revealed. The nature of reality and life can be seen through subatomic particles and quantum physics. Applied science is making progress in biotechnology, nanotechnology. and information technology. This will radically alter life and civilization on Earth. The population must have an understanding of these technologies and the responsibility that comes with its use. The development of critical thinking skills is more essential now than it ever has been. Access to information does not stop the spread of mendacity. There could be printed or visual material that may appear to be accurate, yet this may not be the case. Reasoning in a manner like the scientific method could be the best tool to combating falsehoods. Scientific literacy will enable the development of a skilled workforce and greater economic stability. If the average worker does not have at least some basic scientific knowledge, they will struggle in a changing labor market. While biology, physics, mathematics, and chemistry are taught in both in public schools and universities these subjects should be emphasized more. Information technology and some levels of computer science  are offered, but not enough to keep up with demands. Besides the labor market, the health of society is dependent on the rejection of dogma and fanaticism. Superstition and religious fundamentalism pose a serious risk to stability and safety of global society. Ignorance, closed mindedness, or complete disregard for facts or evidence are becoming too common place in a world that is surrounded by information. The desire not to learn or consider other opposing ideas indicates a civilization in crisis. When a society ceases to be curious or explore, that is when it dies.   Only education and free thought can counter this backlash to the rising technoscientific era.                                   

Stephen Hawking on Knowledge

The Spread of International Instability

The world has become more chaotic due to the actions of the United States and European Union block. International instability can be seen through the rapid increase in war zones, economic turmoil, and the mass migration of refugees. Other world powers in response to US-EU interference respond with subversion. It is possible that the Global South could be caught in a power struggle between two power blocks. However, this would mirror a Cold War scenario, which is not an accurate analysis. Describing the power struggles between two power blocks does not show the immense power shift and complex relationships emerging in a world that is moving in the direction of multipolar international politics. China is an emerging international force and Russia has returned to a level of power not seen since the Soviet era. These countries are not a threat to the world as long as they do not seek imperial aspirations. The EU states and the US want to remain the undisputed controllers of the world functioning on a framework of neocolonialism. Peace, freedom, and democracy is the rhetoric that is used to justify military involvement abroad. The ulterior motive is for the US to remain the sole superpower indefinitely and the former European colonial empires to reassert their dominance in Africa and Asia. The only practical solution for a safe and functional globe would be to recognize the new multipolar world dynamic. If such a revelation or change does not occur the world will face mass global conflict or possible societal collapse. International instability by definition is political, social, and economic tumult propagating between various nation states. 

         The war zones of the globe have expanded in Asia, Africa, and may reach Latin America. The United States and Russia are involved in a war of proxy in the Syrian Civil War. The US claims that it is reducing combat troops in Iraq, but it may merely be moving more into Syria to assist with armed groups . Turkey reacted to this by invading Syrian territory. Afrin was the target and it was clear what the objectives were. Turkey wants to increase its power and influence in the Middle East. Simultaneously Turkey wants to stop the Kurdish movement for independence and destroy the YPG. This has caused tension between both the US and Turkey, but there is one goal both strive for. There still remains a persistent desire to remove President Bashar Al-Assad from power. This is where the disagreement between the two NATO countries becomes problematic. Turkey views a post-Assad Syria should be under its sphere  of influence. This is why Turkey also conducted military operations into northern Iraq. Turkey is embarking on a policy of Neo-Ottomanism. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to see Turkish power grow in areas that were once part of the deceased Ottoman Empire. This does not involve diplomatic engagement, rather direct military intervention into Arab lands. Turkey defends these actions by stating it is fighting ISIS or Kurdish groups that attack the state. Such claims are justification for expansion into the region. The conflicts between Syria, Turkey, ISIS, and YPG become more complicated when Saudi Arabia and Israel are a factor. Both Israel and Saudi Arabia  are indirectly in conflict with Iran. This tension and struggle can be seen in both Yemen and Lebanon These smaller conflict can escalate into a region wide war. It would involve the Gulf monarchies and Israel fighting Iran, which would have devastating consequences. This may also encourage the Kurds to build a state by force arms, West Asia is not the only region on the continent seeing rising conflict. 

East Asia could be another area of regional war. The Trump administration has taken a more belligerent tone in its approach to North Korea. Military drills have been conducted between South Korean and American forces. The US claims this is a preventative measure to stop North Korea's further development of  nuclear weapons. There has been tension between North Korea and the US for half a century, but the reason for the recent anger is directed at China. The harassment of North Korea causes problems for China, which may be the US intention. The Obama administration's pivot to Asia was designed to act as containment of China. While China has not threatened the US or EU countries it is now being treated as a security risk. The true motive is to stop China's rise as a major world power. The Trump administration has made it clear that peace is not part of its policy. Targeting North Korea is an indirect way to harass China. President Donald Trump  early on in his administration contacted President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan. It appeared as if he was about to change his mind on the One China policy. So far, there has not been significant change yet it is possible that there will be as long as relations continue to deteriorate. There is some form of an anti-China coalition developing, which could indicate a possible military conflict in the future. The US has made overtures to India and President Trump has met with Prime Minister  Narendra Modi . This attempt to get closer to India would put pressure on China, which continues to have tension with that country. China has favored Pakistan over India in its foreign policy, but the US wants to challenge the regional status quo. The new Indo-Pacific policy is designed to counter China's influence not just in South Asia, but challenge it in Asian oceans. If the US is pushing for a China and North Korea conflict, this will effect operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. There are more conflagrations in Afghanistan than in previous years, with a resurgent Taliban and possible ISIS presence. The entire Asian continent could see mass warfare induced by external forces. 

        Africa has seen more conflict and it continues to spread uncontrolled. It is even possible that it could reach other countries that were more stable. Ethiopia is suffering from a political crisis induced by the discrimination of Oromo and Amhara peoples. Limited civil rights and economic turmoil has caused discord. This if not solved could turn into armed conflict similar to South Sudan. East Africa has challenges from Al-Shabab and US drone strikes in Somalia. Although the US in terms of policy no longer considers fighting terrorism a priority, they use the War on Terror to justify any military action around the globe. The African Union Mission to Somalia has failed to form stability in the country which has been in  a state of civil war since 1991. Instability that is present in Somalia attract other African nations who want to extend their influence. Uganda wants to extend its influence beyond its southern border. President Yoweri Museveni wants to ensure his rule extends further than just Uganda by having indirect influence in other African states. Longtime leaders are becoming more paranoid about their political futures with numerous regime changes or removal of other governments. 

The Arab Spring was a misnomer. The uprisings that occurred in North Africa began in Tunisia. This brought more instability to Africa with regime changes in Egypt and Libya. Such changes will only make the more extreme and authoritarian leaders cling to power. Idris Deby the President of Chad has made efforts to secure closer relations with Saudi Arabia. Having other countries provide them aid can ensure their political survival. Togo and Burundi are experiencing internal protests against leaders and their governments. Libya does not have a functional government and resembles a failed state. The year 2016 saw internal conflicts get worse for both Libya and Egypt. Militias, terrorist groups, and paramilitary organizations continue to fight one another. There remain two rival governments one based in Tripoli and the other in Tobruk . Since 2014 the civil war entered a new phase causing even more migrant traffic. The UN proposal for peace was not recognized by other factions. This was between the two major rival factions and the country is still not whole. Egypt experiment with a change in government resulted in the election of Muhammad Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. A coup removed him from office and Abdul Fattah Sisi  came to power. Since his rise in 2013, he has carried out a military campaign against the Sinai. Peninsula. Egypt has essentially reverted back to a Mubarak political model. The difference now is that military action and conflict will increase. Nigeria and Cameroon are embarked on a campaign against Boko Harem. Such military campaigns may not eradicate the group entirely. The Democratic Republic of the Congo still has not achieved a lasting stability with the appearance of the M23 rebels. As longtime African leaders are being replaced or removed from power this only opens the possibility of more warfare. President  Joseph Kabila is now facing new opposition to his rule. He has been president since 2001 and their are fears that possible civil war could beak out if tensions escalate. The African Central Republic has not been stable since the fall of Francois Bozize. The rise of the Seleka rebels has put the country in a state of civil war. Africa needs peace, but with US-EU involvement on the continent. UN peacekeeping missions are not about protecting civilian life, rather  it is a means of  Western powers disguising  their geopolitical intentions. 

       Latin America could find itself subject to aggression. Donald Trump stated that he was considering military action in Venezuela. To most this sounded like a farce, but thinking about it in the context of US-Latin American relations makes it more serious. The United States has for two centuries been invading and intervening in South American nations. This was done under the context of the Monroe Doctrine and later in the 20th century the Roosevelt Corollary. The Cold War caused more military actions in Latin America with the US pursuing a policy of containment. The problem now is that the US wants to maintain dominance in the region and is selecting leftists governments to either be eradicated or neutralized. There has been some progress in the Colombian Civil War with FARC rebels accepting a peace deal in 2016, but there still remains political challenges. The conflict has not officially ended and the economic crisis in Venezuela is spilling over to Colombia. Cuba has been a player in peace negotiations, while the US has for a long period of time supported right-wing paramilitary organizations in the country. The US has attempted to depose the Venezuelan government under the Bush administration. Hugo Chavez and his successor Nicholas Maduro oppose US presence in Latin America. With the death of President Chavez, Maduro was left with the challenges of a struggling economy and a more aggressive US. 

             

   A pillar of the leftist governments was knocked out with the fall of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. Barzil and the rest of Latin America is seeing an increase in crime and internal warfare due to poverty, corruption, racism, as well as external forces. Rousseff's fall brought an end to any possible reform. Brazil continues to struggle more economically and almost looks as if it is reaching a state of open internal warfare. Some even call Rousseff's removal a coup by legal means. Since 2016, Brazilian democracy has slowly  degenerated. President Michel Temer  has now summoned the military to take control of   Rio de Janeiro's police forces . The justification was to fight drug trafficking gangs. The War on Drugs has not only devastated the US, but continues to have negative effects on Latin America. South America has a problem with the rapid increase in narcoterrorism. Drug cartels may become more powerful that governments or the police force. Mexico has in this regard, transformed into what Colombia once was in the 20th century. The combination of internal discord and ongoing conflicts has caused a boost in emigration. The wave of emigration to the US began in the 1980s when the Ronald Reagan administration became more involved in the civil wars occurring in Central America. Mexico today faces security risks from growing drug cartels causing people to flee. The increase in drug crime and narcoterrorism is the result of both US consumption and the effects of globalization. The Donald Trump administration has shown its hostility to South America and Mexico in particular. It has no toleration for Cuba or improving relations, which the Obama administration was attempting to do. Instead the US may use its power to forcibly halt immigration for South America and overthrow leftist governments. Donald Trump's rhetoric about constructing a wall on the US-Mexico border has damaged relations, not only in Mexico but the rest of Latin America. Homicide rates continue to increase in South American nations effected by US interference, economic turmoil, and political factionalism. There are states in Latin America that are becoming closer to the US, even with the rising anti-South American racism in America. Honduras and Guatemala are troubled states that continue to be close to the US. It is clear that President Juan Orlando Hernadez needs the United States to ensure the survival of his rule in Honduras. This demonstrates that Latin America may be returning to that model of government centered around a strongman. The United States has supported regimes of that nature in Latin America and enabled wars to continue for decades in the region. The peril exists that direct US military action could be coming, if indirect interference is no long effective. 

            The world economy's condition can also add to international instability. Europe has not entirely recovered from the debt crisis and the UK's exit from the EU has caused anxiety. There could be a possible trade war with China and the United States only adding to economic tension. China and Russia are clearly becoming rising economic powers. Although Russia is facing sanctions from the United States, Germany still has an economic partnership with Russia. This has protected the Russian Federation, because Germany has gradually become one of Europe's most significant economies. While the West has most of the wealth, Africa and Asia will become more important economically as the 21st century progresses. Africa is rich, yet it is being impoverished by the International Monetary Fund , World Bank , and the neocolonial Western powers. The vast resources of the continent if managed properly could challenge the dominance of the US and European countries. What African countries are doing is establishing economic cooperation with China to counter its former colonizers. A reaction has been generated in which now the US and China are competing economically and geopolitically with one another on the African continent. The conflict for natural resources has cause much conflict. This could only be exacerbated more with the fact that available clean drinking water globally is declining. Water will soon become an important part of the global economy. It may also be the cause of increased warfare. Combined with the competition for oil, this only complicates matters.  

The issues in regards to the South China Sea are  partly based on economics. The possibilities of off shore oil drilling are immense and any country that makes claims to particular areas has a source of revenue. There is the desire to do further exploration,  but tension between China and other Asian nations. The United States wants to stop China's economic and political rise. This explains sudden actions in regards to India and the policy in the Pacific. The new nationalist capitalism that the Trump administration is proposing has a specific goal in mind. It wants to exploit various markets giving the US more advantages in terms of trade, without making obligations to other countries. Neoliberal capitalism is becoming more unstable causing social and political unrest. The United States is in an estimated trillion dollars worth amount of debt. The only reason it remains calm at the moment is that foreign investors have confidence in the US. However, a declining dollar and an uncertain stock market can erode such confidence in America. The system of private central banking at  the moment is fragile. The European Central Bank is seeking to end its stimulus package. The Eurozone has not recovered from the debt crisis and Greece is an example of this economic turmoil. Unemployment and lack of a social safety net are becoming more prevalent. Even when unemployment is low, this may not be a full picture of the state of the workforce. The data does not include people who have stopped looking for work. Another challenge for economy recovery and stability is the issue of wages. If wages remain stagnant, then this will harm the state of the economy. Limited disposable income means that there will be less consumption. Businesses will suffer from a decline in consumers. Corporations will not increase wages unless forced to or by some external change. A business in a free market seeks profit maximization; not the welfare of its employees. Globalization has put the worker at a disadvantage. Outsourcing and limited tariff protections has put workers in a precarious situation. Although the world economy was performing better in 2017 compared to 2010, there remains the challenge of growing debt. This may result in the Eurozone increasing interest rates. There also could be instability coming from across the Atlantic. Donald Trump's tax reform could cause consequences beyond that of the United States of America. Supply side economics does not stimulate growth, rather it has the wealthy extract more funds from the poor and middle class. The stock market could drop further effecting 401 K  programs. International inflation as a result from this creating an atmosphere of quantitative easing. Simultaneously, the gap between rich and poor will expand dramatically, while there is economic growth. The average citizen will not benefit from this economic growth. Whatever increase in wages they will see could be neutralized if inflation continues. Neoliberal capitalism has become unstable and the global financial crisis  was evidence of that. There is the fear that with the repeal of Obama era regulations, another major financial meltdown will occur.  

       There is a global political crisis. The population has grown more distrustful and vexed at their government. Liberal democracies are in a state of decline. While some have  analysts have claimed it was going to be the dominant model of the world, that theory is being questioned. There is the rise of a xenophobic nativist nationalism. This is not only a challenge to liberal democracy. The xenophobic nativist nationalism wants to challenge globalism which has been an international political movement. It favors economic integration under a neoliberal capitalist model and  political supranationalism. The people of the US and Europe are favoring almost quasi-fascist ideas in a time of uncertainty. Immigration has caused the US and Europe to embrace either white nationalist or extreme far-right political parties. Donald Trump has made his belief system of  xenophobic nativist nationalism spread. Italy, Germany, France, and the UK are experiencing an increase in far-right pressure. Eastern Europe has become for far-right since the end of the Cold War and the rise of the refugee crisis. 

As internal instability occurs in nations of the West, the UN has over the past decades has become more of a tool in the imperial project. The United Nations has not promoted peace, but enabled war. The organization wants to present itself as a humanitarian and democratic value defending body, yet it  is unable to be a solution to world problems. Xenophobic nativist nationalism may be a potential threat to the global peace. The excuse to use military action by European powers may come in the form of stopping emigration traffic from war torn countries. The UN also has adopted the concept of humanitarian intervention. The concept of responsibility to protect is presented as a way to save civilians in war zones. The true motive however, is for some countries to advance their geopolitical agendas. The United Nations implement Resolution 1973  which was essential a declaration of war on Libya in 2011. The use of no fly zones was nothing new. This was done to Iraq for twelve years and sanctions crippled the nation. The UN enables Western powers to engage in human rights abuse under the cover of humanitarian intervention. Imperialists have adopted the language of human rights to practice the same type of behavior. The world is still engaged in a global power struggle rather than reaching a consensus or developing a pathway to collaboration. The UN now instead of working for peace continues to act as an agent for regime change. The resolutions directed at Syria and North Korea are a demonstration of how the UN is still dominated by powerful Western countries. Other states such as Israel are not condemned or sanctioned for their numerous abuses in the West Bank or Gaza Strip. Israel could possibly increase its involvement in Syria and could initiate a war with Iran. Even if a majority of the population rejects such actions, governments around the world continue to start or expand conflict. The inability to solve internal and external problems makes citizens question the ability and competence of their government systems. Democracy is by its nature a chaotic and inefficient system. Direct democracies do not exist for the sole reason it requires populations to be active and rational in their decision making. What the model that is present in the contemporary world is rule by the upper classes. The liberal democracies have evolved into  nothing more than oligarchies. As income inequality grows, more of the population loses power. Voting would be the only defensive mechanism, however this is a limitation due to the selection of candidates running for office. Both parliamentary and presidential systems have the same issues in regards to strong corporate and business influence in politics. Traditional authoritarian regimes may adopt the structures of liberal democracies, but in practice are still oppressive. The only reason there are systems that resemble democracy is because people are not willing to experiment with alternatives. So the world has either fallen into two political models. The corrupt liberal democracies or  traditional authoritarianism . The political devastation can be seen, yet there is a level of social decline. 

      Society has reached a nadir. The political and economic factors of international instability  are gradually destroying  civilization's social fabric. The refugee crisis and the mass migration across the Mediterranean Sea has cause major humanitarian problems. The damaging effects of warfare and regime change has destroyed lives of people residing in the nations under attack. For those who do survive the dangerous journey from the Middle East or Africa, they face more peril in Europe. Refugees and migrants are targets of  right-wing extremists. Refugees could easily be murdered in the European country they decide to flee to. There is also the problem of accommodation of populations of in coming refugees. The rise in detainment centers hold creates an issue due to the fact people are restrained against their will. Seeing as refugees have limited financial resources these centers become a home in a new land. Camps that are not supervised by any government agency or  private organization have emerged. The Calais migrant camp in France became notorious. It had limited sanitation and comfort for the masses of people arriving. French authorities  demolished  the site, but with refugees having no place to go new sites develop. Violence has occurred in migrant camps with other ethnic groups having conflict with one another. Such events only give power the the far-right and contribute to their growing support. Refugees and migrants become a convenient scapegoat for European political struggles. As European leaders fail to provide a solution to the debt crisis, they blame immigrants, migrants, and refugees for social ills. This deflects attention away from their incompetent leadership and corruption. 

There is also another harsh realization. The mass movement of people also contains a possible criminal element. The majority of  refugees are victims, but there also is the risk that there are some people with less admirable intentions. The Cologne New Year's  Eve  attacks   in 2015 put into question the open door policy for refugees in Germany. It was reported that there were a multitude of sexual assaults and according to police mostly from men of Arab or North African descent. The perpetrators were not brought to justice and the media used this as an excuse to condemn all immigrants, refugees, and migrants. Attacks on non-whites increased several days after the Cologne incident. If this plan of taking refugees and migrants so to be functional there has to be some form of security measures. Integration must happen to prevent two societies that emerge in one country. Not doing this creates a society with an oppressed underclass that is racially based. This process has happened in France and the UK. French Algerians have been excluded from the wider society creating conflict among the white citizens. What has emerged out of this migrant crisis is a new vicious European racism. Such hatreds have also emerged due to a Western identity crisis. For centuries the West though its culture and heritage was superior and now it sees the emergence of non-western countries gaining prominence. This is combined with a revival in Christian fundamentalism which is a part of right-wing circles and mobilized politically. This section of the movement has more influence in America which influences policies in regards to Israel and the Middle East region. Religious fundamentalism is a reaction to modernity, scientific advancement, and  periods of discord. Their idea that religion leads to more stable societies is a myth. Religious fundamentalists want to impose one religion on everyone, rather than making it a choice of the individual. Religion and politics are once more collaborating to a devastating effect. The United States that prides itself on separation of church and state constantly wants to promote Christianity as the nation's religion. Irrationality and mob rule have become common characteristics of both the US and EU countries. The embrace of capitalism and military intervention comes at a cost to social services and infrastructure. The divide  between wealth and extreme poverty has gotten larger. As population growth continues it will further strain a fragile situation. Taking away investment in education, healthcare, and other social services will have negative economic effects in the future. 

      Workers will have limited protection in the future. As pensions and a social safety net disappear many will not be able to retire or have enough savings to sustain themselves. The permanent economic underclass will be either unemployed or underemployed no matter how the market is doing. Many children will grow up in poverty. Low quality education does not prepare youth for an extremely competitive workplace. The post-industrial economy that is information based demands that workers devote themselves to learning new skills. This means the majority will require an education beyond high school. Without higher education, many are shut off from particular occupations and fields. Universities and colleges must find a way to make tuition affordable for the majority of the population to prevent an expansion of an underclass. Even if a student finishes their education, they are left with debt. If wages are stagnant it will be impossible to repay those debts due to student loans. The hope is that after graduation there would be jobs to meet the needs of workers who contribute to the global economy. The middle class could vanish in America and in Europe  as more citizens struggle. The reason the developing world struggles is that social mobility is non-existent. The social consequences are mass poverty,homelessness, and civil unrest. A population that has nothing to lose becomes a dangerous one. A large divide between the destitute and the upper class lays the foundation for revolution. Such an uprising would not be peaceful or be a true freedom struggle. It could descend into a full scale collapse of civilization. Although this may be mere hyperbole,there has been such upheaval throughout history. The 20th century was a period of upheaval with the Great Depression, two World Wars, the Cold War, and the era of US dominance. The economic structure no longer works for the majority of the world. Neoliberal capitalism caused social problems, yet its fall will result in unrest. 

          International stability now seems elusive. The current policies implemented by the US and EU block are inducing more unrest across various continents. The Middle East, Africa, and Asia are subject to external interference. The precarious nature of this is that NATO is expanding. The Cold War was been over, but this military alliance still remains. Russia could be targeted like Libya or the former Yugoslavia. NATO conducted wars of aggression presented as humanitarian acts. The United Nations has gradually become more corrupt by allowing superpower domination and selective justice. It places sanctions on North Korea, yet never condemns Israel's aggression in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia continues to wage a war of aggression in Yemen. There continues to be calls for regime change in Syria. If this were to be done, it would be another Iraq like situation. The only logical conclusion to reduce regional  refugee migration is to stop military strikes. Regime change and nation building should not be part of  foreign policy. Practical approaches should be made to solve international disputes. A paradigm shift must happen so that the nations of the world do not fight one another for power. Doing so creates an international network of rival alliance systems. Such obligations and treaties made between countries will only lead to mass global conflict. The purpose of the United Nations was to prevent such an event from occurring. The devastation that was unleashed during World War II made world leaders realize that collaboration was a better alternative to warfare. The Allies soon drifted apart descending into tension and competition. The post-World War II order was the US and U.S.S.R struggling for dominance of the world. That has since ended yet the old colonial empires and the US seek too remain predominant. The world has gradually become multipolar in terms of international power structure. The US-EU block function on the traditional wars of proxy used during the Cold War.  Such a dated model will not work in a rapidly changing world. Syria, Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Libya are centers of international instability.The US, UK, France, and the Gulf monarchies have supplied weapons to various terrorist organizations and armed groups with the intention of removal of certain regimes. While others have fallen this has caused blowback with an increase in terrorism. Germany and the UK have experienced terrorist attacks over the years. These acts of violence are reactions to western military intervention in the Muslim world and the policy of regime change. There is now a new era of international instability that cannot be  reduced. There will have to be a radical change in foreign policy and the goal of international affairs to return the globe to at least a moderate condition.                    

              

   

         

      

Neil De Grasse Tyson on Asserting Truth

The Crisis of Contemporary Society

Technology has given human civilization more material comfort than ever before. Often commentators claim their is progress in the world with more democratic governments and free markets. This is an illusion. Safety, comfort, and stability are not equally distributed around the world. Poverty, war, and racism will continue to be persistent problems with limited hope of a permanent or sustainable solution. The world of the 21 century is more unstable economically and politically. Global society has entered a state of general malaise. It effects populations at a large level and a personal one. Mental and physical health can be effected. Life has become extremely regimented even in a country that considers itself democratic. There are more feelings of isolation,even though mass communication is widely available. Societies are losing meaningful philosophical and ideological value systems. They have no alternative to older paradigms and thus engage in erratic or bizarre behavior. A nihilistic description of this perspective is not accurate, because frustration projects itself in public discord. At one time the concept of the future was an idea that seemed thrilling and prosperous. The dream has led to a nightmare and a existential crisis. The realization that the world can change for the better has died and been replaced with either disillusion or lack of hope. A revolution in politics, culture, and society may not be entirely blocked by the power structure, but by the frustration and lack of solicitous vigor. Change can happen, yet it will not be the revolutionary change to depose oppressive structures. Society is thus frozen unable to improve or advance.
      Labor was at one time a source of fulfillment to people. The modern day workforce has been turned into a regimented revolving door. The attitude that has emerged from the post-World War II period is to get a high paying job and become a member of the corporate machine. It is not about pursing a career that is satisfying to an individual, but the one that can make the most money. There are workers who have reached the top of the corporate structure, yet still find themselves in a state of melancholy. This may be due to the fact their work is monotonous and does not produce anything of significance. Management positions and workers in service sector jobs do not produce an actual product. This has to an extent been dissolved by advancing technology and a rapidly changing economy. Manufacturing or liberal arts related occupations may disappear in the distant future in which robot labor will replace human labor.  Those who cannot adjust will be trapped in a permanent underclass. To an extent this has happened with elements of the workforce. There are people who have not received a university education and do not have the skills to remain competitive. The other part of the spectrum has a workforce with a university degree or higher, but few jobs available. Those who do procure employment either victims of stagnant wages or limited opportunities for advancement. Workers go from company to company seeking to sustain themselves and have enough savings for retirement. The majority of the workforce is trapped in jobs they hate or work they feel that does not contribute to anything. This may explain the increase in depression or anxiety in particular developed nations.
      The lack of a belief system has been replaced by an obsessive materialism. A person's value is no longer based on their character, rather their status or the amount of wealth they have. This distortion in thought has resulted in various problems. It even ruins interpersonal relations among various societies .The traditional conservatives say lack of religion is what causes most of the societal issues of today. This is a false statement on the basis that any thought system that seeks to reduce critical thinking  will never improve anything. Religion has at least in the modern world, been used a means of creating cohesion in fractured societies and states. People who have many personal challenges use it as a coping mechanism when there is no other solution.The developed nations either put a huge amount of investment in technologies that are frivolous such as phones, cameras, or various entertainment media. Consumption has become so lucrative the public does not even understand how much they have become controlled by advertisement. It has become so prevalent that it has rewired human behavior to only think in terms of consumerism.  Consumerism has become a religion unto itself. Religion is in many ways an empty system of conviction. It expects people to believe a set of ideas without a rational thought process. Politics also does this in a similar fashion and is having a crisis of its own. The Western democracies and the experiments in the developing world  constantly speak of values of freedom and human rights. However, their own societies are unequal and engage in warfare. This rhetoric and contradictory behavior  proves that there is not a solid foundation for those beliefs. The superficial presentation demonstrates the death of a genuine political  belief system. Political philosophy has been reduced to sound bites, wedge issues, and a hostile binary political faction system. Contemporary society has lost the love for higher ideas in regards to ethics, epistemology, ontology, and metaphysics.  What has been put in its place is a hedonistic consumerism.
      Public  health has become a major issue. The longer people live the more ailments they will face. The modern day lifestyle of fast food and sugar based diets has caused heart disease and weight related illness. While there still are nations that have food insecurity, there are some that are being killed by too much consumption. This will cause strain on healthcare systems. A rapidly growing aging population and youthful people in poor health will be a challenge. The population gets less exercise and is more comfortable with a sedentary lifestyle. obesity will not just effect one region of the globe,it will spread. The lack of honest food labeling and nutritional contents can be blamed, but there is another element.When one lives in a land of abundance, there is a belief that their should be no self control. Eating, drinking, or doing anything in excess is seen as a right. People can have knowledge of the negative health effects of a behavior, but will continue to do so if it provides them an escape. This also explains drug addiction to an extent. Excess becomes a way to escape from particular life struggles or challenges that are not easily solved. Public health is not just effected by personal choice; environment plays a role. The dramatic climate shift occurring on Earth combined with increases in air pollution will cause more chronic illness. Respiratory system diseases will gradually become more prevalent. It is unknown what effect this will have on the nervous system. The current age seems to pose more health problems. The more terrifying aspect is that bacteria has the ability to become resistant to antibiotics. Microorganisms evolve just like other animals and it appears they are responding to human made medicine. The maintenance of public health will become a even greater problem in the future,if no action is taken.
        There is a general sense of frustration and malaise in global society. This is not anything new. Discord has been a part of human civilization and been the catalyst for revolutions. The difference now is that more people are so disillusioned that they rather not even try to challenge the established order. They either disengage from the society only focusing on themselves internally. The contemporary era has become one of manufactured dissent. False movements emerge out of social media or organizations with ulterior motives. There have been activists who have been attempting to raise awareness of certain issues for decades, but are either marginalized or silenced. Protest means nothing if it is done in a manner that will be effective. Disruption is not the goal itself, it is designed to stop the mechanisms of the oppression or injustice. The modern day protest does not function in the most effective manner and as a result there is no change. People all around the world are frustrated with their government or the decline in their communities. Neoliberal capitalism has generated more poverty internationally and the gap continues to grow between classes. Their is also a disparity between nation-states and ethnic groups. The West continues to intervene in African , South American, and Asian nations. Neocolonialism and racism are policies of the United States and the European Union. The White man's burden has been replaced with democracy promotion under the cover of protecting human rights.  The world population hears on a consistent basis news of war and mass migrations that were induced by Western aggression. World leaders no longer seek to change or improve the world. They have become simple managers with limited policy objectives. This is culpable for such an increase in anger and distrust of government globally. The early 21st century is the age of protest, yet this unconventional participation has no direction or defined goals other than just to oppose the government. Sadly, the frustration that is generated by various populations is not directed in a positive way. There is a wave of nativist  xenophobic racism sweeping across Europe and the US born out of economic turmoil, societal decline, and disappointment with the state of affairs.
     There will be more challenges as the 21st century progresses. The future has been in some literature portrayed as a utopia. Utopia is fiction. The world will never reach a state of calm or peace. Humanity's nature to destroy and conquer is too powerful to overcome. Conflict has been the driving force of societies and states. Conflict does not have to be open warfare. It can simply be division among a community, groups, states, or political governance system. While individual freedom should be valued, there needs to be a level of cohesion to keep society functional. Due to various factors that cohesion is eroding. Around the world people are dividing themselves more so around ethnic, religious, and national lines. This just increases chances of larger conflicts erupting. The lugubrious prospects of the decades to come make many worry. It was erroneously thought that their would be an end of history. However, their have not yet been new political systems or ideologies to say that liberal democracy and its values will be triumphant as a global system. There will still be many competing systems of conviction. The contemporary crisis of society is both  personal and within a wider community.  It will be harder for certain people to adjust to the rapid cultural, technological, and social changes. The rural areas will gradually disappear giving way to more urbanization. Mechanization and robotics may make employment limited unless some form of universal income is implemented. Labor, public health, and dealing with discord as well as nihilism  must be top priorities for any leader. The unusual aspect of this situation is that possessions create the illusion of prosperity. The countries that are considered developed still have a working class that is not allowed to advance itself.  The world needs a paradigm shift for the sake of its survival.