Challenges in a Contemporary World

The modern world poses many challenges to both developed and developing nations. The interconnectedness of the world means that the problems in one region can have an impact in other areas, even around the globe. When people migrate to new areas as a result of becoming economic or political refugees, this can place strains on neighboring countries and result in new conflicts. Economic refugees are those who move to new areas to look for work. Guest workers in Europe are an example of this phenomenon.

Religious and ethnic conflicts in different areas of the globe have also been a feature of the modern age. In this topic, you explored different conflicts among religious and ethnic groups in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Although the roots of the conflicts may differ, the result is often the same -- populations are displaced and people are killed. This is particularly true in those cases of genocide where one group has tried to wipe out the other through violence or intimidation.

Technology has transformed the modern world with the spread of instantaneous communications and the development of new medical technologies. Access to these advancements has been uneven throughout the world. While creating new and exciting advancements in the field, some of these scientific breakthroughs have created ethical concerns.