The document discusses the geopolitical and economic situations of several countries. It describes how Venezuela was once prosperous due to oil but is now struggling with high inflation and a faltering economy under Hugo Chavez. It also discusses Colombia's ongoing struggles with drug cartels and militias, and factors keeping it from becoming a developed nation. The document outlines Egypt's history and control of trade in the region, as well as the influence of Islamism. It analyzes the failure of the US invasion to create stability in Iraq and the country's descent into sectarian conflict and possible breakup. Finally, it discusses China's use of globalization and relationships with other Asian nations to continue its economic rise.

1. The Second World By: Karla Velasquez

2. Chp.16 Venezuela: Bolivar’s Revenge Venezuela was rooted from Simon Bolivar’s Gran Colombia, witch was splintered into numerous revolutionary republics. Venezuela (not China or Europe) most powerfully embodies the end of the Monroe doctrine. Venezuela would be a third world country if it wasn’t for its extensive oil reserves. 1950’s: oil developed by local oligarchs and foreign corporations,was part of the first world. South Americas political uncertainty stunted the process. 1960’s: autocrats left “superhighways in shambles and devastated ecosystems. 1970’s spoiled by oil, the country abandons its agricultural economy. 1980’s drop in oil prices compounded deficits,production faltered, capital was gone, inflation, foreign borrowing. Same cycle in the verge of happening under Hugo Chavez, described as “narcissist-Leninist”. His notion of “Bolivarian Socialism” has caused: landholders to give up their land, elimination o labor unions, hospitals crumbled, price controls have made meat scares. The country no resembles Iran priior to the over through of the Shah

3. Chp.17 Colombia: The Andean Balkans? Colombia’s location makes it the possibility that South America might profit from both the north and the far East. That id if the Pan American highway were to be completed. The connection of South America to the world must happen through Colombia. Colombia is the Unites States’ only strong ally in the South. President Albaro Uribe supports neolibaral economic policies and the war on drugs. Americas militarized approach to the drug problem has hardly helped but on the other hand militia advisers working side by side with the Colombian Militia has helped. Colombia remains the source of almost all of the cocaine and almost half the heroin in the USA. Country is facing internal threats and in response there is: elite factionalism, privatized security, and many armed groups. Colombia still in the Second World because: it’s always had strong institutions of banking, presidency,and courts,except for the mid 1950’s it has had democratic transfers,less capital flight and brain drain, no hyperinflation or massive debt defaults,best performing stock exchange. Building the state and winning the war on drugs goes hand and hand.

4. Chp.22 Egypt: between Bureaucrats and Theocrats Under Egyptian king Ptolemy II occurred the destruction of the great library of Alexandria, caused by the Romans, it marked the end of Egypt as a center of global learning. Modern control of the Arab world was marked at h beginning by Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt. About 10% of world’s sea trade still passes the Suez Canal, it earns Egypt $5 billion annually. Egypt’s diplomatic power has rested as Arab’s main interlocutor with Israel. 1979: Anwar Sadars’s peace treaty with Israel. Europe's influence nay eventually supercede that of the united States. Their companies have spent over $500 million to upgrade Egypt's tourism, construction and agriculture. All the conditions of Islamist revolution are present: wealth disparities, elite conflict, religious oppression, and political alienation.

5. Chp.24 The Former Iraq:Buffer, Black Hole and Broken Boundary American Invasion in 2003 failed to create a democratic state the battle of Iraq is to settle or disappear all together. Every faction within Iraq and in each surrounding country is fighting for its own vision . Since no one is fighting for Iraq itself odds are it will cease to exists. Under Saddam Hussein the people were driven to different forms of isolated conservatism. -1980’s Iran-Iraq war 1990 Saddam invades Kuwait. Civil war has accelerated the country’s Re-Balkanization, Individual Iraquis pledge their loyalty to Clan, ethnicity, or sect over state. According to Khanna the United States failed to keep the ethical responsibility of understanding the country it was occupying. Despite all Iraq is still not a third world country, even Iraq’s poorest districts have adequate housing.

6. Chp.28 Chinas first-world Seduction China can exploit globalization to cooperate with the third world and the entire first world, including it’s own region. Japan, Singapore, Korea, Australia are changing their grand strategy and becoming interdependent with china. Japanese aid and investments in China is higher than ever before. Japan remains a global economic power house and the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid. Singapore is the most successful avatar of the Asian way, and model package for export. China has its future on Singapore, it is the future capital of the Chinese, and it is likely to last because it was established by business ability.