challenges facing the U.S. over the next decades - politics, terrorism, environment, technology

1. “You really gotta ask yourself – what’s the point of being a superpower
anymore?” President Bartlett [TheWar at Home]

2. 1.1. Environmental issuesEnvironmental issues
2.2. International security,International security,
“rogue states” and“rogue states” and
global terrorismglobal terrorism
3.3. Developing nations andDeveloping nations and
the global economythe global economy
4.4. Regional hotspotsRegional hotspots
5.5. Human rights issuesHuman rights issues
6.6. Technology – friend orTechnology – friend or
foe?foe?

3.  Global warming [?]Global warming [?]
 Human impactHuman impact
 Kyoto AccordsKyoto Accords
▪ Why didn’t we sign?Why didn’t we sign?
 PollutionPollution
 AirAir
 water – oceanwater – ocean
 DeforestationDeforestation
 Over-fishingOver-fishing

4.  ““Rogue states”Rogue states”
 Threat to world/regionalThreat to world/regional
securitysecurity
▪ Weapons of mass destructionWeapons of mass destruction
▪ Harbors for terroristsHarbors for terrorists
 What to do about them?What to do about them?
 Global terrorismGlobal terrorism
 Security vs. freedom?Security vs. freedom?
 Future of extremism?Future of extremism?
 How to combat it?How to combat it?
 U.S. responsibility?U.S. responsibility?

5.  Global terrorismGlobal terrorism
 Not just a U.S. issueNot just a U.S. issue
 Islamic fundamentalismIslamic fundamentalism
 Different than a nationDifferent than a nation
 Ups and downs of counter-terrorismUps and downs of counter-terrorism
▪ Influence on societyInfluence on society
▪ Public failures; hidden successesPublic failures; hidden successes
 International cooperationInternational cooperation
 Arab SpringArab Spring

6.  China’s and India’sChina’s and India’s
rapidly expandingrapidly expanding
economieseconomies
 Competition forCompetition for
marketsmarkets
 Competition forCompetition for
resourcesresources
 Higher rates ofHigher rates of
consumption – futuresconsumption – futures
marketsmarkets

7.  PalestinePalestine
 Intractable problem extends back 1,000’s of yearsIntractable problem extends back 1,000’s of years
 Violent, extremist organizations make it worseViolent, extremist organizations make it worse
 Area will likely soon have nuclear powersArea will likely soon have nuclear powers
 Elsewhere in the middle east:Elsewhere in the middle east:
 IranIran
 AfghanistanAfghanistan
 IraqIraq
 AfricaAfrica
 Arab Spring – Jasmine revolutionsArab Spring – Jasmine revolutions
 Sub-Saharan Africa – Sudan, Chad, genocides inSub-Saharan Africa – Sudan, Chad, genocides in
RwandaRwanda
 What’s next?What’s next?

8.  Think back to the Declaration of IndependenceThink back to the Declaration of Independence
 People want self-determinationPeople want self-determination
 More difficult to be totalitarian with newMore difficult to be totalitarian with new
technologiestechnologies
 International Court in the Hague [UN]International Court in the Hague [UN]
 Culture can muddy the watersCulture can muddy the waters
 Minority rights – including women’s rightsMinority rights – including women’s rights
 Islamic cultureIslamic culture
 Modern genocides [“ethnic cleansing”]Modern genocides [“ethnic cleansing”]
 Motivation behind Arab Spring revolutionsMotivation behind Arab Spring revolutions

9.  Enhanced capabilitiesEnhanced capabilities
 Instant communicationsInstant communications
 Civilian and militaryCivilian and military
applicationsapplications
 The world as a villageThe world as a village
 Why are we afraid?Why are we afraid?
 DehumanizingDehumanizing
 Restructuring of societyRestructuring of society
 What are we losing?What are we losing?
 What if they become self-What if they become self-
aware?aware?

10.  Enhanced capabilitiesEnhanced capabilities
 Instant communicationsInstant communications
 Civilian and militaryCivilian and military
applicationsapplications
 The world as a villageThe world as a village
 Why are we afraid?Why are we afraid?
 DehumanizingDehumanizing
 Restructuring of societyRestructuring of society
 What are we losing?What are we losing?
 What if they become self-What if they become self-
aware?aware?