Global issues can be summarised to be problems and matters that affect a large number of people, nations, countries, continent and the world. They cut across boundaries and directly or indirectly affect all countries of the world (Bharagava, n.d : 6). This post has made use of Vinay Bharagava thematic classification of global issues in his work Introduction to Global Issues. He confirmed the presence of global issues and classified it under five thematic areas. These includes, the Global Economy, Human Development, Environmental and Natural Resources, Peace and Security and Global Governance ( Bharagava, n.d :3).
In the global economy, the global issues that have emaciated the globe include ; international trade, financial instability, poverty and inequality, debt crisis/ relief, international migration, food security, intellectual property rights (Bharagava, n.d: 3). Due to the large gap between the developed and developing countries /third world countries, there has been high record of loans collected from the first world which has led to massive international debt and poverty of these poor developing countries /third world countries to the first world lending institutions such as IMF, World Bank.
For the aspect of human development, the pressing global issues include; universal education, communicable diseases, humanitarian emergencies, hunger and malnutrition, refugees crisis (Bharagava, n.d: 3). More so, the world, majorly the developing countries /third world countries have been plagued by social and economic chaos, exploitation by the first world countries and corporation which has led to poverty and misery, hunger etc. For instance due to the tax laws in the developing countries /third world countries .
In the thematic area of environmental and natural resources, the global issue related to this includes; climate change, deforestation, access to safe water, loss of biodiversity, land degradation, sustainable energy, depletion of fisheries (Vinay Bharagava, n.d p3). First world countries and corporations show no care for the lives in the region and the region itself. For instance, the oil company like Shell has been known for oil spillage in their different locations in the developing countries /third world. This affects the biodiversity and the environment and natural resources.
The global issues that have threatened peace and security are arms proliferation, armed conflict, terrorism, removal of land mines, drug trafficking, disarmament, genocide (Bharagava, n.d: 3). In addition, ethnic, religious, political intolerance, wars, exodus of refugees have happened partly because of the way the government and dictators maltreat and oppress the people, going against human right and thus creating uprisings .
Global governance has been ravaged by global issues in the area of international law, multilateral treaties, conflict prevention, reform of the United Nations system, reform of international financial institutions, transnational corporations, global compacts, human rights (Vinay Bharagava, n.d: 3). Furthermore, a global issue that has plagued the developing countries /third world and the world as a whole is the human right abuses. This is an issue because there have been records of human right being breached. This is seen when political leaders commit murders, carry out tortures on civilians, massacre citizens and several forms of brutalities, etc. Also, it is recorded by scholars that the developed World dominates the United Nation and influences it and most time would only attend to issues that promote the First World economies and this has made the United Nations impotent to address a lot of crises or global issues/problems that affect the developing countries /third world which do not affect the First world countries directly , except there is a gain there. The result of this is an utterly unsustainable world, heading toward ever greater cataclysms and disasters, unable to solve any of the global crises and living at the expenses of the future generations.
A summary of the global issues/problems which affect the First world and the developing countries /third world is the absence of global regulation or planning regarding the future. This means that because of the global competitions between nations and huge corporations for resources, ascendancy, military advantage, profits and cheap labour, these nations are avoiding environmental regulation, thus , systematic and economic domination of the developing countries /third world by the First World which has led to an unsustainable world.
From the above one can see a list of some major global issues/problems that plague the developing world which has affected the economy is robust, the first being armed conflict, spread of infectious disease, proliferation of nuclear arms, increasing population, terrorism, climate change, financial inequality, debt, poverty, hunger and lack of drinking water etc. The above global issues/problems also touch the failure of institutions of governance; this has been a problem in the developing countries /third world and the world as a whole because the governments have in a way failed to create a means of safeguarding democracy, a means of educating the people to live with social responsibility. Also, the governments majorly in the developing countries /third world have failed to tackle the issue of cultural diversity which has led to a lot problem in the world.
It is important to note that these issues have affected development of different societies, it has staunted the growth of individuals, the society and the economy at large, there is a need for each country in the development world to increase their pace in tackling this global issues, if this is done , then there would be a possible development of all sectors of the economy.
OTHER WORKS ON THIS
The Third World: A Simple and less Controversial Meaning in International Relations
THE THIRD WORLD CHARACTERISTICS CLASHES WITH THE GLOBAL PROBLEMS.
COLONIALISM: A THIRD WORLD PRINCIPLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
THE CONCEPT OF DEBT AND DEBT CRISES.
POVERTY AND ITS EFFECT ON HUMANS AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCIETY.
A MUSING ON CRISIS AND CONFLICT
Arms Proliferation(spread) and its threat to human security.
FOOD SECURITY CONCEPTS: AN ENLIGHTENMENT OF FOOD, SECURITY AND FOOD SECURITY.
