The interdependence of nations. In some ways, the world today seems full of divisions. No war has broken out directly between major world powers since World War II ended in 1945, but fighting has gone on in some part of the globe almost every day since then.
In spite of all the divisions in the world today, peoples and nations are tied together more closely than ever before. Electronic communications and worldwide systems of transportation make it possible for ideas and information to be shared quickly by peoples around the globe. Exchanges between cultures are more rapid and widespread than at any time in the past. Nations have become increasingly interdependent as such problems as pollution and the reduction of natural resources have grown too big for any one government to handle. Many countries belong to international economic or political organizations. Some developed countries give developing nations financial aid and technical assistance.
The breakdown of barriers between cultures began with the spread of European civilization. Westernization, more than any other force, has shaped much of the modern world and laid the foundation for the development of a common world culture. Today, many peoples throughout the world recognize the interdependence of nations and the need for international cooperation. The growing unity of human experience offers some hope that nations can settle their differences peacefully and avoid another world war.
Excerpt from the "World, history of the" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999