ReadingEssentials and Study Guide A New Era Begins …

1 ReadingEssentials and Study GuideA New Era Begins Lesson 4 Regions After the Cold War ESSENTIAL QUESTIONSWhat motivates political change?How can economic and social changes affect a country? Reading HELPDESKC ontent Vocabularyjurisdiction the limits or territory within which authority may be exercisedcorruption impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle Academic Vocabularyevolve develop; work outevident apparent TAKING NOTES: SummarizingPoweredbyCogneroPage1 Name: Class: Date: A New Era Begins : Reading Essentials and Study Guide : Lesson 4 1. ACTIVITY As you read, use this chart this list the major events in these regions since the end ofthe Cold War.

2 IT MATTERS BECAUSEA fter the end of the Cold War, important developments occurred throughout the Middle East,Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A desire for a better life and a movement toward democracy ledmore people to participate in the affairs of their countries. Middle East and North AfricaGUIDING QUESTION What changes have occurred in the Middle East and North Africa since the1990s? The Middle East and North Africa are some of the most unstable, or changing, areas in the worldtoday. Many countries in this region have experienced a number of problems. They include politicalinstability, ethnic tensions, high unemployment, poverty, poor education, and limited civil liberties.

3 Region OverviewPoweredbyCogneroPage2 Name: Class: Date: A New Era Begins : Reading Essentials and Study Guide : Lesson 4 Disputes over territory between the Israelis and Palestinians continue. Violence also have been efforts to reach a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians,represented by the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization). However, the efforts have failed sofar. Terrorist attacks still occur. In addition, conflict over territory remains, especially over the cityof Jerusalem. Iran is an oil-rich country. It remains under the control of Muslim clerics. They enforce strictobedience to Islamic law. The regime limits the rights of women.

4 It also limits the right to freeassembly and a free press. In 2009 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected president of Iran. Inresponse, hundreds of thousands of Iranians protested the election results. They claimed that theelection was organized dishonestly. The Iranian military oppressed the protesters. The violentactions of the military were recorded on cell phones, and the videos were posted on the Internet. The United States, under the direction of President George W. Bush, invaded Afghanistan in 2001and Iraq in 2003. The invasions followed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in NewYork City on September 11, 2001. Afghanistan was under the control of the Taliban and wasproviding a home for Osama bin Laden.

5 Bin Laden was the head of al-Qaeda and he claimedresponsibility for the attacks in the United States. In 2011 forces killed bin Laden in Pakistan. The United States next attacked Iraq in 2003. After the attack, Iraq experienced a civil war. Itwas between the two Muslim groups, the Shia and the Sunni. The Shia Muslims controlled southernIraq, and the Sunni Muslims controlled central Iraq. There were elections in 2010 in Iraq. Nuri Kamalal-Maliki became prime minister. Protests occurred across Iraq in 2011 as people sought bettergovernment services. Revolutionary UpheavalNorth Africa and the Middle East have experienced a massive uprising.

6 It has led to regime changein Tunisia and Egypt. Most countries in the region have a high number of young people. Forexample, more than half of Egypt s 80 million people are under the age of 25. Most of these youngpeople are unemployed. President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali had ruled Tunisia for 23 years with anoppressive government. Mass protests against his government began in December 2010. Ben Aliwas forced to flee the country. Other protests in the region soon followed. In Egypt President Hosni Mubarak also headed an oppressive regime. He maintained power througha large security force. It used torture and brutality to suppress, or totally stop, any politicalopposition.

7 By January 28, 2011, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians started to gather in Tahrir(Liberation) Square in downtown Cairo. The crowds included women and people from all walks oflife. Through social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, protesters were able toorganize the gatherings and inform others of what was happening. The protests continued for 18days. Mubarak s security forces sometimes retaliated with violence against the protestors. TheEgyptian army finally sided with the protestors. Mubarak was forced to leave the country. In Libya, protesters started a rebellion against the authoritarian regime of Colonel Muammar al-PoweredbyCogneroPage3 Name: Class: Date: A New Era Begins : Reading Essentials and Study Guide : Lesson 4 Qaddafi.

8 Antigovernment opponents took control of Benghazi, a city in the west. It is an area thatcontains most of Libya s oil wells. Colonel Qaddafi s troops advanced towards Benghazi. They beganto use force against the protesters. In response, the UN Security Council voted to approve militaryaction. In March 2011, American and European forces began a campaign of airstrikes againstColonel Qaddafi and his government. Libyan rebel forces took control of Tripoli, the capital of Libya,in August and removed Qaddafi from power. Qaddafi was killed in October, and the creation of anew Libya began. Protests have spread throughout the entire region. They have occurred in Algeria, Yemen, Jordan,Bahrain, Oman, Morocco, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.

9 The protests in these other nations havebeen answered with force. Even so, after decades of conflict, political oppression, and exploitation,the revolutionary upheaval led by young people has brought a new beginning to the Middle Eastand North Africa. PROGRESS CHECK 2. Comparing and Contrasting How are the uprisings in Egypt and Libya similar? How are theydifferent? _____ Africa South of the SaharaGUIDING QUESTION What challenges have confronted countries in Africa south of the Saharasince the end of the Cold War? African societies have not yet solved many of the problems that they have faced sinceindependence. Most African states are still poor.

10 African concerns have not gained much attentionin the international community. There are signs of progress toward political stability in somecountries. Other nations, however, are still experiencing by civil war. Some are ruled by brutaldictators. Region OverviewAfricans have found ways to handle their political problems, to cooperate with one another, and topromote and protect their interests. In 1991 the Organization of African Unity (OAU) agreed toestablish the African Economic Community (AEC). They intended the AEC to promote economic andpolitical cooperation among African nations, similar to the EU. In 2001 the African Union (AU)replaced the OAU.