Putting the Early 21st Century into Perspective

Putting the Early 21st Century into Perspective

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The essays and documents in Chapters 15 and 16 of our course text offer a look at foreign and domestic policies that have dominated the United States since the end of the Cold War from a global perspective. Local and national political movements within the United States, such as the renewed calls in the second decade of the 21st century for a $15 hourly minimum wage, often intersect with that global perspective while also addressing issues that might be unique to the American experience. As you go through the readings in these final two chapters consider the idea of “America” as it exists today. In considering such broad concerns as terrorism, economic stability, racial and social justice, and equitable health care for all peoples, what is one issue of particular importance from your perspective?

Create a post based on one the readings in Chapters 15 and 16 in addition to a newspaper article about the topic that addresses the issue. Be sure to address:

How do the issues that the country faces differ from those of other nations?

In what ways is America a part of the world, and in what ways does it stand apart from the world.

As with the earlier discussions, you might want to draw on your research-in-progress — both in putting together your initial posts and in commenting on your peers’ contributions. Feel free to share insights that you might be developing from your research projects with each other.