The Beginning of the Modern World, Essay Example

Dissident-An individual who disagrees with the status quo or with the social, religious, and/or political system or established/traditional values and ideals related to an institution or the doctrine of a political body in a given nation or society. This term dates back to dissenters against the Communist Party following the death of Josef Stalin.

Terrorism-An act that utilizes violence and/or coercion to terrorize a nation or a group of individuals for various purposes and/or reasons. Most acts of terrorism are aimed at creating an environment of fear in order to accomplish specific social, political, or religious goals or agendas. An excellent modern example is the Taliban in Afghanistan which is waging a terrorist war against the government and its Western allies.

Globalization-This refers to the proliferation of economic systems on a global scale. Historically, the U.S. has long been considered as the economic giant of the West, but due to emerging economies in other nations, this is no longer true. Globalization is also related to industrialization through the growth of new industries in what was once the “Third World.”

Khmer Rouge-Named by King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge was a revolutionary body made up of dissenters who wished to have a communist system installed in Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge, known as the Communist Party of Kampuchea in 1971, seized the throne of Cambodia in 1975 and created a new national constitution. Although the Khmer Rouge espoused democratic principles, it was in fact communistic and became one of the most violent Asian regimes of the late 20th century.

Ethnic cleansing-A process that involves the elimination or removal of an undesirable ethnic group through mandated immigration or genocide. Ethnic cleansing, such as what occurred in Bosnia in the 1980’s and in Nazi Germany related to the elimination of the Jews from Europe, is generally achieved by either warfare or some type of program that uses scientific and medical means to bring about the elimination of the undesirable group.

Intellectual property-A reference to anything related to the human mind, the imagination and creation. This would include all literary works, artistic works, corporate logos and trademarks, patents, inventions, music, etc. All of these types of properties that belong to the creator are also subject to copyright laws.

Fundamentalism-Refers to a system in which the practitioners adhere to and believe in the basic tenets, ideals, and principles of a given religion or denomination, such as Islamic fundamentalism and evangelical fundamentalism within Christianity.

The main argument here is the existence of a nation-state which can be defined as “single or multiple nationalities joined together in a formal political union” or sovereign State with its own geographical boundaries (a geopolitical State), language, political/legal law systems, currency, and a government-based bureaucracy that exists to serve the citizens of the State and to foster loyalty to the State, such as with Canada, the United States, France, and Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy during World War II (“What Is a Nation-State?”). Historically, nation-states have dominated the world and once held power and influence within and without their borders as self-sufficient sovereign nations. But today, due to globalization, every nation-state is dependent upon the other for their economic growth, political relevance, and cultural identity. In other words, a nation-state like Canada cannot exist solely on its own and must depend on interactions between other nation-states in order to prosper economically via the importation and exportation of goods, products, and services. This economic process of reliance and exchange tends to erode nationalism, meaning that unlike in the past, the nationality of a State, nation, or country is not so important as a trading partner, a sort of reference to the so-called “Melting Pot” in America. Also, the concept of independence via a nation-state depending on itself for economic growth and prosperity no longer holds true, due to globalization. Therefore, the future of the nation-state hinges on its ability to “cope with new political, economic, and social realities” related to globalization and how it approaches a variety of unforeseen problems on an international scale (“What Is a Nation-State?”).

What Roberts is attempting to say is that organized religion as the “underpinnings of mankind’s achievements in social regulation” is apparently passé and has been replaced by politics via the power and influence of the State and/or national governments. In times past, organized religion, especially linked to the Roman Catholic Church, served as the foundation related to how a society operated in relation to its laws and principles. In essence, the teachings and tenets of organized religion determined the social order of a given State or nation. Roberts also mentions that the State (i.e., a nation-state) has out-performed and outlasted the old way of doing things via the church as the unofficial head of a given governmental or social system as was the case in Europe for many centuries. Clearly, because of the existence of more States or as Roberts refers to them, “geographically-defined political units claiming legislative sovereignty and a monopoly of the use of force within their own borders,” the role of organized religion has substantially decreased, except of course in nations like Iran where the principles and tenets of Islam play a major role in how the State functions. Basically, I agree with Roberts’ viewpoint, especially concerning his point that politics has replaced religion as the “focus of faith.” This seems to be supported by the fact that in Europe, millions have abandoned the church, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, and have thus placed their “faith” in the State which nowadays wields much more power and influence. It is interesting to note that Roberts mentions the “fixed (and) unchanging moral law” of organized religion which in the past influenced every aspect of life within many States or nations. But today, the focus is on politics, not God, which can also “move mountains” or bring about the changes and stability that so many are seeking in the modern world.

Works Cited

“What Is a Nation-State?” University of Towson. Web. 2012. Accessed 8 Dec. 2012. http://www.towson.edu/polsci/ppp/sp97/realism/whatisns.htm