GLOBAL ISSUES
KEY CONCEPTS
© Dr. Francis Adu-Febiri &
Dr. Francis Yee, 2014
Do you see borders?
Contents of Presentation
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Introduction
Global Issues and Interrelated Key Concepts
Concept #1: Global issues
Concept #2: Global Inequality & Poverty
Concept #3: Global Development
Concept #4: Global Sustainability
Conclusion
References
Introduction
GLOBAL ISSUES:
 THERE ARE REAL TIME CHALLENGES
AND OPPORTUNITIES BENEATH THE
CONCEPT OF GLOBAL ISSUES
Introduction:
REAL TIME CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES BENEATH THE
CONCEPT
 Watch this video “If I could Change
the World…”, identify the challenges
and opportunities the concept of
global issues presents, and critically
examine them. What conclusions do
you come to?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w
uRURJ9E3iQ
Global Issues and Interrelated
Key Concepts
GLOBAL INEQUALITY & POVERTY
GLOBAL ISSUES
All other concepts, major themes and theories of Global issues revolve around these key concepts
GLOBAL ISSUES: STRUCTURAL
LINKAGES
 The major global issues are all
interconnected and should be studies
that way!
(ttp://www.geni.org/globalenergy/issues/global/majorglobal-issues-diagram-lg.jpg&imgrefurl)
CONCEPT #1
 GLOBAL ISSUES:
 The structurally intersected
issues connected to
globalization and its
responses to the human
condition are the focus of
academic global studies
programs, conferences,
governments, and the work of
many non-governmental
organization (NGOs)
Defining the Concept of Global
Issues
 Is the concept of “Global Issues” self-explanatory?
 What connection does the “Global Issues” have with
GLOBALIZATION?
Defining the Concept of Global
Issues
 Globalization makes global issues evident but
does not define the concept of Global Issues.
 Books (e.g., Bhargava 2006, Seitz and Hite
2012, and Payne 2013) with the title of Global
Issues hardly define and systematically
conceptualize the global issues concept.
 It is taken for granted that given the existing
definitions of globalization, global public goods,
global politics, global norms, the definition of
concept of global issues is self-evident or
implied.
Global Issues (Bhargava 2006)

Vinay Bhargava (2006), the author of the World Bank
book, Global Issues for Global Citizens, correctly
identifies global issues, globalization and global public
goods as related but differing concepts (p. 34).
 However, it defines the concepts of globalization and
global public goods at the expense of the concept of
global issues as is evident in the following quotation:
 The International Task Force on Global has defined
international public goods ( a term that includes both
global and regional goods) as goods and services that
“address issues that: (i) are deemed to be important
to the international community, to both developed
and developing countries, (ii) typically cannot, or will
not, be adequately addressed by individual countries
or entities acting alone; and in such cases (iii) are
best addressed collectively on a multilateral basis. “
By this definition, most but not all the global issues
addressed in this book involve the creation—or the
failure to create—global public goods’ (p. 34).
Global Issues (Bhargava 2006)
 It seems Bhargava (2006), assumes
that the definition of global issues is
implied in the definitions of
globalization and global public goods.
Global Issues (Seitz & Hite 2012)
 Like Bhargava (2006), John Seitz and
Kristen Hite’s (2012. p. 2) Global Issues
book “discusses some of the main
current global issues of our time” without
providing any definitions or systematic
conceptualization of the global issues
concept.
Global Issues (Seitz & Hite 2012)
 Without first defining the concept of Global
issues, John Seitz and Kristen Hite (2012,
p. 256) laments in the appendix of their
book that many students in American
colleges and universities take International
Studies courses
 But a close look at the international studies
course reveals that most of them still focus on
only one country or one region (often Western
Europe), and only a few focus on a problem or
an issue that is found throughout the world.
Global Issues (Payne 2013)
 Richard Payne (2013, p.4), after defining the
concepts of Global Politics and Global Norms,
does not specifically define global issues, but
rather states that
 Global issues encompasses traditional international
relations and world-wide politics
 Stressing global issues indicates a recognition of how
globalization intertwines many aspects of human
activities
Global Issues: Major Themes
Vinay Bhargava (2006):
Global Issues for Global
Citizens: An Introduction to
Key Development
Challenges
John Seitz & Kristen Hite
(2012): Global Issues: An
Introduction
Richard Payne (2013):
Global Issues: Politics,
Economics, and Culture
THEMES
THEMES
THEMES
Global Poverty &
Inequality; Global
Financial System; Global
Global Population;
Global Wealth and
Poverty; Global Food
Production; Global
Energy; Global
Environment; Global
Technology; Global
Sustainable
Development
Global Society;
Globalization and
Human Rights; Global
Governance and
Democracy; Global
terrorism; Global
Financial Crisis; Global
Trade; Global Inequality
and Poverty;
Globalization of
Environmental
Problems; Global Crime;
Globalization of Disease;
Global Cultural Clashes
Migration; Global
Development; Global Hunger
& Malnutrition; Diseases
Without Boarders; Global
Climatic Change; Global
Education; Global
Resources; Global Energy;
Global Governance
Global Issues: Toward a Definition
 The three major current books on Global Issues
don’t define the concept. Rather, they discuss
specific global issues. Analyzing the stated ideas
and main themes these books discuss, it could be
deduced that conceptually, “Global Issues” are
cross-country and cross-regional political,
economic, health, technological, environmental,
social and cultural problems or challenges facing
humanity in a globalized world.
Global Issues: Toward a Definition
 Sociologically, global issues are the problems,
challenges, and opportunities most societies, if
not all, encounter despite the local, national
and regional differences in their social
relationships, stratification patterns, culture,
interaction, and social institutions.
 In SOSC 203, “global issues” is conceptualized
as development challenges and opportunities
without borders; problems and opportunities
that are common to many nations around the
world.
CONCEPT #2
 GLOBAL INEQUALITY & POVERTY
Inequality & Poverty as Global
Issues
 Inequality and poverty are global issues because they
transcend local, national and regional boundaries.
CAMBODIA
INDIA
GHANA
Global Inequality & Poverty
 Poverty and inequality, and their associated
outcomes can no longer be contained within
national boundaries. This makes them a
global issue/problem of huge proportions,
and it means that alleviating poverty and
reducing inequality are critical to
maintaining and strengthening regional and
global stability. That is why the UN has
made reducing world poverty a top
priority—it is a target under the first of the
Millennium Development Goals (Bhargava
2006, p. 37)
Global Inequality & Poverty
 North and south are no longer geographic
coordinates. Now they are power relations
between the global rich and the global
poor. The north-south divide has grown
and, so too, have new transnational
inequalities and social hierarchies. Social
polarization cuts across national lines as
well. New elites, middle classes, and highconsumptions sectors are uplifted from
their national contexts as they become
incorporated into the global cornucopia
[horn of plenty] (Robinson 2014, p. 286).
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8zBC2dvERM
Inequality & Inequity:

Inequality is the gap between the rich
and the poor: The gap between the
rich/wealthy and the poor are correlated
with the gap between males and
females, adults and children, dominant
racial/ethnic groups and minority
racial/ethnic groups, etc. (World
Development Report 2006, cited in
Bhargava 2005, p. 65):
Inequality: Unfair distribution of
outcomes such as income, wealth,
consumption or other dimensions of
well-being. It is different from
inequity
 Inequity: Unfair distribution of
opportunities—such as property,
power, prestige and privilege.
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
THE GAP ISSUE
Global Inequality is a reflection of Global
Inequity (Adu-Febiri 2008)
INDIA
INDIA
Poverty
 There is no single definition of poverty
capable of serving all purposes (Wilson,
1996, p. 21)
 Typology of Definitions:
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1. Poverty as lack of basic needs
2. Poverty as income below the poverty line
3. Poverty as recipients of welfare/charity
4. Poverty as peoples’ subjective perceptions of
what they need to live according to the expected
standards of their society.
 See Korayem (1996)
Poverty
 Comprehensive Definition:
 The Poverty concept goes beyond the
conventional focus on income and
wealth/things; it also has non-material
dimensions:
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Education
Health
Equality
Voice
Power
Security
Poverty
 In effect,
 the global poor are poor not only
because they have no or little access
to income and wealth, but also they
 1. lack the capability to function in their
local communities:
 Key capabilities include not only adequate
resources for essential needs—food,
shelter, clothing—but also access to
education, good health, security from
violence and other risks, and political
participation and voice (Amartya Sen 2000
cited in Bhargava 2006, p. 64).
Poverty
 2. they usually live in neighbourhoods
where there is far higher incidence of
infectious diseases and malnutrition,
combined with an acute lack of access
to safe water, sanitation, healthcare,
adequate housing , education and
work (Kofi Annan 2001, pp. 52-56).
The Global Poor
 Who are the global poor? Who are
below the International Poverty Line?
 Mostly
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Women
Children
Racialized groups
Ethnic Minorities
The Global Poor
 Where are the global
poor?
 In every country, but the
extreme poor are
concentrated in:
 Sub-Saharan Africa
 South-East Asia
 South Asia
The Global Poor and Global
Development
 Alleviation of global poverty is
an important objective of global
development
INDIA
 Until recently,
“development” has been
College of the Poor: The Poor
Helping the Poor
practiced as something
(http://www.ted.com/talks/bunk
that the rich bestowed on er_roy
the poor instead of
something the poor
achieved for themselves
(Nancy Birdsall and Francis
Fukuyama 2011)
CONCEPT #3
 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
Development as a Global Issue
 Developmentalism is
now a global issue
because it transcends
local, national and
regional boundaries.
Development as a Global Issue
 The three most common uses of the concept of
development entail globality (see Mark Frezzo
2008, p. 41):
 1. Development as a linear unfolding of human
history from barbarism (antiquity) to
civilization (modernity).
 2. Development as the extensive and intensive
growth of capitalism in the permanent quest for
new sources of raw materials, fresh supplies of
labor, and untapped markets.
 3. Development as a post-WW2 project to
create the conditions for economic growth in
the global south
Development and Inequality
 Development and inequality/inequity are
connected:
 Inequality in opportunities has a negative
impact on economic development and growth
(World Bank 2006, cited in Bhargava 2006, p.
65).
Development
 Classical Definitions:
 It is production-based notion of
“development”
 The classical use of the term
“development” in the developed
nations, and now in the developing
countries, defined progress by the
increased growth of material goods
by any means possible (Seitz & Hite
2012, p. 72).
 Increase in per capita national
income of a country or an increase
in its gross national product (GNP),
the total amount of goods and
services produced (Seitz & Hite
2012, p. xvi).
 Development and Economic
Development are used
interchangeably.
Development
 Alternative Definitions:
 1. Direct attention to consequence of
the growth of material goods and
services (Seitz & Hite 2012, p. xv).
 Economic growth leading to social
changes such as:
 Higher standards of living
 Happier human beings
 Enlarged of human capabilities and choices
 Creation of an environment in which people can
lead long, healthy, and creative lives
Development
 Alternative Definitions:
 2. Integration of Economic and Social
Factors:
 Economic development that results in happier
human beings because the process leads to
creation of adequate number of satisfying and
challenging jobs, adequate housing, health care,
and educational opportunities, healthy and
pleasant living and working environments,
enough nutritious food to eat, etc. (Seitz & Hite
2012, p. xvi).
Development
 Alternative Definitions:
 3. Transcends Economic and Social
Factors:
 Sociologically development refers to a
process in which masses of people
experience an improvement in their
living standards, opportunities for
cultural and spiritual growth, and the
ability to exercise a modicum of control
over their own lives (Robinson 2014, p.
286).
Development
 Comprehensive Definitions:
 Integration of economic development,
social development, and human
development.
Development
 Economic Development:
 Material growth; increased production
 Social Development:
 Improving social, cultural, and
political relationships in society or
community
 Human Development:
 Enhancing peoples’ well-being
through the enlarging of human
capabilities and choices
Development
 Our mutual experiences in Independencia showed us
that development was uneven, contradictory and
complex. Although it is rooted in inequalities, these vary
across place and space not only within the South as a
whole, but also within a small country in Central
America, and indeed within a smallish town.
Development means something different to the residents
of barrios such as Independencia, which is different
again to the views of the local municipal council, civil
society organisations, academics, or the national power
brokers in central government who negotiate funding
from the World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) (Sylvia Chant and Cathy McIlwaine 2009,
p.2).
Development: The Spectrum
UNDEVELOPMENT
Global Development
 Economic, social, and human
development on a global scale.
Global Development
 Millennium Development Goals
 A framework of 8 goals, 18 targets and
48 indicators to measure progress
towards the MDGs (Francis Yee 2011)

“…elite reform proposals, ranging from Millennium
Development Goals to multilateral restructuring and
other forms of ‘global governance’, will not reverse
the outflow of African wealth or serve the deeper
agenda of African development, which is to meet the
reasonable needs of all its citizens (Bond 2008, p.
26)
CONCEPT #4
 GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
Global Sustainability
 Sustainability is
now a global issue
because it
transcends local,
national, and
regional
boundaries.
Sustainable Development
 Sustainable development is
powerful concept because it is hard
to argue against it. A sustainable
world would not mean the absence
of growth, but the growth that
would be emphasized would go
beyond unrelenting desire for more
material objects (Seitz and Hite
2012, p. 242).
 Alternative Development is
possible.
Sustainable Development


Fantasy?
Continuous economic growth plus continuous reduction of
poverty plus continuous narrowing of the gap between the rich
and the poor plus continuous improvement in well-being of all
societal or community members—all attained through
environmentally friendly processes.
Sustainable Development
 Realistic?
 Sociologically, sustainable development involves processes of
improving social, cultural, political, and economic relationships
in society or community without compromising the freedom
and spirit of individuals and groups, the quality of the natural
environment, and the well-being of future generations.
Sustainability
 Sustainability is a process of
improving the quality of life for not
just the present but for the future
generations too (World Commission
on Environment and Development
1987).
 Meeting the needs of the current
generations without compromising
the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs (World
Commission on Environment and
Development 1987)
 The ability of society to live within
its natural limits by eliminating
destructive values and making
choices not to overconsume its
resources (Jared Diamond 2005)
CONCLUSION
 If we fail to take a global view in our approach to
eliminating global inequality and poverty, global
underdevelopment, and global unsustainability,
“future generations will likely suffer an existence
that is nastier, more brutish, and shorter than that
which we now enjoy” (Brym 2014, p. 283).
References
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Adu-Febiri, Francis. 2008. “Globalization, Indigenization, and Tourism in SubSaharan Africa”. In Joseph Mensah (ed.). Neoliberalism and Globalization in
Africa. Contestations on the Embattled Continent. New York: Palgrave MacMillan.
Bhargava, Vinay (ed.).2006. Global Issues for Global Citizens: An Introduction to
Key Development Challenges. Washington DC: The World Bank.
Birdsall, Nancy and Francis Fukuyama. 2011. “The Post-Washington Consensus:
Development After the Crisis”. Foreign Affairs (March/April 2011). UN DESA.
World Economic and Social Survey 2010.
Bond, Patrick. 2008. “Accumulation by Dispossession in Africa: False Diagnosis
and Dangerous Prescriptions”. In Joseph Mensah (ed.). Neoliberalism and
Globalization in Africa. Contestations on the Embattled Continent. New York:
Palgrave MacMillan.
Brym, Robert (ed.). Society in Question. Seventh Edition. Toronto: Nelson
Education.
Chant, Sylvia and Cathy McIlwaine . 2009. Geographies of Development. An
Introduction to the Global South. Chaltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
Diamond, Jared. 2005. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. New
York: Viking.
Frezzo, Mark. 2008. “Sociology, Human Rights and World Social Forum”. In
Judith Blau & Alberto Moncada (eds.). Societies Without Borders, pp. 35-47.
References
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Korayem, K. 1996. “Egypt: Comparing Poverty Measures”. In
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on International Poverty Research. Oslo: Scandinavian
University Press.
Payne, Richard J. 2013. Global Issues. Fourth Edition. Boston:
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Robinson, William I. 2014. “The Chimera of Democracy and
Development”. In Robert Brym (ed.). Society in Question.
Seventh Edition. Toronto: Nelson Education.
Seitz, John L. and Kristen A. Hite. 2012. Global Issues: An
Introduction. Fourth Edition. Malden MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Wilson, F. 1996. “Drawing Together Some Regional
perspectives on Poverty”. In OE. Oyen et al (eds.). Poverty a
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Oslo: Scandinavian University Press.
World Commission on Environment and Development. 1987.
Our Common Future. New York: Oxford University Press.