Global global problems. The main problems of the modern world

The global problems of our time should be understood as a set of problems on the solution of which the further existence of civilization depends.

Global problems are generated by the uneven development of different areas of life of modern humanity and the contradictions generated in the socio-economic, political-ideological, socio-natural and other relations of people. These problems affect the life of humanity as a whole.

Global problems of humanity- these are problems that affect the vital interests of the entire population of the planet and require the joint efforts of all states of the world to be solved.

The global problems of our time include:

This set is not constant and as human civilization develops, the understanding of existing global problems changes, their priority is adjusted, and new global problems arise (space exploration, weather and climate control, etc.).

North-South problem is a problem economic relations developed countries with developing ones. Its essence is that in order to bridge the gap in the levels of social economic development between developed and developing countries, the latter demand or developed countries various concessions, in particular, expanding access for their goods to the markets of developed countries, increasing the flow of knowledge and capital (especially in the form of aid), debt forgiveness and other measures in relation to them.

One of the main global problems is poverty problem. Poverty refers to the inability to provide the simplest and most affordable living conditions for most people in a given country. Large levels of poverty, especially in developing countries, pose a serious threat not only to national but also to global sustainable development.

World food problem lies in the inability of humanity to date to fully provide itself with vital food products. This problem appears in practice as a problem absolute food shortage(malnutrition and hunger) in the least developed countries, as well as nutritional imbalances in developed countries. Its decision will largely depend on effective use , scientific and technological progress in the field agriculture and on the level of government support.

Global energy problem is the problem of providing humanity with fuel and energy now and in the foreseeable future. The main reason the emergence of a global energy problem should be considered rapid growth consumption of mineral fuels in the 20th century. If developed countries are now solving this problem primarily by slowing down the growth of their demand by reducing energy intensity, then in other countries there is a relatively rapid increase in energy consumption. Added to this may be growing competition in the global energy market between developed countries and newly large industrialized countries (China, India, Brazil). All these circumstances, combined with military-political instability in some regions, can cause significant fluctuations in the level of energy resources and seriously affect the dynamics of supply and demand, as well as the production and consumption of energy goods, sometimes creating crisis situations.

The environmental potential of the global economy is increasingly undermined economic activity humanity. The answer to this was environmentally sustainable development concept. It involves the development of all countries of the world, taking into account current needs, but not undermining the interests of future generations.

Protection environment is an important part of development. In the 70s 20th century economists realized important environmental problems for economic development. Processes of environmental degradation can be self-replicating, which threatens society with irreversible destruction and resource depletion.

Global demographic problem falls into two aspects: in a number of countries and regions of the developing world and the demographic aging of the population of developed and transition countries. For the former, the solution is to increase economic growth and reduce population growth. For the second - emigration and reform of the pension system.

The relationship between population growth and economic growth has long been the subject of research by economists. As a result of research, two approaches to assessing the impact of population growth on economic development have been developed. The first approach is to one degree or another connected with the theory of Malthus, who believed that population growth is faster than growth and therefore the world population is inevitable. The modern approach to assessing the role of population on the economy is comprehensive and identifies both positive and negative factors in the influence of population growth on.

Many experts believe that the real problem is not population growth per se, but the following problems:

• underdevelopment - retardation in development;
• depletion of the world's resources and environmental destruction.

The problem of human development is a compliance problem quality characteristics the nature of the modern economy. In the conditions of post-industrialization, the requirements for the physical qualities and especially for the education of the worker increase, including his ability to constantly improve his skills. However, the development of quality characteristics labor force in the world economy is happening extremely unevenly. The worst indicators in this regard are demonstrated by developing countries, which, however, are the main source of replenishment of global labor resources. This is what determines the global nature of the problem of human development.

Increasing interdependence and reduction of time and space barriers create a situation of collective insecurity from various threats, from which a person cannot always be saved by his state. This requires the creation of conditions that enhance a person’s ability to independently withstand risks and threats.

Ocean problem is a problem of conservation and rational use its spaces and resources. At present, the World Ocean as a closed ecological system can hardly withstand the many times increased anthropogenic load, and is created real threat his death. Therefore, the global problem of the World Ocean is, first of all, the problem of its survival and, consequently, the survival of modern man.

Ways to solve global problems of our time

Solving these problems is an urgent task for all of humanity today. The survival of people depends on when and how they begin to be resolved. The following ways to solve global problems of our time are identified.

Preventing World War using thermonuclear weapons and other means of mass destruction that threaten the destruction of civilization. This involves curbing the arms race, prohibiting the creation and use of weapons systems of mass destruction, human and material resources, the elimination of nuclear weapons, etc.;

Overcoming economic and cultural inequalities between the peoples inhabiting the industrialized countries of the West and East and the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America;

Overcoming a crisis interaction between humanity and nature, which is characterized by catastrophic consequences in the form of unprecedented environmental pollution and depletion natural resources. This makes it necessary to develop measures aimed at the economical use of natural resources and the reduction of waste pollution material production soil, water and air;

Declining population growth rate in developing countries and overcoming the demographic crisis in developed capitalist countries;

Prevention negative consequences modern scientific and technological revolution;

Overcoming the downward trend in social health, which involves combating alcoholism, drug addiction, cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases.

Global problems of our time- this is a set of the most acute, vitally important human problems, successful solution which requires the combined efforts of all states. These are problems on the solution of which further social progress and the fate of the entire world civilization depend.

These include, first of all, the following:

· preventing the threat of nuclear war;

· overcoming ecological crisis and its consequences;

· resolution of energy, raw materials and food crises;

· reducing the gap in the level of economic development between developed Western countries and developing countries of the “third world”,

stabilization demographic situation on the planet.

· fight against transnational organized crime and international terrorism,

· health protection and prevention of the spread of AIDS and drug addiction.

General Features global problems are that they:

· have acquired a truly planetary, worldwide character, affecting the interests of the peoples of all states;

· threaten humanity with serious regression in the further development of productive forces, in the conditions of life itself;

· need urgent solutions and actions to overcome and prevent dangerous consequences and threats to the livelihoods and safety of citizens;

· require collective efforts and actions on the part of all states and the entire world community.

Environmental problems

The uncontrollable growth of production, the consequences of scientific and technological progress and unreasonable environmental management today put the world under the threat of a global environmental catastrophe. A detailed consideration of the prospects for human development, taking into account current natural processes leads to the need to sharply limit the pace and volume of production, because their further uncontrolled growth can push us beyond the line beyond which there will no longer be sufficient quantities of all the necessary resources necessary for human life, including clean air and water. Consumer society, formed today, thoughtlessly and non-stop wasting resources, puts humanity on the brink of a global catastrophe.

Over the past decades, the general condition has noticeably deteriorated water resources - rivers, lakes, reservoirs, inland seas. Meanwhile global water consumption has doubled between 1940 and 1980, and according to experts, doubled again by 2000. Under the influence of economic activity water resources are depleted, small rivers disappear, water intake in large reservoirs is reduced. Eighty countries, representing 40% of the world's population, are currently experiencing water shortage.

Sharpness demographic problem cannot be assessed abstracting from economic and social factors. Shifts in growth rates and population structure are occurring in the context of persistent deep disproportions in the distribution of the world economic economy. Accordingly, in countries with great economic potential there is immeasurably higher general level spending on health care, education, conservation natural environment and, as a consequence, life expectancy is much higher than in the group of developing countries.

As for countries Eastern Europe And former USSR, where 6.7% of the world’s population lives, they lag behind economically developed countries by 5 times

Socio-economic problems, the problem of the growing gap between highly developed countries and third world countries (the so-called 'North - South' problem)

One of the most serious problems of our time is the problem of socio-economic development. Today there is one trend - the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. The so-called “civilized world” (USA, Canada, Japan, countries Western Europe- only about 26 states - approximately 23% of the world population) on at the moment consume from 70 to 90% of the goods produced.

The problem of the relationship between the “First” and “Third” worlds is called the “North-South” problem. Regarding her there is two opposing concepts:

· the reason for the backwardness of the countries of the poor “South” is the so-called “Vicious circle of poverty”, into which they fall, and which they cannot begin to offset effective development. Many economists in the North, supporters of this point of view, believe that the South itself is to blame for its troubles.

· that it is the “civilized world” that bears the main responsibility for the poverty of the countries of the modern “Third World”, for it was with the participation and under the dictation of the richest countries in the world that the process of formation of the modern economic system, and, naturally, these countries found themselves in a obviously more advantageous position, which today allowed them to form the so-called. The “golden billion”, plunging the rest of humanity into the abyss of poverty, mercilessly exploiting both the mineral and labor resources of countries that find themselves out of work in the modern world.

Demographic crisis

In 1800 there were only about 1 billion people on the planet, in 1930 - 2 billion, in 1960 - already 3 billion, in 1999 humanity reached 6 billion. Today the world's population is increasing by 148 people. per minute (247 are born, 99 die) or 259 thousand per day - these are modern realities. At The world population is growing unevenly. Share of developing countries in total number of the planet's inhabitants has increased over the past half century from 2/3 to almost 4/5. Today, humanity is faced with the need to control population growth, because the number of people that our planet can provide is still limited, especially since a possible lack of resources in the future (which will be discussed below) coupled with huge numbers people inhabiting the planet can lead to tragic and irreversible consequences.

Another major demographic shift is the rapid process of “rejuvenation” of the population in a group of developing countries and, conversely, the aging of residents of developed countries. The share of children under 15 years of age in the first three post-war decades increased in most developing countries to 40-50% of their population. As a result, the largest part of the working-age workforce is currently concentrated in these countries. Employing the vast workforce of the developing world, especially in the poorest and poorest countries, is one of the most pressing challenges today. social problems truly international significance.

At the same time increasing life expectancy and slowing birth rates in developed countries have led to a significant increase in the proportion of elderly people what entailed huge load on pension, health care and trusteeship systems. Governments were faced with the need to develop a new social policy, capable of solving the problems of population aging in the 21st century.

The problem of exhaustible resources (mineral, energy and other)

Scientific and technological progress, which gave impetus to the development of modern industry, required a sharp increase in the production of the most various types mineral raw materials. Today every year production of oil, gas, and other minerals is increasing. Thus, according to scientists’ forecasts, at the current rate of development, oil reserves will last on average for another 40 years, reserves natural gas should last for 70 years, and coal for 200 years. Here it should be taken into account that today humanity receives 90% of its energy from the combustion heat of fuel (oil, coal, gas), and the rate of energy consumption is constantly growing, and this growth is not linear. Alternative energy sources are also used - nuclear, as well as wind, geothermal, solar and other types of energy. As you can see, the key to successful development human society in the future there may be not only a transition to the use of recycled materials, new energy sources and energy-saving technologies(which is certainly necessary), but, first of all, revision of principles, on which a modern economy is built, not looking back at any restrictions in terms of resources, except those that may require too much monetary expenditure, which will not be justified in the future.

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GLOBAL PROBLEMS

GLOBAL PROBLEMS

(from Latin globus (terrae) - globe) - a set of vitally important problems that affect the whole and are insoluble within individual states and even geographical regions. G.p. came to the fore in the 20th century. as a result of significant population growth and a sharp intensification of the production process in an industrial society. Attempts to solve G.p. are an indicator of the gradual formation of a single humanity and the formation of truly world history. To the number of G.p. include: prevention of thermonuclear war; reducing rapid population growth (“population explosion” in developing countries); prevention of catastrophic pollution of the environment, primarily the atmosphere and the World Ocean; ensuring further economic development with the necessary natural resources, especially non-renewable ones; bridging the gap in living standards between developed and developing countries; elimination of hunger, poverty and illiteracy, etc. Circle G.p. is not sharply outlined, their peculiarity is that they cannot be solved in isolation, and humanity itself largely depends on their solution.
G.p. generated by the colossally increased impact of man on the environment, his economic activity transforming nature, which has become comparable in scale to geological and other planetary natural processes. According to pessimistic forecasts, G.p. cannot be resolved at all and in the near future will lead humanity to an environmental disaster (R. Heilbroner). Optimistic assumes that G.p. will turn out to be a natural consequence of scientific and technological progress (G. Kahn) or the result of the elimination of social antagonisms and the construction of a perfect society (Marxism-Leninism). The intermediate one is the demand for a slowdown or even zero growth of the economy and population globe(D. Meadows et al.).

Philosophy: Encyclopedic Dictionary. - M.: Gardariki. Edited by A.A. Ivina. 2004 .

GLOBAL PROBLEMS

[French global - universal, from lat. globe (terrae)- globe], a set of vitally important problems of humanity, on the solution of which further progress in modern era - preventing a world thermonuclear war and ensuring peaceful conditions for the development of all peoples; bridging the growing economic gap level and per capita income between developed and developing countries by eliminating their backwardness, as well as eliminating hunger, poverty and illiteracy on the globe; cessation strives. population growth (“demographic explosion” in developing countries) and eliminating the danger of “depopulation” in developed capitalist countries. countries; preventing catastrophic environmental pollution, including the atmosphere, oceans and T. d.; ensuring further economic development of humanity with necessary natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable, including food, prom. raw materials and energy sources; prevention of direct and distant ones will be denied. consequences of scientific and technical revolution. Some researchers also include problems of health care, education, social values ​​and T. p.

These vital problems, although they existed before to one degree or another as local and regional contradictions, have become modern planetary era and unprecedented scale due to the specific historical situation that has developed on the globe. situation, namely a sharp exacerbation of uneven socio-economic. and scientific and technical progress, as well as the growing process of internationalization of all societies. activities. Contrary to opinion pl. scientists and societies. figures in the West, in particular representatives of the Club of Rome, G. p. were generated not so much by the colossally increased means of humankind’s influence on the world around us and the enormous scope (scale) his household activity, which has become comparable to geological. And etc. planetary natures. processes, and above all the spontaneity of societies. development and anarchy of production under capitalism, the legacy of colonialism and the ongoing exploitation of developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latvia. America is multinational. corporations, as well as etc. antagonistic contradictions, the pursuit of profit and current benefits to the detriment of the long-term, fundamental interests of society as a whole. The global nature of these problems does not stem from their “ubiquity,” and certainly not from their “predatory nature.” nature of man,” supposedly equally inherent in any social system, as they say bourgeois ideologists, but from the fact that they somehow affect humanity as a whole and cannot be completely resolved within the framework dept. states and even geographical. regions. They also cannot be successfully solved in isolation from one another.

Universal. the character of civil society does not at all give them a supra-class and non-ideological character. content is believed bourgeois scientists, considering them from the standpoint of abstract humanism and liberal reformist philanthropy. The global nature of these problems does not negate the class approach to their study and the fundamental differences in methods and methods for solving them in different social systems. Marxists reject the pessimism common in the West. and pseudo-optimistic. concepts of G. p., according to which they either cannot be resolved at all and will inevitably plunge humanity into catastrophe (. Heilbroner), or can be resolved only by price T. And. zero growth of the world economy and population (D. Meadows and etc.) , or to solve them, only one scientific and technical progress (G. Kahn). The Marxist approach to G. p. differs from the non-Marxist one also with regard to their hierarchy (priority in their decision): to the bourgeoisie, to ideologists who put forward either environmentalism first. problems, or “demographic. explosion" or the contrast between "poor and rich nations" (advanced North and backward South), Marxists believe the most insistent. the problem of preventing global thermonuclear war, ending the arms race and ensuring international security, believing that this will create not only favorable peaceful conditions for socio-economic. progress of all peoples, but will also release enormous material resources to solve the remaining G. p. Consistent. resolution of emerging G. and. is possible only after the elimination of social antagonisms and the establishment of relations between society and nature on a global scale, i.e. in communist society. However, already in modern conditions pl. G. problems can be successfully resolved not only in socialist. society, but also the rest of the world in the course of general democracy. struggle for and release of tension, against selfishness. state-monopoly policy capital, through the deployment of mutually beneficial international cooperation, establishment of a new world economic. order in relations between developed and developing countries.

Mutual conditionality and the complex nature of G. p. suggest that they scientific research can be successfully carried out only through the cooperation of scientists of different specialties, representatives of society, natural sciences. and technical sciences, based on dialectic. method and use of such methods scientific knowledge of social reality, as well as global.

Materials of the XXVI Congress CPSU, M., 1981; Brezhnev L.I., Great October and the progress of mankind, M., 1977; Commoner B., Closing Circle, lane With English, L., 1974; Biola G., Marxism and the Environment, lane O French, M., 1975; Bud yko M.I., Global ecology, M., 1977; Shiman M., Towards the third millennium, lane With Hungarian, M., 1977; G v i sh i a n i D. M., Methodological. modeling problems global development, "VF", 1978, ?" 2; Arab-Ogly 9. A., Demographic and environmental forecasts, M., 1978; Forrester D. J. V., World, lane With English, M., 1978; Zagladin V., Frolov I., G. p. and the future of humanity, “Communist”, 1979, No. 7; theirs, G. p. of our time: scientific and social aspects, M., 1981; Frolov I. T., Human Perspectives, M., 1979; Sociological aspects of global modeling, M., 1979; The future of the world economy (Report of the UN group of experts headed by V. Leontyev), lane With English, M., 1979; Future. Real problems and bourgeois speculations, Sofia, 1979; ? e h e i A., Human. quality, lane With English, M., 1980; State of the Art of Modernity, M., 1981; Leibin V.M., “Models of the world” and “man”: Critical. ideas of the Club of Rome, M., 1981; F a l k R., The study of future worlds, N.Y., ; Kahn H., Brown W., Martel L., The next 200 years, L., 1977.

Philosophical encyclopedic dictionary. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. Ch. editor: L. F. Ilyichev, P. N. Fedoseev, S. M. Kovalev, V. G. Panov. 1983 .

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The problems of our time and the future of humanity - these are the questions that concern all modern politicians and scientists. This is understandable. After all, from the decision modern problems The future of the Earth and all humanity really depends.

Origin of the term

The term “global problems” began to appear in scientific literature in the late 60s of the last century. This is how scientists characterized both new problems that appeared at the junction of the industrial and information eras, and old ones that existed in the “man-nature-society” system, aggravated and aggravated in modern conditions.

Figure 1. Environmental pollution

Global problems are problems that cannot be solved by the efforts of one country or one people, but at the same time, the fate of the entire human civilization depends on their solution.

Causes

Scientists identify two large groups of reasons that led to the emergence of global problems.

• The growth of local problems, conflicts and contradictions into global ones (this is due to the process of globalization, unification and generalization of humanity).
• Active transformative human activity that influences nature, the political situation and society.

Types of global problems

The global problems facing humanity include three large groups of problems (modern classification).

Table"List of global problems of humanity"

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All global problems are connected to each other and influence each other. It is impossible to solve them separately; it is necessary integrated approach. That is why priority global problems were identified, the essence of which is similar, and on the solution of which the immediate future of the Earth depends.

Let's imagine the dependence of problems on each other schematically and name the global problems of humanity in order of their importance.

Figure 2. Connection of global problems with each other

• The problem of the world (disarmament of countries and prevention of a new global conflict) is associated with the problem (hereinafter “-”) of overcoming the backwardness of developing countries.
• Environmental problem - demographic problem.
• Energy problem – raw materials problem.
• Food problem – use of the World Ocean.

It is interesting that the solution to all global problems is possible if we try to solve the most important and pressing problem at the moment - world development space.

Common features (signs) of global problems

Despite the fact that global problems are modern stage There are many developments of humanity, they all have common features:

• they affect the life activity of all humanity at once;
• they are an objective factor in the development of humanity;
• they require an urgent decision;
• they involve international cooperation;
• The fate of all human civilization depends on their decision.

Figure 3. The problem of hunger in African countries

Main directions for resolving world problems and threats

To solve global problems, the efforts of all humanity are needed, and not only material and physical, but also psychological. In order for the work to be successful, it is necessary

• to form a new planetary consciousness, constantly inform people about threats, give them only relevant information, and train them;
• develop effective system cooperation between countries in solving global problems: studying, monitoring the situation, preventing the situation from worsening, creating a forecasting system;
• concentrate large number strength specifically in solving global problems.

Social forecasts for the existence of humanity

Based on the fact that in present moment the list of global problems is getting worse and expanding, scientists are doing social forecasts existence of humanity:

• pessimistic forecast or environmental pessimism(in short, the essence of the forecast boils down to the fact that humanity will face a large-scale environmental disaster and inevitable death);
• optimistic forecast or scientific and technical optimism(scientists hope that scientific and technical progress will lead to global problems being resolved).

What have we learned?

The term “global problems” is not new, and it does not refer only to those problems that emerged at the end of the 20th century. All global problems have both their own characteristics and similarities. They are interconnected and the solution to one problem depends on the timely resolution of the other.

The topic “Global problems of our time” is one of the main ones in social studies lessons at school. On the topic “Global problems, threats and challenges” they make reports and write abstracts, and it is necessary not only to give examples of problems, but also to show their connection, and explain how it is possible to cope with this or that problem.

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