Page 504 - Essencials of Sociology

How Social Change Transforms Social Life 477

first exploited the resources of countries that had not
yet industrialized. According to world system theory,
this made the nonindustrialized nations dependent
and unable to develop their own resources (see page
211). The consequences of this early domination
remain with us today, including the recurring con-
flicts over oil in the Middle East and the Arab upris-
ings in North Africa, but we’ll get to this shortly.
G7 Plus. Since World War II, a realignment of
the world’s powers has created a triadic division of
the globe: a Japan-centered East (with China in the
process of replacing Japan), a Germany-centered
Europe, and a United States–centered western hemi-
sphere. In an effort to align power and divide global
areas of dominance, these three powers, along with
four lesser ones—Canada, France, Great Britain, and
Italy—formed G7, meaning the “Group of 7.” Fear
of Russia’s nuclear arsenal prompted G7 to let Russia
join this elite club, creating G8. Each year, the leaders of the world’s
eight most powerful nations meet
Dividing Up the World. At their annual meetings, these world powers set policies in a secluded place to make world-
to guide global economic affairs. Their goal is to perpetuate their global dominance. controlling decisions. And each year,
Essential to this goal is maintaining access to abundant, cheap oil—which requires that protesters demonstrate near the site.
they dominate the Middle East. For the Arab nations to become an independent power This photo was taken at G8’s 2013
meeting in Enniskillen, Northern
would be a direct threat to this goal. To the degree that these nations fail to implement
Ireland.
policies and international relations that further their own interests, they undermine the
New World Order they are trying to orchestrate.

Four Threats to This Coalition of Powers. The global divisions that this group is
trying to work out face four major threats. The first is dissension within. Currently,
Russia is at the center of intrafamilial feuding (Nichol 2011). Because Russia is still
stinging after losing its empire and wants a more powerful presence on the world stage,
it is quick to perceive insult and threat—and to retaliate. In the dead of winter of 2006
and again in 2009, amid a dispute with Ukraine over the price of gas, Russia turned off
the pipeline that carries its gas through the Ukraine to western Europe, endangering
lives in several countries (Crossland 2006; Kramer 2009).
The second threat is the resurgence of China. From a huge but sleepy, backwater
nation, China is emerging as a giant on the world stage of power (Stewart 2013). As
China continues to develop its economic might and flex its military muscle, this country
poses a potent threat to G8’s plans, especially those concerning Asia and Africa. So far,
the struggle for natural resources has been limited to bidding wars and an occasional
exchange of words. If this competition were to erupt into real war, all bets would be off
concerning G8’s success.
In a sign of changes to come, G8 is gradually—but with severe reluctance—bowing
to the inevitable. Attempting to reduce the likelihood of conflict as China steps onto turf
claimed by others, G8 has allowed China to become an observer at its annual summits.
As mentioned in Chapter 11, if China cooperates adequately, the next step will be to add
China to this exclusive club, transforming the group into G9. Unless China decides to
go it alone, it will be incorporated into the coming New World Order.
The third threat is the resurgence of ethnic rivalries and conflicts. In Europe, Muslim
immigrants feel unwelcome. In Africa, the Igbo in Nigeria won’t let the government
count them because, as they say, “We are not Nigerian.” In North America, ethnic
conflicts flare up in the United States and Mexico, and in Asia, they occur in China
and Vietnam. We do not know how long the lid can be kept on the seemingly bottom-
less ethnic antagonisms or whether they will ever play themselves out. The end of these
hostilities will certainly not come during our lifetimes.