World History: Post-Cold War & Contemporary

What term describes the global power structure following the collapse of the Soviet Union, where the United States remained the sole superpower?

Unipolarity (or the Unipolar Moment)

What was the primary cause of the Balkan Wars in the 1990s following the collapse of communism in Yugoslavia?

The rise of ethnic nationalism and the desire for independence among various republics like Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Why is the 1994 Rwandan Genocide considered a significant failure of the international community and the United Nations?

Despite clear warnings of impending massacres, the UN and major powers failed to intervene or provide an adequate peacekeeping force to stop the killing of approximately 800,000 people.

What process describes the increasing economic, cultural, and political integration of countries worldwide, accelerated by the end of the Cold War?

Globalization

What is the primary function of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the context of the contemporary global economy?

To regulate international trade, resolve trade disputes between member nations, and promote the reduction of tariffs and trade barriers.

How did the September 11, 2001 attacks fundamentally shift United States foreign policy?

It shifted the focus toward 'preemptive strikes' and the 'War on Terror' against non-state actors and the regimes that harbored them.

What was the primary justification given by the U.S. for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which later became a point of major international controversy?

The claim that Saddam Hussein's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and had links to Al-Qaeda.

What 2010 event in Tunisia triggered the series of pro-democracy protests across the Middle East known as the Arab Spring?

The self-immolation of street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi in protest of police corruption and economic hardship.

How did the Syrian Civil War evolve from a pro-democracy protest into a complex, multi-sided international conflict?

It became a proxy war involving regional powers (Iran, Saudi Arabia) and global powers (Russia, US), alongside the rise of extremist groups like ISIS.

What economic strategy allowed China to rise as a global power by the early 21st century?

The transition to a 'socialist market economy' that combined state control with foreign investment and export-oriented manufacturing.