Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in subsequent chapters of this book. In the twentieth century the history of international relations revealed four powerful trends. Moreover, this trend towards globalization was reinforced by the fact that closer contacts and interdependence between political communities spurred on the formation of permanent inter-governmental institutions as well as a mushrooming of non-governmental organizations. The cultural, social and economic changes caused by the growth of international trade, the rapid transfer of investment capital and the development of high-speed global communications. Moreover, while the core of the book deals with the major international conflicts of the century, more than half of the book examines developments in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Great Powers Traditionally those states that were held capable of shared responsibility for the management of the international order by virtue of their military and economic influence.