TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01 - TRADOC - U.S. Army

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01Air pollution exacerbates water scarcity and results in approximately 4.6 million deathsannually. 34 Over time, this consumption of resources and pollution of the environment hasresulted in the loss of innumerable species of plants and animals.Despite efforts of the international community and a number of developed nations, trendsharmful to the environment continue to grow. Demographic and economic pressures generatedas developing nations seek their place in the global community will cause greater consumption ofresources, more intense competition for those remaining, and continuing pollution of theenvironment. Conditions in the future OE might generate mass migration of stressedpopulations, greater impact from natural disasters, more disease, food shortages and an increasingpotential for conflict over scarce resources. This bleak picture rises from current empirical dataand scientific observation. Reversing these trends will be an incredibly difficult task requiringunprecedented global cooperation. If the trends continue without abatement, the consequenceseconomically and politically will challenge diplomacy and could result in widespread warfare.Patterns of Influence and the decline of the Nation-StateGlobal trends will stress the capability of the traditional nation state to satisfy the internalneeds of its people while securing itself from unwanted external influences. Alternativeorganizations and entities will evolve to challenge the supremacy of the nation state as thefavored institution for governance and its presumed monopoly of violence. These challenges willtake the form of well-meaning but ineffective international organizations, profit-orientedmultinational corporations (MNCs), and unstructured movements dissatisfied with the status quo.Organized crime with its social implications and economic impact will influence the well-beingof societies and nations. While nation states will struggle to meet these challenges and maintaintheir preeminent position, these non-state actors will increase their influence over global affairs.Recent events emphasize the inability of international institutions of governance to keep pacewith the forces of instability. The African Unionhas failed in its bid to replace Ethiopian forces inSomalia. UN initiatives have been unable toprevent Hezbollah from reconstituting its forces inLebanon or even stop the genocide in Darfur.International economic and financialorganizations promote a model of growth anddevelopment, which can be destabilizing to fragilestates. The International Monetary Fund, WorldTrade Organization, and World Bank try to molddeveloping nations to the same form and do not asreadily assist those countries that will not followtheir guidance. Neglecting developing nationsmost in need of assistance contributes to the growing disparity between world economies. Theinability of impoverished nations to climb the economic ladder serves as a continuing source ofinstability.37