Table Of Contents:
About the Authors viii
Preface x

Globalization and World Regions 1(22)

Global, Regional, and Local Worlds 2(2)

Global Focus: 9/11 3(1)

Diverse Worlds 4(7)

Point-Counterpoint: Facets of Globalization 5(6)

Geography of a Diverse World 11(3)

Regions and Globalization 14(2)

Major World Regions 16(2)

Development of World Regions 18(5)

Human Development and World Regional Geography 23(42)

Understanding Global Disparities 24(1)

Issues of People and Land 25(7)

Global Focus: Voices of the Poor 26(4)

Point-Counterpoint: HIV/AIDS 30(2)

Issues of Economic Inequality 32(1)

Economic Worlds 33(11)

Issues of Cultural Freedom and Discrimination 44(5)

Issues of Political Freedom 49(4)

Environmental Issues 53(12)

Europe 65(60)

European Influences 66(1)

Diversity, Conflict, and Technological Innovation 66(6)

Natural Environment 72(8)

Global Changes and Local Responses 80(8)

Point-Counterpoint: The European Union 82(6)

The Subregions 88(1)

Western Europe 89(14)

Northern Europe 103(4)

Mediterranean Europe 107(4)

East Central Europe 111(14)

Personal View:Bosnia-Herzegovina 118(7)

Russia and Neighboring Countries 125(46)

Countries Redefine Their Relationships 126(1)

Crossroads, Imperialism, and Cultural Diversity 126(6)

Natural Environment 132(7)

Global Changes and Local Responses 139(6)

Point-Counterpoint: Russia: Still a World Power? 142(3)

Subregions 145(1)

The Slavic Countries 145(16)

Personal View: Russia 158(3)

The Southern Caucasus 161(4)

Central Asia 165(6)

East Asia 171(50)

East Asian Miracle 172(1)

Cultural and Political Influences 173(4)

Natural Environments 177(5)

Globalization and East Asia 182(3)

Global Focus: Toyota 184(1)

Subregions 185(1)

Japan 185(10)

Personal View: Japan 188(7)

The Koreas 195(4)

China, Mongolia, and Taiwan 199(22)

Point-Counterpoint: Population Policies in China 206(15)

Southeast Asia and South Pacific 221(48)

A World of Influences 222(4)

Point-Counterpoint: Pacific Rim 224(2)

Cultural History and Colonialism 226(4)

Natural Environments 230(7)

Globalization 237(1)

Subregions 238(1)

Southeast Asia 238(17)

Global Focus: Singapore 240(5)

Personal View: Malaysia 245(10)

Australia and New Zealand 255(7)

South Pacific Islands 262(4)

Antarctica: A Region? 266(3)

South Asia 269(42)

Past and Present 270(1)

Diverse Cultures 271(8)

Point-Counterpoint: Afghanistan--Pakistan--Kashmir--India 274(5)

Natural Environment 279(5)

A Global Role 284(1)

Subregions 284(1)

India 284(15)

Bangladesh and Pakistan 299(6)

Personal View: Pakistan 302(3)

Mountain and Island Rim 305(6)

Northern Africa and Southwestern Asia 311(52)

In the News 312(1)

In the Middle: Exchanges, Unities, and Diversities 312(1)

Cultural and Political History Within a Wider World 313(9)

Point-Counterpoint: Israelis Versus Palestinians 320(2)

Natural Environments 322(5)

Global Connections 327(1)

Subregions 327(3)

Personal View: Oman 328(2)

North Africa 330(8)

Nile River Valley 338(4)

Arab Southwest Asia 342(8)

Israel and the Palestinian Territories 350(5)

Turkey and Iran 355(8)

Africa South of the Sahara 363(56)

A New Dawn? 364(1)

African Cultures 364(9)

Natural Environments and Resources 373(7)

Personal View: Ghana 373(7)

Africa, Globalization, and Localization 380(1)

Subregions 381(2)

Central Africa 383(8)

Personal View: Rwanda 386(5)

Western Africa 391(8)

Eastern Africa 399(6)

Point-Counterpoint: Famine in Africa 404(1)

Southern Africa 405(14)

Latin America 419(64)

Contrasts Amid a Common History 420(1)

Regional Cultural History 421(6)

Natural Environment 427(11)

Point-Counterpoint: Tropical Forests and Deforestation 434(4)

World Roles 438(2)

The Subregions 440(1)

Mexico 440(8)

Central America 448(6)

The Caribbean Basin and Environs 454(7)

Northern Andes 461(7)

Personal View: Bolivia 464(4)

Brazil 468(8)

Southern South America 476(7)

North America 483(54)

Global Prominence and Controversy 484(1)

Regional Culture History 485(10)

Physical Geography and Human-Environment Interaction 495(6)

World Roles 501(2)

Subregions of North America 503(1)

The United States 503(23)

Point-Counterpoint: North American Free Trade Agreement 504(22)

Canada 526(11)

Personal View: Canada 534(3)

Global Connections, Local Voices 537(14)

Eyes Opened 538(1)

Global Connections: Trends 538(5)

Global Focus: Geography of Terrorism 543(5)

Somalia: Globalization, Localization, and Terrorism 548(1)

World Regional Geography: Final Point 549(2)
Glossary of Key Terms 551(10)
Index 561