POLS 360 Journal Reflections

     The 2008 US Financial Crisis underscored the interconnectedness of the international    economy. The crisis quickly spread beyond American borders, affecting economies around the world. Globalization has facilitated the rapid transmission of financial shocks and bound nations' fates together in an intricate web of trade and finance. The crisis prompted a reevaluation of international economic cooperation and coordination. Countries realized that in an interconnected world, unilateral actions were insufficient to address the challenges posed by a global financial crisis. As a result, there was a renewed emphasis on international cooperation, leading to initiatives such as the G20 summit meetings where world leaders collaborated on strategies to stabilize the global economy. The crisis served as a stark reminder that in today's interconnected world, the health of the international economy is inextricably linked to the stability of individual nations' financia...

     Diving into China's role in the world economy, political state, and history over the past week has been incredibly enlightening, as I did not know much about China. Laignee Barron's Time article contextualized much of history since the Tiananmen Square Massacre. A quote sticks out: "President Xi Jinping, announced in 2017, presents a "new option for other countries and nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence." The core international component, in my mind, is China's interest in offering aid to countries as an antithesis to (influence and funding from) democratic countries. To understand how China has become an economic superpower, and since political ideology is a primary factor, I wanted to look more into the common contemporary misconception that the CCP is a Communist party. For my Journal Reflection, I am focusing on this.  With its rich history and cultural diversity, China has undergone profound transforma...