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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

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THREATS TO FUTURE STABILITY SECURITY AND PROSPERITY OF THE WORLD: THE MODERN EQUIVALENTS OF THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE

INTRODUCTION

1. The end of the Cold War changed the world order and brought about several challenges for the international system. This occurrence, which was received with mixed feelings around the world, became the precursor of many challenges that we currently face as global citizens. The fall of communism and rapid spread of democracy around the world led to the fall of several autocratic regimes. This was followed by violent conflicts especially in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Eastern Europe as people demanded more rights and freedom from oppression. Additionally, the advent of globalization which was brought about by rapid technological developments especially in the field of Information Technology (IT) led to interconnectedness among nations and economic interdependence. In my opinion, globalization and economic interdependence have been beneficial to most people in the world. However, the contemporary world is faced with several challenges which constitute threats to future global stability, security and prosperity.

2. This essay will portray my personal views of those threats that I perceive to be the most potent and thus represent the modern equivalents of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. In my view, the main drivers of change in today’s world are poverty, religious extremism, technological advancement and climate change.

POVERTY

3. I believe that poverty is perhaps the underlying reason for most conflicts in the world today. A vast majority of the world’s population lives in very poor conditions without access to basic amenities such as food, shelter and primary health care. This is evident in developing countries where inequality is rife and the wealth of the state is not equitably distributed among the

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