End of the Cold War and Nationalist Movements h 239dominant status with the election of Vicente Fox of the PAN party as president. The new
administration continued to struggle with poverty and illegal immigration to the United
States.New Challenges
As communism dissolved in the Soviet Union, new challenges arose in the noncommunist
nations. In 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein annexed oil-rich Kuwait, precipitating the
Persian Gulf War between Iraq and a U.S.-led coalition of United Nations forces. Saddam
Hussein’s defeat and the liberation of Kuwait led to only a short truce. In 2003, the Iraqis
were again at war with a U.S.-led coalition over Saddam Hussein’s repressive regime and his
potential for unleashing weapons of mass destruction. A new democratically elected Iraqi
government executed Saddam Hussein in December 2006.
In 1998, India and Pakistan, long in confl ict with each other over the territory of Kash-
mir, announced their development of nuclear weapons. A 2008 terrorist attack in the city
of Mumbai, India, attributed by some to Pakistani terrorist organizations, increased global
concern over the unstable relationship between the two countries. The nuclear capacity of
North Korea also remained a troublesome issue.
In Africa and Asia, new nations often did not have the resources to further their
development and had to look to developed nations or international organizations such as
the World Ba n k and the International Monetary Fund for assistance. Violent ethnic
confl icts plagued both regions. Repeated negotiations failed to bring lasting peace in the
Middle East or to settle the problem of Palestinian refugees. Warfare continued between
the United States and Iraq and the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization of Afghanistan.
The end of the twentieth century saw a series of economic problems throughout parts
of Asia and Southeast Asia, especially Japan. By 1999, some recovery was apparent. Hong
Kong was returned to the People’s Republic of China in 1997.
In spite of challenges in Africa and Asia, the future appeared hopeful. India remained
the world’s largest democracy. In the 1990s, South Africa ended apartheid and held elec-
tions in which all adult South Africans had the right to vote. New governments based on
increased civil rights were emerging in both Afghanistan and Iraq.❯ Rapid Review
The breakup of the Soviet Empire in 1991 resulted in the formation of a loose organization
of former Soviet republics. Ethnic rivalries continued in the former Soviet republics and in
Yugoslavia. Newly founded republics battled with economic problems. In Latin America,
repressive governments gradually gave way to more widespread democracy. South Africa
saw the end of apartheid and the beginnings of universal suffrage. Challenges remained,
especially in the Middle East and South Asia, where Arab–Israeli confl icts continued and
U.S.-backed coalitions had been engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq.http://www.ebook3000.com