For undergraduate World Regional Geography courses, or for a courses on globalization or cultural diversity.   Emphasizing the interconnections and diversifications between people and places, Diversity Amid Globalization challenges students to compare and contrast the regions of the world within thematic regional chapters that incorporate a striking visual layout for today's student.

Table of Contents:
Brief Contents 1     Diversity Amid Globalization  2    The Changing Global Environment 3     North America 4     Latin America 5    The Caribbean 6    Sub-Saharan Africa 7     Southwest Asia and North Africa 8     Europe 9    The Russian Domain 10    Central Asia 11    East Asia 12     South Asia 13     Southeast Asia  14     Australia and Oceania   Detailed Table of Contents  1     Diversity Amid Globalization  Diversity Amid Globalization: A Geography for the Twenty-first Century       Converging Currents of Globalization       Advocates and Critics of Globalization       Diversity in a Globalizing World  Geography Matters: Environments, Regions, Landscapes       Human–Environment Interaction       Areal Differentiation and Integration       Regions       Space into Place: The Cultural Landscape       Scales: Global to Local       Themes and Issues in World Regional Geography  Population and Settlement: People on the Land       Population Growth and Change       The Demographic Transition       Migration Patterns       Settlement Geography  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: The Geography of Tradition and Change       Culture in a Globalizing World       When Cultures Collide       Language and Culture in Global Context       A Geography of World Religions  Geopolitical Framework: Fragmentation and Unity       Global Terrorism       Nation-states       Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces       Boundaries and Frontiers       Colonialism and Decolonialization       International and Supranational Organizations  Economic and Social Development: The Geography of Wealth and Poverty       More- and Less-Developed Countries       Indicators of Economic Development       Indicators of Social Development       The Vision of Sustainable Development  Setting the Boundaries: The Metageography of World Regions  Geographic Tools: From Satellites to Shovels Global to Local: Is This Nebraska or India? The Globalization of Back-Office Jobs Cityscapes: Exploring the World’s Urban Places   2    The Changing Global Environment  Geology and Human Settlement: A Restless Earth       Plate Tectonics       Geologic Hazards: Earthquakes and Volcanoes  Global Climates: An Uncertain Forecast       Climatic Controls       World Climate Regions       Global Warming  Water on Earth: A Scarce and Polluted Resource       The Global Water Budget       Flooding  Human Impacts on Plants and Animals: The Globalization of Nature       Biomes and Bioregions       Tropical Forests and Savannas       Deforestation in the Tropics       Deserts and Grasslands       Temperate Forests  Food Resources: Environment, Diversity, Globalization        Industrial and Traditional Agriculture       The Green Revolution       Problems and Projections Global to Local: Globalization, Trade Agreements, and the Environment  Preserving Nature Through International Agreements: The Case of Antarctica  Geographical Tools: Reconstructing Past Environments to Understand Global Change  Local Voices: Via Campesina and Food Sovereignty    3     North America  Environmental Geography: A Threatened Land of Plenty       The Costs of Human Modification       The Price of Affluence       A Diverse Physical Setting       Patterns of Climate and Vegetation       Natural Processes and Natural Hazards  Population and Settlement: Refashioning a Continental Landscape       Modern Spatial and Demographic Patterns       Occupying the Land       North Americans on the Move       Settlement Geographies: The Decentralized Metropolis       Settlement Geographies: Rural North America  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Shifting Patterns of Pluralism       The Roots of a Cultural Identity       Peopling North America       Culture and Place in North America       Patterns of North American Religion       The Globalization of American Culture  Geopolitical Framework: Patterns of Dominance and Division       Creating Political Space       Continental Neighbors       The Legacy of Federalism       A Global Reach Economic and Social Development: Geographies of Abundance and Affluence       An Abundant Resource Base       Creating a Continental Economy        North America and the Global Economy       Persisting Social Issues  Setting the Boundaries  Local Voices: Romare Bearden and the Changing Black Experience Geographic Tools: Housing Affordability and the U.S. Census Cityscapes: Miami Geography in the Making: The Growing Global Presence of the U.S. Military Global to Local: The Pacific Northwest and the Global Economy   4     Latin America  Environmental Geography: Neotropical Diversity       Environmental Issues Facing Latin America       Western Mountains and Eastern Shields       River Basins and Lowlands       Climate  Population and Settlement: The Dominance of Cities       The Latin American City       Patterns of Rural Settlement       Population Growth and Movements  Patterns of Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Repopulating a Continent       Demographic Collapse       Patterns of Ethnicity and Culture       The Global Reach of Latino Culture  Geopolitical Framework:Redrawing the Map       Iberian Conquest and Territorial Division       Regional Organizations  Economic and Social Development: Dependent Economic Growth       Development Strategies       Primary Export Dependency        Latin America in the GlobalEconomy       Social Development  Setting the Boundaries  Local to Global: Can Eco-Friendly Coffee Promote Biodiversity? Local Voices: Life in Rio de Janeiro’s “City of God” Geographic Tools: Participatory Mapping Geography in the Making: The Competing Geographies of Free Trade Cityscapes: Life in the Streets of Ciudad Juárez   5    The Caribbean  Environmental Geography: Paradise Undone       Environmental Issues       The Sea, Islands, and Rimland       Climate and Vegetation  Population and Settlement: Densely Settled Islands and Rimland Frontiers       Demographic Trends       The Rural–Urban Continuum  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Neo-Africa in the Americas       The Cultural Imprint of Colonialism       Creating a Neo-Africa       Creolization and Caribbean Identity  Geopolitical Framework: Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, and Independence       Life in the “American Backyard”       Independence and Integration  Economic and Social Development: From Cane Fields to Cruise Ships       From Fields to Factories and Resorts        Social Development  Setting the Boundaries  Geographic Tools: Tracking Hurricanes Cityscapes: In the Streets of Havana Global to Local: The Caribbean Carnival Around the World Geography in the Making: Maroons Under Assault Local Voices: Fernando Mateo’s Shuttle to Santo Domingo   6    Sub-Saharan Africa  Environmental Geography: The Plateau Continent       Africa’s Environmental Issues        Plateaus and Basins       Climate and Vegetation  Population and Settlement: Young and Restless       Population Trends and Demographic Debates       Patterns of Settlement and Land Use       Urban Life  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Unity Through Adversity       Language Patterns       Religion       Globalization and African Culture  Geopolitical Framework: Legacies of Colonialism and Conflict       Indigenous Kingdoms and European Encounters       European Colonization       Decolonization and Independence       Enduring Political Conflict  Economic and Social Development: The Struggle to Rebuild       Roots of African Poverty       Links to the World Economy       Economic Differentiation Within Africa       Measuring Social Development      Women and Development  Setting the Boundaries  Local Voices: The Sound of Africa Geographic Tools: Mapping Risky Behavior  to Fight HIV/AIDS Cityscapes: Accra in the Global Economy Geography in the Making: Darfur Undone Global to Local: The Used Clothing Trade   7     Southwest Asia and North Africa  Environmental Geography: Life in a Fragile World      Legacies of a Vulnerable Landscape       Regional Landforms       Patterns of Climate  Population and Settlement: Changing Rural and Urban Worlds       The Geography of Population       Water and Life: Rural Settlement Patterns       Many-Layered Landscapes: The Urban Imprint      A Region on the Move       Shifting Demographic Patterns  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Signatures of Complexity       Patterns of Religion       Geographies of Language       Regional Cultures in Global Context  Geopolitical Framework: Never-ending Tensions       The Colonial Legacy       Modern Geopolitical Issues       An Uncertain Political Future  Economic and Social Development: Lands of Wealth and Poverty       The Geography of Fossil Fuels       Regional Economic Patterns       Issues of Social Development       Global Economic Relationships  Setting the Boundaries  Geographic Tools: Assessing Earthquake Hazards in Turkey Cityscapes: Fez, Morocco Local Voices: The Egypt of Naguib Mahfouz Global to Local: The Marlboro Man Arrives in Istanbul Geography in the Making: The New Israeli Security Barrier   8     Europe  Environmental Geography: Human Transformation of a Diverse Landscape       Environmental Issues, Local and Global, East and West       Landform and Landscape Regions       Europe’s Climates       Seas, Rivers, Ports, and Coastline  Settlement and Population: Slow Growth and Rapid Migration       Natural Growth: Beyond the Demographic Transition       Migration to and Within Europe       The Geography of “Fortress Europe”       The Landscapes of Urban Europe  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Mosaic of Differences      Geographies of Language       Geographies of Religion, Past and Present       European Culture in a Global Context  Geopolitical Framework: A Dynamic Map       Redrawing the Map of Europe Through War       A Divided Europe, East and West       The Balkans: Europe’s Geopolitical Nightmare  354 Economic and Social Development: Integration and Transition       Europe’s Industrial Revolution       Rebuilding Postwar Europe: Economic Integration in the West        Economic Integration, Disintegration, and Transition in Eastern Europe  Setting the Boundaries  Geographic Tools: Landscape Restoration in England Cityscapes: Berlin Reinvents Itself for the Twenty-first Century Local Voices: Basque Separatism Geography in the Making: Terrorism in Europe Global to Local: Bananas, Beef, and U.S.–EU Trade Wars   9    The Russian Domain  Environmental Geography: A Vast and Challenging Land       A Devastated Environment       A Diverse Physical Setting Population and Settlement: An Urban Domain       Population Distribution       Regional Migration Patterns       Inside the Russian City       The Demographic Crisis  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: The Legacy of Slavic Dominance       The Heritage of the Russian Empire       Geographies of Language       Geographies of Religion       Russian Culture in Global Context  Geopolitical Framework: Remnants of a Global Superpower       Geopolitical Structure of the Former Soviet Union       Current Geopolitical Setting       The Shifting Global Setting  Economic and Social Development: An Era of Ongoing Adjustment       The Legacy of the Soviet Economy       The Post-Soviet Economy       Growing Economic Globalization  Setting the Boundaries  Geographic Tools: Mapping Russian Forests Cityscapes: St. Petersburg Local Voices: Exploring Russian Cultural Identity Geography in the Making: The Growing Isolation of Russian Kaliningrad Global to Local: The Tale of Two Siberias   10     Central Asia Environmental Geography: Steppes, Deserts, and Threatened Lakes of the Eurasian Heartland       Destruction of the Aral Sea      Other Environmental Issues       Central Asia’s Physical Regions  Population and Settlement: Densely Settled Oases Amid Vacant Lands       Highland Population and Subsistence Patterns       Lowland Population and Subsistence Patterns       Population Issues       Urbanization in Central Asia  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Meeting Ground of Disparate Traditions       Historical Overview: An Indo-European Hearth?       Contemporary Linguistic and Ethnic Geography      Geography of Religion      Central Asian Culture in Traditional and Global Contexts  Geopolitical Framework: Political Reawakening in a Power Void       Partitioning of the Steppes      Central Asia Under Communist Rule  439      Current Geopolitical Tension       International Dimensions of Central Asian Tension  Economic and Social Development: Abundant Resources, Devastated Economies       Economic Development in Central Asia       Social Development in Central Asia  Setting the Boundaries  Geographic  Tools: Remote Sensing, GIS, and the Tragedy of the Aral Sea Cityscapes: Life on the Streets of Samarkand Global to Local: Louisiana Oil Culture in Central Asia Geography in the Making: Preparing for Afghanistan’s Presidential Election Local Voices: An Uzbek Militant Renounces Violence   11   East Asia Environmental Geography: Resource Pressures in a Crowded Land       Flooding, Dam-Building, and Related Issues in China       Other East Asian Environmental Problems       East Asia’s Physical Geography  Population and Settlement: A Region of Crowded Basins       Japanese Settlement and Agricultural Patterns       Settlement and Agricultural Patterns in China, Taiwan, and Korea       East Asian Agriculture and Resource Procurement in Global Context      Urbanization in East Asia  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Confucian Realm?       Unifying Cultural Characteristics       Religious Unity and Diversity in East Asia       Linguistic and Ethnic Diversity in East Asia       East Asian Cultures in Global Context  The Geopolitical Framework and Its Evolution: The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan       The Evolution of China      The Rise of Japan      Postwar Geopolitics       The Global Dimension of East Asian Geopolitics  Economic and Social Development: An Emerging Core of the Global Economy       Japan’s Economy and Society       The Newly Industrialized Countries       Chinese Development       Social Conditions in China  Setting the Boundaries  Cityscapes: Life on the Streets of Tokyo Global to Local: Golden Arches East Geographic Tools: The East Asian Gazetteer and the Reconstruction of Historical Geography Geography in the Making: The North Korea Crisis Local Voices: China’s Rural Poor and the Lure of the City   12     South Asia Environmental Geography: Diverse Landscapes, from Tropical Islands to Mountain Rim      The Film Star and the Poacher King       Environmental Issues of South Asia      The Four Subregions of South Asia       South Asia’s Monsoon Climates  Population and Settlement: The Demographic Dilemma       The Geography of Family Planning       Migration and the Settlement Landscape       Agricultural Regions and Activities       Urban South Asia  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Common Heritage Rent by Religious Rivalries       Origins of South Asian Civilizations       The Caste System      Contemporary Geographies of Religion       Geographies of Language       South Asians in a Global Cultural Context  Geopolitical Framework: A Deeply Divided Region       South Asia Before and After Independence in 1947       Ethnic Conflicts in South Asia       International and Global Geopolitics  Economy and Social Development: Burdened by Poverty       South Asian Poverty       Geographies of Economic Development       Globalization and India’s Economic Future       Social Development Setting the Boundaries  Geographic Tools: Survey Work on Contraceptive Use in West Bengal Cityscapes: Life on the Streets of Mumbai (Bombay) Local Voices: Appreciating and Resenting Globalization Geography in the Making: War in Waziristan Global to Local: Discreet Globalization in Channai   13     Southeast Asia  Environmental Geography: A Once-Forested Region       The Tragedy of the Karen       The Deforestation of Southeast Asia       Fires, Smoke, and Air Pollution       Patterns of Physical Geography  Population and Settlement: Subsistence, Migration, Cities       Settlement and Agriculture       Recent Demographic Change       Urban Settlement  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Meeting Ground of World Cultures       The Introduction and Spread of Major Cultural Traditions       Geography of Language and Ethnicity       Southeast Asian Culture in Global Context  Geopolitical Framework: War, Ethnic Strife, and Regional Cooperation       Before European Colonialism       The Colonial Era       The Vietnam War and Its Aftermath       Geopolitical Tension in Contemporary Southeast Asia       International Dimensions of Southeast Asian Geopolitics  Economic and Social Development: The Roller-Coaster Ride of Globalized Development       Economic Leaders and Laggards       Globalization and the Southeast Asian Economy       Issues of Social Development  Setting the Boundaries  Geographic Tools: Statistical Comparisons and the Assessment of Philippine Deforestation Cityscapes: Metro Manila, Primate City of the Philippines Local Voices: Linguistic Politics in East Timor Geography in the Making: Political Upheavals in Burma (Myanmar) Global to Local: Village Poverty and the Global Maid Business in Indonesia   14     Australia and Oceania  Environmental Geography: A Varied Natural and Human Habitat       Environments at Risk       Australian Environments       New Zealand’s Varied Landscape       The Oceanic Realm Population and Settlement: A Diverse Cultural Landscape       Contemporary Population Patterns       Legacies of Human Occupancy       Modern Settlement Landscapes      Diverse Demographic Paths  Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Global Crossroads       Multicultural Australia       Patterns in New Zealand       Mosaic of Pacific Cultures  Geopolitical Framework: A Land of Fluid Boundaries       Creating Geopolitical Space      Persisting Geopolitical Tensions       A Regional and Global Identity?  Economic and Social Development: A Hard Path to Paradise       Uncertain Avenues to Affluence       The Global Economic Setting       Enduring Social Challenges  Setting the Boundaries  Global to Local: Multinational Mining, Indigenous People, and Environment Damage in Papua New Guinea Geographic Tools: Fire Ecology and Management in Australia Cityscapes: Apia, Capital of Samoa Local Voices: Tuvalu Talks About Global Warming Geography in the Making: The Political Overtones of Australia–China Trade   Glossary  Index