Book excerpt: This lively synthesis of global history since the end of World War II offers a gripping account of an interdependent world and the challenges facing individuals in the 21st century. The narrative is arranged around two key tensions: the struggle between socialism and free-market capitalism and the interaction between cultural fragmentation and the competing integrative force of globalization. Considering the historical experience of Africa, Asia and Latin America as well as the West, it addresses the ever-expanding gulf between the developed North and developing South, and the environmental impact of development on the planet's delicate ecosystems. Authoritative and well-written, this is an ideal introductory guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students taking courses on global history since 1945. It is also a fascinating primer for anyone with an interest in global history and the issues affecting the globe today. New to this Edition: - Updated to cover events since 2006, including the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, China's economic and military advance to great power status, the refugee crises and the global financial crisis of 2008 - New material on the international drugs trade, global opioid crisis and healthcare implications - Expanded material on social media - Updated material on environmental issues, considering US disengagement from traditional global partners in the area of climate change and the Trump administration's distrust of climate science and executive roll-back of established environmental laws - More social history, especially coverage of women and recent developments around issues of sexuality - Expanded section on Islam to include developments within the mainstream (as opposed to radical) tradition worldwide and current historiography