Introduction: regional ecological challenges for peace in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific

Abstract

The processes of globalization and global environmental change have created increasing socioeconomic imbalances among continents, nations and social classes within the countries. Twenty-five years ago, with the end of the Cold War, the bipolar division of the world has been overcome and in several parts of the world regional cooperation among developing countries has intensified. Multiple mechanisms are still subordinating developing countries (hinterlands) and social groups to the hegemonic necessities of corporate capitalism, and its dominant countries.