Global Power Shifts

The world is changing constantly and cultural transformations usually follow geopolitical power shifts. Reflect on this from our studies this term. How have power shifts shaped contemporary global cultures? Think about the rise and fall of the Church, the Mughal Empire, the Ottoman Empire, European colonialism and the current status of American military, economic and political global dominance. How did each of these power configurations affect local cultures? What evidence do we see of these power influences today? In what ways does current power affect culture? Do you see this changing in the future? 

Watch this TED Talks video from July 2010 by historian and diplomat Joseph Nye for his view on 21st century power shifts and respond to these questions in at least two hundred words.