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| b. New Global Relationships |
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| By the 1970s, the continuing processes of globalization had taken many complex forms. At the same time that the networks of relationships in all areas of life were increasingly determined by global contexts, several older international structures were breaking down. The clearly structured world of the Bretton Woods system was replaced by a more global but anarchic international monetary system (See Evolution of International Economic Structures); the old bipolar world of the early cold war was rapidly being replaced by a polycentric world order. These trends were visible in culture and society as well. | 1 |
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| 1971 |
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| Bangladesh became an independent state in place of East Pakistan after postelection fighting brought the Pakistan army into conflict first with Bengali followers of Mujibur Rahman (May) and then with invading Indian armed forces (Dec.). | 2 |
| U.S.-Chinese relations transformed. Informal contacts like the visit of the U.S. table tennis team to China (“Ping-Pong diplomacy”) were combined with the U.S. announcement that it was lifting the embargo on trade with China (June). In October, the United States supported the admission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, and in November it was announced that U.S. president Richard Nixon would visit China. | 3 |
| Petroleum industry changes. Representatives of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) met with major oil companies to discuss oil prices (Jan.–Feb.). Algeria took control of 51 percent of French oil companies' operations in Algeria. | 4 |
| West German chancellor Willy Brandt received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in lessening East-West tension. | 5 |
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| June |
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| International Court of Justice declared that South Africa's administration of Namibia was illegal and should be surrendered to the UN. | 6 |
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| Oct |
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| The changing context of global politics was revealed in the state visits of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie to China, where he was welcomed by Mao Zedong, and of Soviet premier Kosygin to Morocco, where he was welcomed by King Hasan II. | 7 |
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