Politics of the 2000s

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• The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues in the 2000s. The Al-Aqsa Intifada results in violence, claiming the lives of more than 3,900 people [1]. Peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians remain stagnant during this period, although in 2005 the Israeli government enacts its unilateral disengagement plan which removes Israeli settlements from Gaza.
• Major controversy occurs over the 2000 U. S. presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore regarding extremely tight results in Florida. Eventually, the Supreme Court rules that Bush had won Florida; Bush thus wins the election with enough electoral votes even though he won less of the popular vote than Gore.
• The September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New York's World Trade Center and Virginia's Pentagon kills 2,993 people. A resultant change in stance towards international terrorism (See New Era and War on Terror) has ripple effects on the USA's foreign policy and military strategy.
• U.S. invasion of Afghanistan to depose the Taliban regime in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks (October 7, 2001 – July 18, 2003).
• Venezuelan coup attempt of 2002 against Hugo Chávez
• The Convention on the Future of Europe proposes the first European constitution (i.e., of the EU). The Constitution is rejected by the French and Dutch electorates in 2005, leading to a political crisis in the EU.
• East Timor gains official independence from Indonesia. (May 20, 2002)
• International Criminal Court is established for the purpose of judging war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide (July 1, 2002)
• American and British forces respond to a disputed Iraqi threat with the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
• Darfur conflict in Sudan
• "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine leads to the election of Viktor Yushchenko as President after the initial election victory of incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is annulled due to vote-rigging
• Revolution in Kyrgyzstan overthrows the government of President Askar Akayev
• Beslan school hostage crisis: multinational terrorists take a school in Beslan, Russia hostage. 344 people, including children, die in the ensuing crisis. (September 1, 2004)
• United States expands international influence, in particular in the Middle East. The US also holds a number of war games pertaining to the Strait of Taiwan in preparation for a possible war with the People's Republic of China over a Taiwanese secession. China and Russia display a strategic relationship during a simulated "humanitarian" crisis in the same region during Peace Mission 2005.
• Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro and his conservative Liberal Democratic Party are re-elected in a landslide election in September 2005, mainly due to a booming Japanese economy and Koizumi's plans to privatise the Japanese postal service.
• In 2005, early elections in Germany produce the second Grand Coalition for the country in almost forty years. After weeks of talks, the center-left Social Democrats and center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union agree to let conservative Angela Merkel become chancellor. She is first chancellor from eastern Germany, as well as the country's first female chancellor.
• In Italy (2006: Prodi) and in Spain (2004: Zapatero) center-left and left parties win the elections.
• In America, as the Baby Boomers get set for retirement, Generation X begins to step up into political power, signified by the election of Illinois senator Barack Obama. Generation X grew in pop culture with the 1980s and 1990s.
• The world's view of the United States changes in the 2000s, particularly due to the interventionist policies of the Bush administration. Other issues such as Hurricane Katrina, NSA warrantless surveillance controversy, and the Iraq War cause deep polarization in Americans' views of George Bush's presidency. In late 2005 and early 2006, some Democratic politicians begin to consider calling for an impeachment inquiry into Bush's actions.
• Talk and debate over Illegal immigration in the United States becomes widespread after press coverage in 2006 and thousands of Latinos in America participate in mass protests. The government has thus far not passed any new legislation regarding illegal immigration.
• On July 12, 2006, Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers from Lebanon. In response, Israel launches a response by bombing Hezbollah strongholds throughout the country and moving troops into southern Lebanon to create a buffer zone and force out Hezbollah in the region. Israel's response is widely condemned by the international community, and negotiations are ongoing to solve the immediate crisis.
• North Korea and Iran continue their development of nuclear programs despite warnings from the United Nations Security Council. Iran continually denies developing nuclear weapons and claims that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. However, the Western world denies this, and even Russia and China have shown some concern over the program. North Korea declares having nuclear weapons in 2005 and has been in a political stalemate since that time, refusing to negotiate with anybody but the United States over the issue. On July 5, 2006, North Korea tests a long-range Taepodong-2 with the potential to reach the United States, but it fails shortly after launch. Also, on October 9, 2006, North Korea tests a small nuclear device near Kilchu, in the north. This causes the UN to further isolate the country, already the most isolated in the world.
• On July 31, 2006, Fidel Castro temporarily cedes presidential duties to his brother, Raúl Castro, after undergoing intestinal surgery.
• In the 2006 US Midterm Elections, the Democratic Party regains control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives from the Republican Party for the first time since 1994. Many observers blame the massive Democratic resurgance on widespread opposition to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and corruption in Congress.