The Guinness world fact book - Clive Carpenter

Providing a review of the nearly 200 sovereign states of the world of the mid-1990s, this work reflects the collapse of the Soviet Union, the emergence of new countries, and new international problems and organizations.;An introductory section discusses the world economy, organizations such as the UN and their activities, and production figures of major products and industries, and includes tables on population and social trends. It also features topics such as the GATT negotiations. Thematic chapters then describe individual countries, linking them in regional, economic and geographical groupings. This allows not only the national data to be studied in relation to neighbouring and other similar countries, but also gives an opportunity to explore regional and international issues in a series of features on topical events. These include the new South Africa, Islam and politics, the expansion of the European Union, the spread of democracy in Latin America, the new economic powers of the Far East, and the likely effect of NAFTA.;Each country is profiled with basic facts and details on its government, geography, economy and recent history. The entries include maps and information on major towns and cities, principal languages and religions, currency, membership of international organizations, elections and political parties. Heads of state and of government are given, and for major countries full lists of government ministers are included. Sub-entries cover all dependent territories, federal states and provinces. A biographical section focuses on the world's major political figures.