Editing 2000s (section)

== Politics and wars ==
{{See also|List of sovereign states in the 2000s}}The [[war on terror]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] began after the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001.<ref name="SecCounc">{{cite web |title=Security Council Condemns, 'In Strongest Terms', Terrorist Attacks on the United States |publisher=United Nations |date=September 12, 2001 <!-- was started under President George Jebidiah Bush Jr--> |url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/SC7143.doc.htm |access-date=September 11, 2006 |quote=The Security Council today, following what it called yesterday's "horrifying terrorist attacks" in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, unequivocally condemned those acts, and expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families and to the people and Government of the United States. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909162055/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/SC7143.doc.htm |archive-date=September 9, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cbc-2004">{{cite news |title=Bin Laden claims responsibility for 9/11 |publisher=CBC News |date=October 29, 2004 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/bin-laden-claims-responsibility-for-9-11-1.513654 |access-date=January 11, 2009 |quote=al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden appeared in a new message aired on an Arabic TV station Friday night, for the first time claiming direct responsibility for the 2001 attacks against the United States. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124061749/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/bin-laden-claims-responsibility-for-9-11-1.513654 |archive-date=January 24, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[International Criminal Court]] was formed in 2002. In 2003 a United States-led coalition invaded [[Iraq]], and the [[Iraq War]] led to the end of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s rule as Iraqi President and the [[Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction)|Ba'ath Party]] in Iraq. [[Al-Qaeda]] and affiliated [[Islamism|Islamist]] militant groups performed terrorist acts throughout the decade. These acts included the [[2004 Madrid train bombings]], [[7 July 2005 London bombings|7/7 London bombings]] in 2005, and the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]] related to al-Qaeda. The [[European Union]] expanded its sanctions amid [[Iran]]'s failure to comply with its transparency obligations under the [[Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons]] and [[United Nations resolution]]s.

The war on terror generated [[Criticism of the war on terror|extreme controversy]] around the world, with questions regarding the justification for certain U.S. actions leading to a loss of support for the American government, both in and outside the United States.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news |title=U.S. Losing War on Terror |publisher=NPR |date=August 21, 2007 |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13818670 |access-date=June 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508202323/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13818670 |archive-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref> The additional armed conflict occurred in the [[Middle East]], including between [[Israel]] and [[Hezbollah]], then with Israel and [[Hamas]]. The most significant loss of life due to [[natural disaster]]s came from the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]], which caused a [[tsunami]] that killed around one quarter-million people and displaced well over a million others.

=== Terrorist attacks ===
{{Further|List of terrorist incidents#1970–present}}
[[File:North face south tower after plane strike 9-11.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] in [[Lower Manhattan]], [[New York City]]. as seen on [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]]. [[United Airlines Flight 175|Flight 175]] crashing into the South Tower.]]
The most prominent [[Terrorism|terrorist attacks]] committed against the civilian population during the decade include:
* [[September 11 attacks]] in [[New York City]]; [[The Pentagon]] in [[Arlington County, Virginia]], [[Washington, D.C.]]; and [[Shanksville, Pennsylvania]] {{small|(nearly 3,000 killed)}}
* [[2001 anthrax attacks]] in the United States {{small|(5 killed, 17 infected)}}
* [[Moscow theater hostage crisis|2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis]] in Moscow, Russia {{small|(171 killed)}}
* [[2002 Bali bombings]] in Bali, Indonesia {{small|(202 killed)}}
* [[2003 Casablanca bombings]] in [[Casablanca]], [[Morocco]] {{small|(45 killed)}}
* [[2003 Istanbul bombings]] in Istanbul, Turkey {{small|(57 killed)}}
* [[2004 Madrid train bombings]] {{small|(192 killed)}}
* [[Beslan school siege|2004 Beslan school hostage crisis]] {{small|(334 killed)}}
* [[7 July 2005 London bombings|2005 London bombings]] {{small|(56 killed)}}
* [[Qahtaniyah bombings|2007 Yazidi communities bombings]] {{small|(796 killed)}}
* [[2008 Mumbai attacks]] {{small|(175 killed)}}
* [[2009 Boko Haram uprising]] {{small|(1000+ killed)}}

=== Wars ===
{{Main|List of wars: 1990–2002|List of wars: 2003–present}}

The most prominent [[War|armed conflicts]] of the decade include:

==== International wars ====
[[File:War on Terror montage1.png|thumb|The [[war on terror]]]]
[[File:Iraq header 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Iraq War]]]]
[[File:Gazamontage.png|right|thumb|The [[Gaza War (2008–2009)]]]]
* [[War on terror]] (2001–present) – refers to several [[Ideology|ideological]], military, and diplomatic campaigns aimed at putting an end to [[international terrorism]] by preventing groups defined by the U.S. and its allies as [[terrorist groups|terrorist]] (mostly [[Islamism|Islamist]] groups such as [[al-Qaeda]], [[Hezbollah]], and [[Hamas]]) from posing a threat to the U.S. and its allies, and by putting an end to [[state-sponsored terrorism|state sponsorship of terrorism]]. The campaigns were launched by the United States, with support from [[NATO]] and other allies, following the [[September 11 attacks]] that were carried out by al-Qaeda. Today the term has become mostly associated with Bush administration-led wars in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]].
** [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]] – In 2001, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Canada, and Australia [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|invaded]] [[Afghanistan]] seeking to oust the [[Taliban]] and find al-Qaeda mastermind [[Osama bin Laden]]. In 2011, the US government claimed [[Navy Seals]] had killed Bin Laden and buried his body at sea. Fatalities of coalition troops: 1,553 (2001 to 2009).<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. troops' death toll in Afghanistan doubles in 2009 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/28/content_12718088.htm |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |url-status=dead |access-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115060015/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/28/content_12718088.htm |archive-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref>
** [[Iraq War]] (2003–2011) – In 2003, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, and Poland [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invaded]] and occupied Iraq. Claims that Iraq had [[WMDs in Iraq|weapons of mass destruction]] at its disposal were later found to be unproven.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/13/alqaeda.saddam/ |work=CNN |title=Hussein's Iraq and al Qaeda not linked, Pentagon says |access-date=April 21, 2010 |date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429034736/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/13/alqaeda.saddam/ |archive-date=April 29, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The war, which ended the rule of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Ba'ath Party]], also led to violence against the coalition forces and between many [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shia]] Iraqi groups and al-Qaeda [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq|operations in Iraq]]. [[Casualties of the Iraq War]]: Approximately 110,600 between March 2003 to April 2009. Hussein was eventually sentenced to death and hanged on December 30, 2006.
* [[Arab–Israeli conflict]] (1948 – present)
** [[2006 Lebanon War]] (summer 2006) – took place in southern [[Lebanon]] and northern [[Israel]]. The principal parties were [[Hezbollah]] paramilitary forces and the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli military]]. The war that began as a military operation in response to the abduction of two Israeli reserve soldiers by the Hezbollah gradually strengthened and became a wider confrontation.
** [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] (Early 20th century – present)
*** [[Second Intifada]] (2000–2005) – After the signing of the [[Oslo Accords]] failed to bring about a [[Palestinian state]], in September 2000, the [[Second Intifada]] (uprising) broke out, a period of intensified Palestinian-Israeli violence, which has been taking place until the present day. As a result of the significant increase of suicide bombing attacks within Israeli population centers during the first years of the [[Al-Aqsa Intifada]],<ref name="ISF">{{cite web |url=http://www.securityfence.mod.gov.il/Pages/ENG/questions.htm |title=Questions and Answers |access-date=April 17, 2007 |date=February 22, 2004 |work=Israel's Security Fence |publisher=The State of Israel |quote=The Security Fence is being built with the sole purpose of saving the lives of the Israeli citizens who continue to be targeted by the terrorist campaign that began in 2000. The fact that over 800 men, women and children have been killed in horrific suicide bombings and other terror attacks clearly justifies the attempt to place a physical barrier in the path of terrorists.... terrorism has been defined throughout the international community as a crime against humanity. As such, the State of Israel not only has the right but also the obligation to do everything in its power to lessen the impact and scope of terrorism on the citizens of Israel. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003072906/http://www.securityfence.mod.gov.il/Pages/ENG/questions.htm |archive-date=October 3, 2013}}</ref> in June 2002 Israel began the construction of the [[Israeli West Bank barrier|West Bank Fence]] along the [[Green Line (Israel)|Green Line]] border arguing that the barrier is necessary to protect Israeli civilians from [[Palestinian political violence|Palestinian terrorism]]. The significantly reduced number of incidents of suicide bombings from 2002 to 2005 has been partly attributed to the barrier.<ref name="McClatchy">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/dion_nissenbaum/story/15469.html |title=Death toll of Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians hit a low in 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2007 |last=Nissenbaum |first=Dion |date=January 10, 2007 |work=Washington Bureau |publisher=McClatchy Newspapers |quote=Fewer Israeli civilians died in Palestinian attacks in 2006 than in any year since the Palestinian uprising began in 2000. Palestinian militants killed 23 Israelis and foreign visitors in 2006, down from a high of 289 in 2002 during the height of the uprising. Most significant, successful suicide bombings in Israel nearly came to a halt. Last year, only two Palestinian suicide bombers managed to sneak into Israel for attacks that killed 11 people and wounded 30 others. Israel has gone nearly nine months without a suicide bombing inside its borders, the longest period without such an attack since 2000[...] An Israeli military spokeswoman said one major factor in that success had been Israel's controversial separation barrier, a still-growing {{Convert|250|mi|km |adj=on}} network of concrete walls, high-tech fencing and other obstacles that cuts through parts of the West Bank. ‘The security fence was put up to stop terror, and that's what it's doing,' said Capt. Noa Meir, a spokeswoman for the Israel Defense Forces. [...] Opponents of the wall grudgingly acknowledge that it has been effective in stopping bombers, though they complain that its route should have followed the border between Israel and the Palestinian territories known as the Green Line. [...] IDF spokeswoman Meir said Israeli military operations that disrupted militants planning attacks from the West Bank also deserved credit for the drop in Israeli fatalities. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120203241/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/dion_nissenbaum/story/15469.html |archive-date=November 20, 2008}}</ref> The barrier's construction, which has been highly controversial, became a significant issue of contention between the two sides. The Second Intifada has caused thousands of victims on both sides, both among combatants and among civilians – The death toll, including both military and civilian, is estimated to be 5,500 Palestinians and over 1,000 Israelis, as well as 64 foreign citizens.<ref>[http://www.btselem.org/English/Statistics/Casualties.asp ''B'Tselem – Statistics – Fatalities''], [[B'Tselem]]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202225031/http://www.btselem.org/English/Statistics/Casualties.asp|date=December 2, 2010 }}</ref> Many Palestinians consider the Second Intifada to be a legitimate war of national liberation against foreign occupation, whereas many Israelis consider it to be a terrorist campaign.<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/11/Israel-+the+Conflict+and+Peace-+Answers+to+Frequen+-+2003.htm#cause "Israel, the Conflict and Peace: Answers to FAQ."] ''[[Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]''. November 3, 2003. April 20, 2009. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006064017/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/11/Israel-+the+Conflict+and+Peace-+Answers+to+Frequen+-+2003.htm#cause|date=October 6, 2013 }}</ref>
*** [[Gaza War (2008–2009)]] – the frequent [[Hamas]] [[Qassam rocket]] and [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] fire launched from within civilian population centers in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] towards the Israeli southern civilian communities led to an Israeli [[military operation]] in Gaza, which had the stated aim of reducing the Hamas rocket attacks and stopping the arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip. Throughout the conflict, Hamas further intensified its rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, hitting civilian targets and reaching major Israeli cities [[Beersheba]] and [[Ashdod]], for the first time. The intense [[urban warfare]] in densely populated [[Gaza City|Gaza]] combined with the use of massive firepower by the Israeli side<ref name="BBC 2010-01-29">{{cite news |title=Goldstone report: Israel and Palestinians respond to UN |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8487301.stm |access-date=January 27, 2011 |work=BBC |date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215014012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8487301.stm |archive-date=December 15, 2013}}</ref> and the intensified Hamas rocket attacks towards populated Israeli civilian targets led to a high toll on the Palestinian side and among civilians.<ref name="PCHRCASFIG">{{cite press release |title=Confirmed figures reveal the true extent of the destruction inflicted upon the Gaza Strip; Israel's offensive resulted in 1,417 dead, including 926 civilians, 255 police officers, and 236 fighters. |publisher=Palestinian Centre for Human Rights |date=March 19, 2009 |url=http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/36-2009.html |access-date=March 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201173858/http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/36-2009.html |archive-date=February 1, 2010}}</ref>
* The [[Second Congo War]] (1998–2003) – took place mainly in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. The widest interstate war in [[History of Africa#1951 – present|modern African history]], it directly involved nine African nations, as well as about twenty armed groups. It earned the [[epithet]] of "Africa's World War" and the "Great War of Africa." An estimated 3.8 million people died, mostly from starvation and disease brought about by the deadliest conflict since World War II. Millions more were [[displaced person|displaced]] from their homes or sought [[refugee|asylum]] in neighboring countries.
* [[Russo-Georgian War]] (2008) – Russia invaded [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] in response to Georgian aggression towards civilians and attack on South Ossetia. Both Russia and Georgia were condemned internationally for their actions.
* The [[Second Chechen War]] (1999–2000) – the war was launched by the [[Russia]] on August 26, 1999, in response to the [[War in Dagestan (1999)|war in Dagestan]] and the [[1999 Russian apartment bombings]], which were blamed on the [[Chechen Republic of Ichkeria|Chechens]]. During the war, Russian forces largely recaptured the separatist region of [[Chechnya]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2009-04-16 |title=Chechnya and Russia: timeline |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/16/chechnya-russia-timeline |access-date=2024-05-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The campaign largely reversed the outcome of the [[First Chechen War]], in which the region gained ''de facto'' independence as the [[Chechen Republic of Ichkeria]].
* The [[Eritrean–Ethiopian War]] came to a close in 2000.
* [[Kivu conflict]] (2004–2009) – armed conflict between the [[military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (FARDC) and the [[Hutu Power]] group [[Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda]] (FDLR).
* [[2009 Boko Haram uprising]] – an armed conflict between [[Boko Haram]], a militant [[Islamist]] group, and [[Nigeria]]n security forces.

==== Civil wars and guerrilla wars ====
[[File:Darfur Jeep.jpg|right|thumb|Irregular combatants in North Darfur. The Arabic text on the bumper reads "The [[Sudan Liberation Movement/Army|Sudan Liberation Army]]" (SLA).]]
[[File:Darfur refugee camp in Chad.jpg|thumb|[[Darfur]] [[refugee camp]] in [[Chad]]]]
* [[War in Darfur]] (2003–2020) – an armed conflict in the [[Darfur]] region of western [[Sudan]]. The conflict began when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Darfur took up arms, accusing the government of oppressing black Africans in favor of Arabs. One side was composed mainly of the [[Sudanese Armed Forces|Sudanese military]] and the Sudanese [[militia]] group [[Janjaweed]], recruited mostly from the [[Afro-Arab]] Abbala tribes of the northern [[Rizeigat]] region in Sudan. The other side was made up of rebel groups, notably the [[Sudan Liberation Movement/Army]] and the [[Justice and Equality Movement]], recruited primarily from the non-Arab Muslim [[Fur people|Fur]], [[Zaghawa people|Zaghawa]], and [[Masalit people|Masalit]] ethnic groups. Millions of people were displaced from their homes during the conflict.<ref>{{cite news |title=African Union Force Ineffective, Complain Refugees in Darfur |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/15/AR2006101500655.html |date=October 16, 2006 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Alfred |last=de Montesquiou |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-date=May 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516113104/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/15/AR2006101500655.html |url-status=live}}</ref> There are various estimates on [[War in Darfur#Mortality estimates|the number of human casualties]] – Sudanese authorities claim a death toll of roughly 19,500 civilians<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/822/re72.htm |first=Gamal |last=Nkrumah |title=Old dogs, new tricks |publisher=Weekly.ahram.org.eg |date=December 6, 2006 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206194306/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/822/re72.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2006}}</ref> while certain non-governmental organizations, such as the [[Coalition for International Justice]], claim that over 400,000 people have been killed during the conflict.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lacey |first=Marc |title=Tallying Darfur Terror: Guesswork with a Cause |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/05/10/news/journal.php |work=International Herald Tribune |date=May 11, 2005 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501105055/http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/05/10/news/journal.php |archive-date=May 1, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Former [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] called the events in Darfur a genocide during his presidency.<ref>[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040909-10.html President's Statement on Violence in Darfur, Sudan] (statement released by [[The White House]]) September 9, 2004 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504202602/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040909-10.html|date=May 4, 2013|title=President Meets with Darfur Advocates }}</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060101725.html In Break With U.N., Bush Calls Sudan Killings Genocide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017060259/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060101725.html |date=October 17, 2011 }}. Jim VandeHei. [[The Washington Post]]. June 2, 2005.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060428-5.html |title=President Meets with Darfur Advocates |date=April 28, 2006 |publisher=[[The White House]] |access-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807112709/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060428-5.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[United States Congress]] unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 467, which declared the situation in Darfur a state-sponsored genocide by the [[Janjaweed]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3921451.stm Excerpts: US Congress resolution on Darfur], [[BBC]] July 23, 2004 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508121816/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3921451.stm|date=May 8, 2014 }}</ref> In 2008, the [[International Criminal Court]] charged [[Omar al-Bashir]] with [[genocide]] for his role in the War in Darfur.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0712/Omar-al-Bashir-charged-by-Hague-for-orchestrating-Darfur-genocide |title=Omar al-Bashir charged by Hague for orchestrating Darfur genocide |journal=Christian Science Monitor |date=July 12, 2010 |publisher=CSMonitor.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508115214/http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0712/Omar-al-Bashir-charged-by-Hague-for-orchestrating-Darfur-genocide |archive-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1417202620080714 |title=ICC prosecutor seeks arrest of Sudan's Bashir |access-date=July 15, 2008 |work=Reuters |date=July 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216000630/https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1417202620080714 |archive-date=February 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Walker |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/14/sudan.warcrimes1?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews |title=Darfur genocide charges for Sudanese president |access-date=July 15, 2008 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=July 14, 2008 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826071757/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/14/sudan.warcrimes1?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews |archive-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sudanese president charged with genocide |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/sudanese-president-charged-with-genocide-1.718585 |work=[[CBC News]] |date=July 14, 2008 |access-date=July 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702185538/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/sudanese-president-charged-with-genocide-1.718585 |archive-date=July 2, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Mexican drug war]] (2006–present) – an armed conflict fought between rival [[drug cartel]]s and the [[Mexican Armed Forces]]. Although Mexican drug cartels, or drug trafficking organizations, have existed for quite some time, they have become more powerful since the demise of Colombia's [[Cali Cartel|Cali]] and [[Medellín Cartel|Medellín]] cartels in the 1990s. Mexican drug cartels now dominate the wholesale [[War on Drugs|illicit drug market]] in the United States.<ref name="Cook7">{{cite book |title=CRS Report for Congress: Mexico's Drug Cartels |editor-first=Colleen W. |editor-last=Cook |publisher=Congressional Research Service |page=7 |date=October 16, 2007 |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34215.pdf |access-date=November 14, 2015 |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34215.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Arrests of key cartel leaders, particularly in the Tijuana and Gulf cartels, have led to increasing drug violence as cartels fight for control of the trafficking routes into the United States.<ref>{{cite news |first=Traci |last=Carl |title=Progress in Mexico drug war is drenched in blood |date=March 10, 2009 |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/mar/10/lt-mexico-struggling-cartels-031009/ |access-date=November 26, 2014 |archive-date=May 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510081707/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/mar/10/lt-mexico-struggling-cartels-031009/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=High U.S. cocaine cost shows drug war working: Mexico |date=September 14, 2007 |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1422771920070914 |access-date=April 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204232646/https://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1422771920070914 |archive-date=December 4, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=CRS Report for Congress: Mexico and the 112th Congress |chapter=Mexico – U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress |editor-first=Mark P. |editor-last=Sullivan |publisher=Congressional Research Service |pages=2, 13, 14 |date=December 18, 2008 |chapter-url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32724.pdf |access-date=November 14, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135209/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32724.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Roughly more than 16,851 people in total were killed between December 2006 until November 2009.<ref>The attorney general's office says that 9 of 10 victims are members of organized-crime groups. {{cite news |first=Sara |last=Miller Llana |title=Briefing: How Mexico is waging war on drug cartels. |date=August 16, 2009 |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0819/p10s01-woam.html |work=The Christian Science Monitor |access-date=November 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822130354/http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0819/p10s01-woam.html |archive-date=August 22, 2009}}</ref>
* [[File:The Red Corridor ver 1.PNG|thumb|Map showing the districts where the [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|Naxalite]] movement is active (2007)]] In India, [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]] (1967–present) has grown alarmingly with attacks such as [[April 2010 Maoist attack in Dantewada]], [[Jnaneswari Express train derailment]], and [[Rafiganj train disaster]]. Naxalites are a group of far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political sentiment and ideology. It is presently the [[List of ongoing armed conflicts|longest continuously active conflict]] worldwide. In 2006 Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] called the Naxalites "The single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country."<ref name="autogenerated2" /> In 2009, he said the country was "losing the battle against Maoist rebels".<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8256692.stm |work=BBC News |title=India is 'losing Maoist battle' |date=September 15, 2009 |access-date=May 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319025753/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8256692.stm |archive-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> According to standard definitions the [[Naxalites|Naxalite]]–[[Communist Party of India (Maoist)|Maoist]] insurgency is an ongoing conflict<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7799247 |title=India's Naxalites: A spectre haunting India |newspaper=The Economist |date=April 12, 2006 |access-date=July 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523074605/http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7799247 |archive-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref> between Maoist groups, known as Naxalites or Naxals, and the Indian government.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |url=http://www.ploughshares.ca/libraries/ACRText/ACR-IndiaAP.html |title=Armed Conflicts Report – India-Andhra Pradesh |publisher=Ploughshares.ca |access-date=July 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603175725/http://www.ploughshares.ca/libraries/ACRText/ACR-IndiaAP.html |archive-date=June 3, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On April 6, 2010, Maoist rebels killed 75 security forces [[April 2010 Maoist attack in Dantewada|in a jungle ambush]] in central India in the worst-ever massacre of security forces by the insurgents. On the same day, Gopal, a top Maoist leader, said the attack was a "direct consequence" of the government's [[Operation Green Hunt]] offensive. This raised some voices of use of Indian Air Force against Naxalites, which were, however, declined, citing "We can't use oppressive force against our own people".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/newdelhi/Chhatisgarh-attack-consequence-of-Green-Hunt-Maoist-leader/Article1-528028.aspx |title=Chhatisgarh attack 'consequence' of Green Hunt: Maoist leader |work=Hindustan Times |location=India |date=April 6, 2010 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228155830/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Chhatisgarh-attack-consequence-of-Green-Hunt-Maoist-leader/Article1-528028.aspx |archive-date=December 28, 2013}}</ref>
* The [[Colombian conflict]] continues causing deaths and terror in [[Colombia]]. Beginning in 1964, the [[FARC]] and [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|ELN]] narcoterrorist groups were taking control of rural areas of the country by the beginning of the decade, while terrorist paramilitaries grew in other places as businesspeople and politicians thought the State would lose the war against guerrillas. However, after the failure of the peace process and the activation of [[Plan Colombia]], [[Álvaro Uribe]] was elected president in 2002, starting a massive attack on terrorist groups, with cooperation from civil population, foreign aid and legal armed forces. The [[United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia|AUC]] paramilitary organization disbanded in 2006, while ELN guerrillas have been weakened. The [[Popular Liberation Army]] demobilized while the country's biggest terrorist group, [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia|FARC]] has been weakened and most of their top commanders have been killed or died during the decade. During the second half of the decade, a new criminal band has been formed by former members of AUC who did not demobilize, calling themselves "[[Black Eagles|Aguilas Negras]]". Although the Colombian State has taken back control over most of the country, narcoterrorism still causes pain in the country. Since 2008, the Internet has become a new field of battle. Facebook has gained nationwide popularity and has become the birthplace of many civil movements against narcoterrorism such as "Colombia Soy Yo" (I am Colombia) or "Fundación Un Millón de Voces" (One Million Voices Foundation), responsible for the international protests against illegal groups during the last years.
* The [[Sierra Leone Civil War]] (1991–2002) came to an end when the [[Revolutionary United Front]] (RUF) finally laid down their arms. More than two million people were displaced from their homes because of the conflict (well over one-third of the population) many of whom became refugees in neighboring countries. Tens of thousands were killed during the conflict.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat4.htm |first=Matthew |last=White |title=Mid-Range Wars and Atrocities of the Twentieth Century |publisher=Users.erols.com |date=October 2010 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809170057/http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat4.htm |archive-date=August 9, 2013}}</ref>
* The [[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]] (1983–2009) came to an end after the government defeated the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]. Over 80,000 people were killed during the course of the conflict.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080305025603/http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-32243020080301 Sri Lanka military, rebels trade death toll claims] Reuters India – March 1, 2008.</ref>
* [[Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] (2004–present) – an armed conflict between the [[Pakistani Armed Forces]] and [[Islamic militants]] made up of local tribesmen, the [[Taliban]], and foreign [[Mujahideen]] (Holy Warriors). It began in 2004 when tensions rooted in the Pakistani Army's search for [[al-Qaeda]] members in Pakistan's mountainous [[Waziristan]] area (in the [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan|Federally Administered Tribal Areas]]) escalated into armed resistance by local tribesmen. The violence has displaced 3.44 million civilians<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/31/pakistan.red.cross/index.html |title=Red Cross 'gravely concerned' about conditions in Swat Valley |work=CNN |date=May 31, 2009 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211024/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/31/pakistan.red.cross/index.html |archive-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref> and led to more than 7,000 civilians being killed.<ref name="satp.org">{{cite web |url=http://satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/index.htm |title=Pakistan Assessment 2011 |publisher=SATP.org |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215142834/http://satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/index.htm |archive-date=February 15, 2014}}</ref>
* The [[Angolan Civil War]] (1975–2002), once a major proxy conflict of the [[Cold War]], the conflict ended after the anti-Communist organization [[UNITA]] disbanded to become a political party. By the time the 27-year conflict was formally brought to an end, an estimated 500,000 people had been killed.<ref name="angolagate">{{cite web |author=Madsen, Wayne |date=May 17, 2002 |url=http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=2576 |title=Report Alleges U.S. Role in Angola Arms-for-Oil Scandal |publisher=CorpWatch |access-date=February 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105182138/http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=2576 |archive-date=January 5, 2008}}</ref>
* [[Shia insurgency in Yemen]] (2004–present) – a civil war in the Sada'a Governorate of [[Yemen]]. It began after the [[Shia Islam|Shia]] [[Zaidiyyah]] sect launched an uprising against the Yemeni government. The Yemeni government has accused [[Iran]] of directing and financing the insurgency.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/uploads/tf_004_002.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029200028/http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/uploads/tf_004_002.pdf |url-status=dead |title=Yemen Accuses Iran of Meddling in its Internal Affairs |archive-date=October 29, 2008}}</ref> Thousands of rebels and civilians have been killed during the conflict.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ploughshares.ca/libraries/ACRText/ACR-Yemen.htm#Status |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512100638/http://www.ploughshares.ca/libraries/ACRText/ACR-Yemen.htm#Status |url-status=dead |title=Ploughshares.com |archive-date=May 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Yemeni-military-battles-Shiite-rebels/2007/03/20/1174153010354.html |location=Australia |work=[[The Age]] |title=Yemeni military battles Shi'ite rebels |date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325151349/http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Yemeni-military-battles-Shiite-rebels/2007/03/20/1174153010354.html |archive-date=March 25, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Somali Civil War]] (1991–present)
** [[War in Somalia (2006–2009)]] – involved largely [[Ethiopia]]n and [[Somalia|Somali]] [[Transitional Federal Parliament|Transitional Federal Government]] (TFG) forces who fought against the Somali [[Islamist]] [[Umbrella organization|umbrella group]], the [[Islamic Court Union]] (ICU), and other affiliated militias for control of the country. The war spawned pirates who hijacked hundreds of ships off the coast of Somalia, holding ships and crew for ransom often for months (see also [[Piracy in Somalia]]). 1.9 million people were displaced from their homes during the conflict<ref name="autogenerated4">{{cite web |url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/AMMF-7JJCSY?OpenDocument |first=Abdi |last=Sheikh |title=Nearly 9,500 Somalis die in insurgency-group |publisher=Reliefweb.int |date=September 16, 2008 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-date=October 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021185628/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/AMMF-7JJCSY?OpenDocument |url-status=live}}</ref> and the number of civilian casualties during the conflict is estimated at 16,724.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wallis |first=Daniel |editor-first=Louise |editor-last=Ireland |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B943G20081211?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews |title=Sharif back in Mogadishu as death toll hits 16,210 |work=Reuters |date=December 11, 2008 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317001244/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-conflict/sharif-back-in-mogadishu-as-death-toll-hits-16210-idUSTRE4B943G20081211?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews |url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[Somali civil war (2009–present)]] – involved largely the forces of the Somali [[Somalia|Somali]] [[Transitional Federal Parliament|Transitional Federal Government]] (TFG) assisted by [[African Union]] peacekeeping troops, whom fought against various militant Islamist factions for control of the country. The violence has displaced thousands of people residing in [[Mogadishu]], the nation's capital. 1,739 people in total were killed between January 1, 2009, and January 1, 2010.<ref name="casualties">[[allafrica]] [http://allafrica.com/stories/201001010001.html More Than 1,700 Killed in Clashes in 2009], January 1, 2010 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012233227/http://allafrica.com/stories/201001010001.html|date=October 12, 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Conflict in the Niger Delta]] (2004–present) – an ongoing conflict in the [[Niger Delta]] region of [[Nigeria]]. The conflict was caused due to the tensions between the [[multinational corporation|foreign]] [[Petroleum industry in Niger|oil corporations]] and a number of the [[Niger Delta]]'s minority ethnic groups who felt they were being exploited, particularly the [[Ogoni people|Ogoni]] and the [[Ijaw people|Ijaw]]. The competition for oil wealth has led to an endless violence cycle between innumerable [[ethnic groups]], causing the [[militarization]] of nearly the entire region that was occupied by militia groups as well as [[Military of Nigeria|Nigerian military]] and the forces of the Nigerian Police.
* [[Algerian Civil War]] (1991–2002) – the conflict effectively ended with a government victory, following the surrender of the [[Islamic Salvation Army]] and the 2002 defeat of the [[Armed Islamic Group]]. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people were killed during the course of the conflict.
* Civil war in [[Chad]] (1998–present)
** [[Chadian Civil War (1998–2002)]] – involved the [[Movement for Justice and Democracy in Chad]] (MDJT) rebels that skirmished periodically with government troops in the [[Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti Region|Tibesti region]], resulting in hundreds of civilian, government, and rebel casualties.
** [[Chadian Civil War (2005–2010)]] – involved [[Chad]]ian government forces and several Chadian rebel groups. The Government of Chad estimated in January 2006 that 614 Chadian citizens had been killed in cross-border raids.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=Al Jazeera |title=Chad wants Sudan to disarm rebels |date=January 12, 2006 |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=17880 |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604212223/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=17880 |archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> The fighting still continues despite several attempts to reach agreements.
* [[Nepalese Civil War]] (1996–2006) – the conflict ended with a [[Comprehensive Peace Accord|peace agreement]] was reached between the government and the Maoist party in which it was set that the Maoists would take part in the new government in return for surrendering their weapons to the UN. It is estimated that more than 12,700 people were killed during the course of the conflict.<ref name="Douglas">Ed Douglas. "Inside Nepal's Revolution..... (just to check..!!!)". ''[[National Geographic Magazine]]'', p. 54, November 2005. Douglas lists the following figures: "Nepalis killed by Maoists from 1996 to 2005: 4,500. Nepalis killed by government in same period: 8,200."</ref>
* [[Second Liberian Civil War]] (1999–2003) – The conflict began in 1999 when a rebel group [[Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy]] (LURD), with support from the Government of [[Guinea]], took over northern [[Liberia]] through a coup. In early 2003, a different rebel group, the [[Movement for Democracy in Liberia]], emerged in the south. As a result, by June–July 2003, [[President of Liberia|president]] [[Charles Taylor (Liberian politician)|Charles Taylor]]'s government controlled only a third of the country. The capital [[Monrovia]] [[Siege of Monrovia|was besieged]] by LURD, and that group's shelling of the city resulted in the deaths of many civilians. Thousands of people were displaced from their homes as a result of the conflict.
* [[Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)]] – [[Algeria]] has been the subject of an Islamic insurgency since 2002 waged by the Sunni Islamic [[Jihad]]ist militant group [[Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat]] (GSPC). GSPC allied itself with the [[Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb]] against the [[Algeria]]n government. The conflict has since spread to other neighboring countries.
* [[Ituri conflict]] (1999–2007) – a conflict fought between the [[Lendu]] and [[Hema (ethnicity)|Hema]] ethnic groups in the [[Ituri Province|Ituri]] region of northeastern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] (DRC). While there have been many phases to the conflict, the most recent armed clashes ran from 1999 to 2003, with a low-level conflict continuing until 2007. More than 50,000 people have been killed in the conflict and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6158331.stm |first=Karen |last=Allen |title=Eastern DR Congo rebels to disarm |work=BBC |date=November 30, 2006 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-date=February 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202062805/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6158331.stm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Central African Republic Bush War]] (2004–2007) – began with the rebellion by the [[Union of Democratic Forces for Unity]] (UFDR) rebels, after the current president of the [[Central African Republic]], [[François Bozizé]], seized power in a 2003 coup. The violence has displaced around 10,000 civilians and has led to hundreds of civilians being killed.
* [[Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)]] – an armed conflict that continued after the capture of [[Kabul]] by the [[Taliban]], in which the formation of the [[Afghan Northern Alliance]] attempted to oust the Taliban. It proved largely unsuccessful, as the Taliban continued to make gains and eliminated much of the Alliance's leadership.

=== Coups ===
{{Main|List of coups d'état and coup attempts#2000–2009}}
[[File:Coup-d'etat-2-web-cnni.jpg|thumb|[[2006 Thai coup d'état]]]] The most prominent [[coup d'état]] of the decade include:
* [[Overthrow of Slobodan Milošević|2000 overthrow of Slobodan Milošević in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] – after [[Slobodan Milošević]] was accused by opposition figures of winning the 2000 election through electoral fraud, mass protests led by the opposition movement [[Otpor!]] pressure [[Slobodan Milošević]] to resign. Milošević was later arrested in 2001 and sent to the Hague to face war crimes charges for his alleged involvement in war crimes of the [[Yugoslav Wars]].
* [[2002 Venezuelan coup attempt]] – a failed military coup d'état on April 11, 2002, which aimed to overthrow the president of Venezuela [[Hugo Chávez]]. During the coup Hugo Chávez was arrested and [[Pedro Carmona]] became the interim President for 47 hours. The coup led to a pro-Chávez uprising that the Metropolitan Police attempted to suppress. The pro-Chávez Presidential Guard eventually retook the [[Miraflores presidential palace]] without firing a shot, leading to the collapse of the Carmona government.
* [[2004 Haitian coup d'état]] – a conflict fought for several weeks in [[Haiti]] during February 2004 that resulted in the premature end of President [[Jean-Bertrand Aristide]]'s second term, and the installment of an interim government led by [[Gérard Latortue]].
* [[2006 Thai coup d'état]] – on September 19, 2006, while the elected Thai Prime Minister [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] was in New York for a meeting of the UN, Army Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General [[Sonthi Boonyaratglin]] launched a bloodless [[September 2006 Thailand military coup d'état|coup d'état]].
* [[Fatah–Hamas conflict]] (2006–present) – an armed conflict fought between the two main Palestinian factions, [[Fatah]] and [[Hamas]] with each vying to assume political control of the [[Palestinian territories]]. In June 2007, [[Battle for Gaza (2007)|Hamas took control of the entire Gaza Strip]], and established a separate government while Fatah remained in control of the West Bank. This in practice divided the [[Palestinian Authority]] into two. Various forces affiliated with Fatah engaged in combat with Hamas, in numerous gun battles. Most Fatah leaders eventually escaped to Egypt and the West Bank, while some were captured and killed.
* [[2009 Honduran coup d'état]] – The armed forces of the country entered the president's residence and overthrew president [[Manuel Zelaya]]. (see [[2009 Honduran constitutional crisis]]).

=== Nuclear threats ===
[[File:Natanz nuclear.jpg|right|thumb|Anti-aircraft guns guarding [[Natanz#Nuclear facility|Natanz Nuclear Facility]] in Iran]]
* Since 2005, [[Nuclear program of Iran|Iran's nuclear program]] has become the subject of contention with the Western world due to suspicions that Iran could divert the civilian nuclear technology to a weapons program. This has led the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] to impose [[International sanctions against Iran|sanctions against Iran]] on select companies linked to this program, thus furthering its economic isolation on the international scene. The [[Director of National Intelligence|U.S. Director of National Intelligence]] said in February 2009 that Iran would not realistically be able to a get a nuclear weapon until 2013, if it chose to develop one.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN25158068 |title=RPT-EXCLUSIVE-Iran would need 18 months for atom bomb-diplomats |first=Louis |last=Charbonneau |date=October 26, 2009 |work=Reuters |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828042601/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN25158068 |archive-date=August 28, 2010}}</ref>
* In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq over allegations that its leader [[Saddam Hussein]] was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction including chemical and biological weapons or was in the process of creating them. None were found, [[WMD conjecture after the 2003 invasion of Iraq|spawning multiple theories.]]
* [[North Korea]] successfully performed two nuclear tests in [[2006 North Korean nuclear test|2006]] and [[2009 North Korean nuclear test|2009]].
* [[Operation Orchard]] – during the operation, Israel bombed what was believed to be a Syrian nuclear reactor on September 6, 2007, which was thought to be built with the aid of [[North Korea]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042302906_pf.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=N. Koreans Taped At Syrian Reactor |first=Robin |last=Wright |access-date=April 21, 2010 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904033208/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042302906_pf.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[White House]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) later declared that American intelligence indicated the site was a nuclear facility with a military purpose, though Syria denies this.<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWIBgbzyBkHnJzQeMi80gXfjX0-Q NKorea-Syria nuclear work had military aims: White House] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520132008/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWIBgbzyBkHnJzQeMi80gXfjX0-Q|date=May 20, 2011 }}, Associated French Press, April 24, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.</ref>
* The [[Doomsday Clock]], the symbolic representation of the threat of nuclear annihilation, moved four minutes closer to midnight: two minutes in 2002 and two minutes in 2007 to 5&nbsp;minutes to midnight.

=== Decolonization and independence ===
* [[East Timor]] regains independence from [[Indonesia]] in 2002. Portugal granted independence to East Timor in 1975, but it was soon after invaded by Indonesia, which only recognized East Timorese independence in 2002.
* [[Montenegro]] gains independence from [[Serbia]] in 2006, ending the 88-year-old [[Yugoslavia]].
* [[Kosovo]] [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|declares independence]] from Serbia in 2008, though its independence still [[International recognition of Kosovo|remains unrecognized]] by many countries.
* On August 23, 2005, [[Israel unilateral disengagement plan|Israel's unilateral disengagement]] from 25 [[Israeli settlement|Jewish settlements]] in the [[Gaza Strip]] and [[West Bank]] ends.
* On August 26, 2008, Russia formally [[International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia|recognises]] the disputed [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] regions of [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]] as independent states.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2008/08/26/1543_type82912_205752.shtml |title=Statement by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev |publisher=Russia's President web site |date=August 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902001442/http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2008/08/26/1543_type82912_205752.shtml |archive-date=September 2, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia#States that do not recognise Abkhazia or South Ossetia as independent|vast majority]] of United Nations [[List of United Nations member states|member states]] maintain that the areas belong to Georgia.

=== Political trends ===

==== American party system ====
During the 2000s, the expectations and unspoken rules for acceptable conduct among American politicians affiliated with the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] or [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Parties]] changed due to the decline of [[political boss]]es in the previous 4 decades and the momentous events in America that happened during the decade.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Kenneth C. |title=Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-06-008381-6 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=623 |author-link=Kenneth C. Davis}}</ref>

Generally, American presidential candidates abided by and respected the established procedures of both major parties' [[United States presidential nominating convention|presidential nomination]] process.<ref name=":02" />

==== Peaceful transfers of power ====
During this decade, the [[peaceful transition of power|peaceful transfer of power]] through elections first occurred in Mexico, Indonesia, [[Taiwan]], Colombia, and several other countries. (See below.)

=== Prominent political events ===
[[File:President George W. Bush Delivers Inaugural Address.jpg|thumb|[[George W. Bush]], the 43rd president of the United States, 2001–2009]]
[[File:US President Barack Obama taking his Oath of Office - 2009Jan20.jpg|thumb|[[Barack Obama]], the first African American president of the United States, was [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|inaugurated]] in 2009]]
The prominent political events of the decade include:

==== North America ====

===== Canada =====
* [[Paul Martin]] replaces [[Jean Chrétien]] as [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] of Canada in 2003 July 23 by becoming the new leader of the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]]. [[Stephen Harper]] was [[Canadian Federal Election, 2006|elected prime minister]] in 2006 following the defeat of Paul Martin's government in a [[motion of no confidence]].

===== Greenland =====
* [[Greenland]] was granted further [[Devolution|Self-governance]] (or "[[self-rule]]") within the [[Kingdom of Denmark]] on June 21, 2009.<ref name=selfrule>{{cite news |title=Self-rule introduced in Greenland |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8111292.stm |work=BBC News |date=June 21, 2009 |access-date=May 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425041746/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8111292.stm |archive-date=April 25, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===== Mexico =====
* [[Vicente Fox]] was elected [[President of Mexico]] in the 2000 presidential election, making him the first president elected from an opposition party in 71 years, defeating the then-dominant [[Institutional Revolutionary Party]] (PRI).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-25 |title=Vicente Fox {{!}} Biography, Presidency, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vicente-Fox |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117234025/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vicente-Fox |url-status=live}}</ref>

===== United States =====
* [[George W. Bush]] was sworn in succeeding [[Bill Clinton]] as the 43rd President of the United States on January 20, 2001, following a [[2000 United States Presidential Election|sharply contested election]].
* On October 26, 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush signed the [[USA PATRIOT Act]] into law.
* On February 15, 2003, anti-war protests broke out around the world in opposition to the U.S. Invasion of Iraq, in what the [[Guinness Book of World Records]] called the largest anti-war rally in human history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elmundo.es/quiosco/pdf/febrero2003/16portada.pdf |title=El Mundo contra la Guerra (in Spanish) |date=February 16, 2003 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041224094409/http://www.elmundo.es/quiosco/pdf/febrero2003/16portada.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2004}}</ref> In reaction, ''[[The New York Times]]'' writer Patrick Tyler wrote in a February 17 article that: ''...the huge anti-war demonstrations around the world this weekend are reminders that there may still be two superpowers on the planet: the United States and world public opinion.''<ref>{{cite news |last=Tyler |first=Patrick |title=THREATS AND RESPONSES: NEWS ANALYSIS; A New Power In the Streets |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/17/world/threats-and-responses-news-analysis-a-new-power-in-the-streets.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 24, 2013 |date=February 17, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225062538/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/17/world/threats-and-responses-news-analysis-a-new-power-in-the-streets.html |archive-date=December 25, 2013}}</ref>
* On June 5, 2004, [[Ronald Reagan]], the 40th [[President of the United States]], died after having suffered from [[Alzheimer's disease]] for nearly a decade. His seven-day state funeral followed, spanning June 5–11. The general public stood in long lines waiting for a turn to view the casket. People passed by the casket at a rate of about 5,000 per hour (83.3 per minute, or 1.4 per second) and the wait time was about three hours. In all, 104,684 passed through when Reagan lay in state.<ref>Lak, Daniel. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3793065.stm "Reagan lies in state at Capitol"]. BBC, June 11, 2004. Retrieved March 9, 2008. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215143729/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3793065.stm|date=December 15, 2006 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.uscapitolpolice.gov/pressreleases/2004/pr_06-11-04.php "United States Capitol Police Press Releases: Lying In State for former President Reagan"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927071913/http://www.uscapitolpolice.gov/pressreleases/2004/pr_06-11-04.php|date=September 27, 2007 }}. United States Capitol Police. Retrieved March 9, 2008</ref>
* [[Barack Obama]] was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in 2009, becoming the nation's first African American president.

==== South America ====
* November 19, 2000 – Peruvian dictator/president [[Alberto Fujimori]] resigns via fax. [[Valentín Paniagua]] is named Temporary President.
* [[Álvaro Uribe]] is elected President of Colombia in 2002, the first political independent to do so in more than a century and a half, creating the right-wing political movement known as [[uribism]]. Uribe was re-elected in 2006.
* In 2006, [[Michelle Bachelet]] is elected as the first female [[President of Chile]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4613864.stm |title=Chile gets first woman president |work=BBC News |date=January 16, 2006 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112033326/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4613864.stm |archive-date=November 12, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Pink tide]]: Left-wing governments emerge in South American countries. These governments include those of [[Hugo Chávez]] in Venezuela since 1999, [[Fernando Lugo]] in Paraguay, [[Rafael Correa]] in Ecuador, and [[Evo Morales]] in Bolivia. With the creation of the [[Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas|ALBA]], Fidel Castro—leader of [[Cuba]] between 1959 and 2008—and Hugo Chávez reaffirmed their opposition to the aggressive militarism and [[imperialism]] of the United States.
* [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]] was elected (2002) and reelected (2006) [[President of Brazil]].
* In 2003, [[Néstor Kirchner]] was elected as President of Argentina. And in 2007, he was later succeeded by his wife, [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]], who became the first directly elected female [[President of Argentina]].
* May 23, 2008 – The [[Union of South American Nations]], a [[supranational union]], is made from joining the [[Andean Community of Nations|Andean Community]] and [[Mercosur]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.towardsunity.org/usan.phtml |title=The Union of South American Nations |publisher=Towardsunity.org |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620000451/http://www.towardsunity.org/usan.phtml |archive-date=June 20, 2012}}</ref>

==== Asia ====
[[File:Tehran protests (26).jpg|thumb|upright|Protesters in [[Tehran]] during the [[2009 Iranian election protests]]]]
[[File:Saddam Hussein at trial, July 2004-edit1.JPEG|thumb|upright|[[Saddam Hussein]]]]
* On May 18, 2000, [[Chen Shui-bian]] was [[2000 Republic of China presidential election|elected]] as the president of [[Republic of China|Taiwan]], ending the half-century rule of the [[Kuomintang|KMT]] on the island, and became the first president of the [[Democratic Progressive Party|DPP]].
* [[Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon#Withdrawal from the security belt|Israeli withdrawal from the Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon]] – on May 25, 2000, Israel withdrew [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] forces from the [[Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon]] in southern [[Lebanon]] after 22 years.
* In July 2000 the [[Camp David 2000 Summit]] was held which was aimed at reaching a "final status" agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The summit collapsed after Yasser Arafat would not accept a proposal drafted by American and Israeli negotiators. Barak was prepared to offer the entire Gaza Strip, a Palestinian capital in a part of East Jerusalem, 73% of the West Bank (excluding eastern Jerusalem) raising to 90–94% after 10–25 years, and financial reparations for Palestinian refugees for peace. Arafat turned down the offer without making a counter-offer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mideastweb.org/campdavid2.htm |title=Camp David Proposals for Final Palestine-Israel Peace Settlement |publisher=Mideastweb.org |date=July 2000 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022072323/http://www.mideastweb.org/campdavid2.htm |archive-date=October 22, 2013}}</ref>
* January 20, 2001 – June 30, 2010 – [[Joseph Estrada]] resigns as 13th [[President of the Philippines]] amid an [[Impeachment of Joseph Estrada|ongoing impeachment trial]] and [[Second EDSA Revolution|protests]]; [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]] takes office as the 14th President of the Philippines.
* 2002 – [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] was elected as Prime Minister of Turkey. [[Abdullah Gül]] was elected as President of Turkey.
* March 15–16, 2003 – CPC General Secretary, President [[Hu Jintao]] and Premier [[Wen Jiabao]], replaced former People's Republic of China leaders [[Jiang Zemin]] and [[Zhu Rongji]].
* 2003 – the 12-year self-government in [[Iraq]]i [[Kurdistan]] ends, developed under the protection of the UN "No-fly zone" during the now-ousted [[Saddam Hussein]] regime.
* 2003 – Prime minister of Malaysia [[Mahathir Mohamad]] resigns in October, he was succeeded by [[Abdullah Ahmad Badawi|Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi]].
* [[Manmohan Singh]] was elected (2004) and reelected (2009) Prime Minister in India. He is the only Prime Minister since [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] to return to power after completing a full five-year term. Singh previously carried out [[Economic liberalisation in India|economic reforms in India]] in 1991, during his tenure as the [[Finance Minister of India|Finance Minister]].<ref name="BBC1">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3725357.stm |title=India's architect of reforms |access-date=December 11, 2008 |last=Biswas |first=Soutik |date=October 14, 2005 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430013006/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3725357.stm |archive-date=April 30, 2009}}</ref>
* January 9, 2005 – [[Mahmoud Abbas]] is elected to succeed [[Yasser Arafat]] as [[Palestinian Authority]] President.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1933453.stm |title=Profile: Mahmoud Abbas |work=BBC |access-date=October 14, 2009 |date=January 10, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601012740/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1933453.stm |archive-date=June 1, 2009}}</ref>
* August 1, 2005 – [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia|Fahd]], the King of Saudi Arabia from 1982 to 2005, died and is replaced by King [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Abdullah]].
* January 4, 2006 – Powers are transferred from Israeli Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]] to his deputy, Vice Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]], after Sharon suffers a massive [[hemorrhagic stroke]].
* January 25, 2006 – [[Hamas]] wins the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election]].
* December 30, 2006 – Former leader of Iraq Saddam Hussein is [[Execution of Saddam Hussein|executed]].
* 2007 – The [[King of Nepal|King]] of [[Nepal]] is suspended from exercising his duties by the newly formed [[Interim legislature of Nepal|interim legislature]] on January 15, 2007.
* [[Pakistani state of emergency, 2007|2007 political crisis in Pakistan]], [[Pervez Musharraf]] resigns as [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Army Staff]] after the [[assassination of Benazir Bhutto]].
* 2008 – [[Nepal]] becomes the youngest democracy of the world by transforming from a [[constitutional monarchy]] to a [[socialist republic]] on May 28, 2008.
* [[2008 Thai political crisis|2008–10 Thai political crisis]] and [[2010 Thai political protests]] by "red shirts" demonstrations.
* [[2009 Iranian election protests]] – The [[2009 Iranian presidential election]] sparked massive protests in Iran and around the world against alleged electoral fraud and in support of defeated candidate [[Mir-Hossein Mousavi]]. During the protests the Iranian authorities closed universities in Tehran, blocked web sites, blocked cell phone transmissions and text messaging,<ref name="opposition1">{{cite news |first1=Robert F. |last1=Worth |first2=Nazila |last2=Fathi |title=Protests Flare in Tehran as Opposition Disputes Vote |date=June 13, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/world/middleeast/14iran.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711155202/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/world/middleeast/14iran.html |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> and banned rallies.<ref name="JohnsonMurphy">{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Knight |title=Iranian protester killed after opposition rally |date=June 15, 2009 |agency=ABC News. ''abc.net.au'' |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-06-16/iran-protester-killed-after-anti-government-rally/1715122 |access-date=March 8, 2012 |archive-date=May 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514073054/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-06-16/iran-protester-killed-after-anti-government-rally/1715122 |url-status=live}}</ref> Several demonstrators in Iran were killed or imprisoned during the protests. Dozens of human casualties were reported or confirmed.<ref name="Iran official says 36 killed in post-vote unrest">{{cite news |title=Iran official says 36 killed in post-vote unrest |date=September 10, 2009 |agency=AFP |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j8GPoWmrf2qerPWQNHb8Z9eGjT3Q |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125145827/http://www.google.com/hosted/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iaWYtGitSBRRBJkDanoZ1gwP4DBA |title=Google.com |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-date=February 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218222812/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iaWYtGitSBRRBJkDanoZ1gwP4DBA |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Lake, Eli. "[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/25/opposition-alters-tactics-to-avoid-protest-deaths/ Iran protesters alter tactics to avoid death]". ''[[The Washington Times]]''. (June 25, 2009) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023171901/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/25/opposition-alters-tactics-to-avoid-protest-deaths/|date=October 23, 2013 }}</ref>
* [[Death and funeral of Corazon Aquino]] – Former President [[Corazon Aquino]] of the [[Philippines]] died of [[cardiorespiratory arrest]] on August 1, 2009, at the age of 76 after being in hospital from June 2009, and being diagnosed with [[colorectal cancer]] in March 2008.

==== Europe ====
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|[[Treaty of Lisbon]]]]
[[File:Tarja Halonen in 2000.png|thumb|[[Tarja Halonen]] served as [[Finland]]'s 11th President and the first female head of state from 2000 to 2012.]]
* The [[Mayor of London]] is an elected politician who, along with the [[London Assembly]] of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of [[Greater London]]. The role, created in 2000 after the [[London devolution referendum]], was the first directly elected mayor in the United Kingdom.
* The Netherlands becomes the first country in the world to fully legalize [[same-sex marriage]] on April 1, 2001.
* [[Silvio Berlusconi]] becomes [[Prime Minister of Italy]] in 2001 and again in 2008, after two years of a government held by [[Romano Prodi]], dominating the political scene for more than a decade and becoming the longest-serving post-war Prime Minister.
* [[European integration]] makes progress with the definitive circulation of the euro in twelve countries in 2002 and the widening of [[European Union]] to 27 countries in 2007. A [[European Constitution]] bill is rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, but a similar text, the [[Treaty of Lisbon]], is drafted in 2007 and [[Signing of the Treaty of Lisbon|finally adopted]] by the 27 members countries.
* June 1–4, 2002 – The [[Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II]] was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries.<ref name="Buck50">{{cite web |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/TheQueenandspecialanniversaries/TheQueensGoldenJubilee/50factsaboutTheQueensGoldenJubilee.aspx |last=The Royal Household |title=Her Majesty The Queen > Jubilees and other milestones > Golden Jubilee > 50 facts about The Queen's Golden Jubilee |publisher=Queen's Printer |access-date=November 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054720/http://www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/TheQueenandspecialanniversaries/TheQueensGoldenJubilee/50factsaboutTheQueensGoldenJubilee.aspx |archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Blair |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Blair |date=November 23, 2000 |publication-date=January 13, 2003 |contribution=House of Commons Debate |editor-last=House of Commons Library |editor-link=House of Commons Library |editor2-last=Pond |editor2-first=Chris |title=Golden Jubilee 2002 |page=5 |location=Westminster |publisher=Queen's Printer |id=SN/PC/1435 |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-01435.pdf |access-date=November 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605082313/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-01435.pdf |archive-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Color revolutions]]: The [[Rose Revolution]] in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] leads to the ousting of [[Eduard Shevardnadze]] and the end of the Soviet era of leadership in the country.
* [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] replaced [[José María Aznar]] as President of the Government of Spain in 2004.
* [[Color revolutions]]: The [[Orange Revolution]] in Ukraine occurs in the aftermath of the [[2004 Ukrainian presidential election]].
* [[Pope John Paul II]] dies on April 2, 2005. [[Pope Benedict XVI]] is elected on April 19, 2005.
* [[Angela Merkel]] becomes the first female [[Chancellor of Germany]] in 2005.
* The [[St Andrews Agreement]] signed in [[St Andrews]], [[Fife]], [[Scotland]] to restore the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] and bring in the principle of policing by consent with the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] with all parties in 2006.
* [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] is elected President of France in 2007 succeeding [[Jacques Chirac]], who had held the position for 12 years.
* [[Gordon Brown]] succeeds [[Tony Blair]] as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] in 2007.
* [[Tony Blair]] was officially confirmed as Middle East envoy for the United Nations, European Union, United States, and Russia in 2007.
* [[Dmitry Medvedev]] succeeded [[Vladimir Putin]] as the [[President of Russia]] in 2008.
* Parties broadly characterised by political scientists as being [[Right-wing populism|right-wing populist]] soar throughout the 2000s, in the wake of increasing anti-Islam and anti-immigration sentiment in most Western European countries.<ref name="spie" /> By 2010, such parties (albeit often significant differences between them) were present in the national parliaments of Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Greece.<ref name="spie" /> In Austria, Italy and Switzerland, the [[Freedom Party of Austria]], [[Lega Nord]] and [[Swiss People's Party]], respectively, were at times also part of the national governments, and in Denmark, the [[Danish People's Party]] tolerated a right-liberal minority government from 2001 throughout the decade.<ref name="spie">{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,719842,00.html |work=Der Spiegel |title=Continent of Fear: The Rise of Europe's Right-Wing Populists |date=September 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311153412/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0%2C1518%2C719842%2C00.html |archive-date=March 11, 2012 |url-status=dead}}, [http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,719842-2,00.html Part 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203114539/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,719842-2,00.html |date=December 3, 2010 }}, [http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,719842-3,00.html Part 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204024055/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,719842-3,00.html |date=December 4, 2010 }}</ref> While not being present in the national parliaments of France and the United Kingdom, [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]] of the [[National Front (France)|National Front]] came second in the first round of the [[2002 French presidential election]]s, and in the [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009 European Parliament election]], the [[UK Independence Party]] came second, beating even the Labour Party, while the [[British National Party]] managed to win two seats for the first time.

=== World leaders ===
{{Main|List of state leaders in the 2000s}}