2010s Overall

This decade began amid a global financial crisis and subsequent international recession between late 200s until 2012. The resulting European sovereign debt-crisis became more pronounced early in the decade and continued to affect the possibility of a global economic recovery.

Economic issues, such as austerity, inflation and an increase in commodity prices, led to unrest in many countries. Unrest in some countries, particularly in the Arab world, evolved into socioeconomic crisis triggering revolutions in the Middle East. Shifting so

Here are top 10 significant events of 2010s in my opinion:

#1 – 2016 American Presidential Election (2016)

The 2016 US Presidential election was held on November 8, 2016. The Republican nominee businessman Donald Trump and Indiana governor Mike Pence defeated the Democratic nominee former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and US senator from Virginia Tim Kaine in what was considered as one of the most contentious elections in the American history. Trump took office as 45th President and Pence as the 48th Vice-President on January 20, 2017.

#2 – Brexit (2016)

The UK’s EU membership referendum – commonly referred to as the Brexit referendum – took place on June 23, 2016 in the UK to ask the electorate whether the country should remain a member of or leave the European Union (EU). The result would then be facilitated through the European Union Referendum Act of 2015 and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

The referendum resulted in 51.9% of the votes cast being in favor of leaving the EU. Although the referendum was legally non-binding, the government of the time promised to implement the result. Parliament gave legal effect to the referendum by passing the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017. On March 29, 2017 the UK gave formal notice of intent to withdraw from the EU.

#3 – Edward Snowden Reveals NSA’s PRISM Project (2013)

PRISM is the code name for a program under which the United States National Security Agency (NSA) collects internet communications from various US companies.

PRISM began in 2007 in the wake of the passage of the Protect America Act under the Bush Administration. Its existence was leaked six years later by NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who warned that the extent of mass data collection was far greater than the public knew and included what he characterized as “dangerous” and “criminal” activities.

The disclosures were published by the Guardian and the Washington Post on June 6, 2013. Subsequent documents have demonstrated a financial arrangement between the NSA’s Special Source Operations division and PRISM partners in the millions of dollars.

#4 – Occupy Wall Street Movement (2011-2013)

Occupy Wall Street was a protest movement against economic inequality and the influence of money in politics that began in Zuccotti Park in New York City’s Wall Street financial district in September 2011. It gave rise to the wider Occupy movement in the US and other countries.

The main issues raised by Occupy Wall Street were social and economic inequality, greed, corruption and the undue influence of corporations on government – particularly from the financial services sector.

The movement’s slogan was “We are the 99%”, referring to income and wealth inequality in the US between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population. To achieve their goals protesters acted on consensus-based decisions made in general assemblies which emphasized redress through direct action over the petitioning to authorities.

The protesters were forced out of Zuccotti Park on November 15, 2011. Protesters then turned their focus to occupying banks, corporate headquarters, board meetings, foreclosed homes and college campuses.

#5 – Arab Spring (2010 – 2011)

The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. It began in response to corruption and economic stagnation and was influenced by the Tunisian Revolution. From Tunisia the protests then spread to five other countries, that are Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain, where either the ruler was deposed or major uprisings and social violence occurred including riots, civil wars, or insurgencies. Sustained street demonstrations took place in Morocco, Iraq, Algeria, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Sudan.

A single major slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab world is “the people want to bring down the regime”.

#6 – Election of Xi Jinping as President of PRC (2013)

Xi Jingping was elected President of the People’s Republic of China on March 14, 2013, in a confirmation vote by the 12th National People’s Congress in Beijing. He received 2,952 for, one vote against, and three abstentions. He replaced Hu Jintao who retired after serving two terms.

Within hours of his election, Xi discussed cyber security and North Korea with US President Barack Obama over the phone. Obama announced the visits of treasury and state secretaries Jacob Lew and John F. Kerry to China the following week.

Xi is the first CCP General Secretary born after the establishment of the PRC. Since assuming power, Xi has introduced far-ranging measures to enforce party discipline and to impose internal unity. His anti-corruption campaign has led to the downfall of prominent incumbent and retired Communist Party officials, including a member of the Politburo Standing Committee. He has also enacted or promoted a more assertive foreign policy, particularly with regard to China-Japan relations, China’s claims in the South China Sea and its advocacy for free trade and globalization. He has sought to expand China’s African and Eurasian influence through the Belt and Road Initiative.

#7 – Facebook Buys Instagram (2012) and WhatsApp (2014)

Instagram, a photo and video-sharing and social networking app, was acquired by Facebook in 2012 in consideration of $1.0 billion. Facebook bought Instagram as the photo-sharing company was garnering significant attention from venture capital firms and other investors. Some estimates indicate that Instagram generates more advertising revenue than its parent company.

When it acquired Instagram, Facebook opted to build and grow the Instagram app independently from Facebook platform. Instagram remains a separate platform to this day.

WhatsApp is a messenger and calling service available to users throughout the world. The platform was launched in 2009 as a low-cost alternative to standard text messaging services. Throughout much of its history WhatsApp has allowed users to send messages and make calls directly to other users for no cost, regardless of location.

Facebook acquired WhatsApp on February 19, 2014 in consideration of $19.0 billion.

#8 – Signing of the Paris Climate Accord (2015)

The Paris Agreement, which is often referred to as the Paris Climate Accords, is an international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015. It covers climate change mitigation, adaption and finance. The Agreement was negotiated by 196 parties at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference near Paris, France.

The Paris Agreement was opened for signature on April 22, 2016 (that is the Earth Day) at a ceremony in New York. After the EU ratified the agreement, sufficient countries had ratified the Agreement responsible for enough of the world’s greenhouse gases for the Agreement to enter into force on November 4, 2016. As of November 2021, 193 members of the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change are parties to the agreement. Of the four UNFCCC member states which have not ratified the agreement, the only major emitter is Iran. The US withdrew from the Agreement in 2020, but rejoined in 2021.

#9 – SpaceX Lands Orbital Rocket Successfully (2015)

Since June 2010,rockets from Falcon 9 family of Space X have been launched 132 times with 130 full mission successes. The Falcon design features reusable first-stage boosters, which land either on a ground pad near the launch site or on a drone ship at sea.

In December 2015, Falcon 9 became the first rocket to land repulsively after delivering a payload into orbit. This achievement significantly reduced launch costs. Falcon family core boosters have successfully landed 95 times in 106 attempts. A total of 29 boosters have flown multiple missions, with a record of ten missions by the same booster.

#10 – China Consolidates its Power (2012-2019)

During the 2010s China has been the main source of global economic growth. Although China’s growth rate over the past decade has declined to its present 6.2%, it is still one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Today its economy is more than twice as big as it was in 2010.

This story, as pertaining the past decade, is one of the more remarkable economic transformations in the history. The rise of China significantly shifted the geo-political balances and it surely will have a huge impact on China’s relations with its neighboring countries during the 2020s.

Don’t forget to see my other articles about top 10 iconic events of 2000s and 2010s:

• 10 Significant Events of 1990s
• 10 Significant Events of 2000s