Retrospective 2001

World politics and international affairs

• George W. Bush becomes President of the United States, succeeding Bill Clinton, while Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair, Gerhard Schröder, Jiang Zemin, Vladimir Putin, Ariel Sharon, and Mohammad Khatami lead their respective countries.  
• The G8 Summit in Genoa is marked by violence and strong protest movements.  
• The World Social Forum is held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as a counterpoint to neoliberal global policies.  
• Slobodan Milošević is transferred to The Hague to be tried for war crimes.  
• The Black Spring begins in Kabylia (Algeria), with brutal repression of local protests.  
• Zimbabwe, Angola, the DR Congo, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia remain focal points of regional conflict or tension.

September 11 and its aftermath

• The September 11 attacks destroy the World Trade Center, hit the Pentagon, and target the Capitol (thwarted by passenger revolt).  
• Nearly 3,000 people are killed in the attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.  
• The War in Afghanistan begins, targeting the Taliban regime and its allies.  
• The USA PATRIOT Act is passed, ushering in a new era of security policies.  
• Fear spreads with the anthrax attacks, heightening public anxiety.  
• The war on terror becomes a global priority.

Culture, music, and cinema

• The Harry Potter (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) and Lord of the Rings film sagas debut and dominate the box office.  
• Gladiator by Ridley Scott (with Russell Crowe) wins the Academy Award for Best Picture.  
• Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington receive acting Oscars.  
• A Beautiful Mind by Ron Howard is critically acclaimed.  
• The Son’s Room (La stanza del figlio) by Nanni Moretti wins the Palme d’Or at Cannes.  
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a major international success.  
• In music, U2 shines with “Beautiful Day”, Steely Dan with Two Against Nature, and Linkin Park gains worldwide recognition.  
• The year sees the deaths of major figures: Charles Trenet, Morris, Anthony Quinn, Gilbert Bécaud, George Harrison, John Lee Hooker, Robert Ludlum, Jack Lemmon, Isaac Stern, Léopold Sédar Senghor.

Sports

• The Los Angeles Lakers, New England Patriots, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Detroit Red Wings win their respective North American championships.  
• In football, Michael Owen wins the Ballon d’Or.  
• In Formula 1, Michael Schumacher dominates with Ferrari.  
• Tiger Woods and Venus Williams leave their mark on tennis.  
• Lance Armstrong continues his winning streak in the Tour de France.  
• Bayern Munich wins the UEFA Champions League.  
• Hélio Castroneves wins the Indianapolis 500.  
• Goran Ivanišević surprises the tennis world with his Wimbledon victory.  
• Laurent Fignon remains a key figure in French cycling.

Science, technology, and economy

• Dennis Tito becomes the first space tourist aboard Mir, marking a milestone in commercial spaceflight.  
• Wikipedia is founded, revolutionizing access to knowledge.  
• Microsoft releases Windows XP, and Apple introduces the first iPod, paving the way for iTunes.  
• The first Xbox is launched by Microsoft.  
• The Mini car is relaunched with a new design.  
• The Enron scandal erupts, exposing massive financial fraud.  
• ExxonMobil remains one of the world’s most powerful corporations.