1950s: The U.S.S.R. beat the U.S. into space with the launching of Sputnik in 1957.

Today: Russia insists on maintaining the oldest orbiting space station in hopes that tourism will bring revenue to its space agency. Meanwhile, the U.S. has had to pay part of Russia's contribution to the International Space Station to keep work on schedule.

1950s: Six European nations form the European Economic Community (EEC). Between them, the nations abolish mutual tariffs and begin laying the groundwork for a Common Market.

Today: Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. form a free-trade zone, NAFTA. The European Union more than doubles the number of countries in the EEC, and has its own currency, bureaucracy, and the beginnings of an EU military organization that will be separate from NATO.

Mexico: In 1998, 27 percent of the Mexican population lived below the poverty line...