Final answer:
The stresses of the 21st century have impacted Europe environmentally, demographically, and economically. Challenges include environmental degradation, sociopolitical strains due to immigration, shifting demographics due to declining family sizes, and the need for economic cooperation in a globalized world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stresses of the 21st century have significantly affected Europe in various ways. The high human population densities from urbanization have resulted in environmental strains such as significant deforestation, loss of natural habitat, and a decreased level of biodiversity.
Despite the stabilizing presence of the European Union (EU), challenges persist with the union facing the UK's departure, the national debt crisis in Greece, and the refugee crisis originating from conflict-torn regions in the Middle East.
In response to globalization, European countries have largely shifted from competition to cooperation, emphasizing economic integration over historic national rivalries. However, the specter of past conflicts, including the World Wars and the Cold War, stokes caution among nations about a dominant Germany and the EU's evolution.
Cultural tensions have also emerged due to the increase of non-European immigrants, spurring debates on the continent's identity and the balance between cultural heritage and economic progress. Social changes such as declining family sizes, due to factors like high costs of living and changes in personal choices regarding education and careers among European women, also underscore the demographic shifts taking place in Europe.
Moreover, Europe's role in the globalized economy is both a source of strength and a point of tension, as technological advancements and global market dynamics present new challenges and opportunities for the continent.