World Issues Terms & Definitions

Issues

Big problems that need a solution, affecting many people and with many sides to consider.

Problems

Specific, smaller challenges or difficulties that need to be solved.

Stakeholders

People or groups that are affected by or have an interest in an issue.

Confirmation Bias

Focusing on information that supports what you already believe.

Media Bias

When media presents news in a way that favors a particular point of view.

Mainstream Media

Large, well-known media outlets (TV, newspapers).

Alternative Media

Smaller or independent outlets that offer different views.

Setting the Agenda

Deciding which issues are most important for the public to focus on.

Manufacturing Consent

Influencing people to accept a particular point of view, usually by controlling the information they receive.

Propaganda

Information that is spread to influence people's opinions or behavior, often in a misleading way.

Fake News

False or misleading information presented as news to trick or confuse people.

Censorship

Controlling what information is allowed to be seen, often by governments.

Wag the Dog

A situation where a government distracts the public from a real issue by focusing attention on a fake or made-up issue.

Jargon

Special words or phrases used by a specific group of people, which can be difficult for others to understand.

Doublespeak

Language used to make something bad seem less bad or to hide the true meaning of something.

Eurocentric View of the World

Viewing the world from a European perspective, often ignoring or downplaying other cultures.

Mercator Projection

A map projection that distorts sizes near the poles.

Gall-Peters Projection

A map projection that tries to show countries' true sizes, but distorts shapes.

Core Countries

Rich and powerful countries.

Periphery Countries

Poorer, less developed countries.

Semi-Periphery Countries

Countries that are in between, with some wealth and power but not as much as core countries.

Globalization

The process of countries becoming more connected through trade, communication, and culture.

HDI (Human Development Index)

A measure of how well people in a country live, including factors like education, income, and health.

United Nations (UN)

An international organization that works on issues like peace, security, and human rights.

Security Council

A part of the UN that deals with international peace and security.

Geopolitics

The study of how geography and politics affect global relations.

Nation

A group of people who share common history, culture, or language.

State

A political entity or country with its own government and borders.

Nation-State

A country where the boundaries of the state match the boundaries of the nation.

Ideology

A system of ideas that guide political or economic actions.

Authoritarian Regime

A government where power is held by one leader or a small group, with little or no participation from the people.

Sovereignty

The right of a state to govern itself without outside interference.

Empires

Large political units that control many different territories and people, usually by force.

Confederations

A group of states with a weak central government, where each state keeps its independence.

Superimposed Borders

Borders drawn by outside powers, often without regard for local ethnic or cultural groups.

Cultural Sub-nationalism

People in a region or group identifying more with their own culture than with the larger national identity.

Colonialism

When a country takes control over another territory, often exploiting its resources and people.

Post-Colonialism

The period after countries gained independence from colonial powers, dealing with the lasting effects of colonialism.

Hard Power

Using military or economic force to get what you want.

Soft Power

Using persuasion, culture, or diplomacy to influence others.

Clash of Civilizations

The idea that future conflicts will be between different cultural or religious groups.

Demography

The study of populations, including their size, structure, and distribution.

Population Growth

The increase in the number of people in an area over time.

Birth Rate

The number of births per 1,000 people in a given year.

Death Rate

The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a given year.

Natural Increase

The difference between birth rate and death rate, showing population growth.

Population Pyramids

Graphs that show the age and sex distribution of a population.

Malthus Theory

A theory that population grows faster than food supply, leading to poverty and famine.

Dependency Load

The number of people who are too young or old to work and depend on others for support.

Agricultural Revolution

A period when farming methods improved, allowing populations to grow.

Industrial Revolution

A time when new machines and factories made production faster, leading to population growth.

Life Expectancy

The average age people are expected to live, which differs between men and women, and between developed and developing countries.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an area can support without damaging the environment.

Population Control Methods

Measures like family planning or government policies to reduce population growth.

Family Planning

Methods and education used to help families plan how many children to have.