Power, Politics, and Conflict in World History, 1990-2014

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to power, politics, and conflict from 1990 to 2014, as discussed in the provided lecture notes.

Gorbachev, Mikhail

The U.S.S.R. premier after 1985, known for urging the reduction of nuclear armament and for implementing policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring).

Glasnost

A policy of Mikhail Gorbachev in the late 1980s that promoted political openness and allowed greater freedom of expression in the Soviet Union.

Perestroika

The policy of economic restructuring in the U.S.S.R. initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in the late 1980s, allowing more private ownership and decentralized control in industry and agriculture.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

Death squads

Unofficial armed groups that engage in extrajudicial killings, often targeting political dissidents and perceived opponents in the context of civil conflict.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group, exemplified by events in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s.

Tiananmen Square

A site in Beijing where pro-democracy protests were violently suppressed by the Chinese government in June 1989, resulting in numerous deaths.

NATO intervention

Military action taken by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, notably in the 1990s to address conflicts and protect civilians during the Yugoslav Wars.

Arab Spring

A series of protests and uprisings across the Arab world beginning in 2010, aiming to end authoritarian rule and establish democratic governance.

Ethnic cleansing

The practice of removing an ethnic or religious group from a particular area by force or intimidation, as seen in the Balkans during the Yugoslav Wars.