POL106 Sem B Week 1 Lecture: The Making of Contemporary IR

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts from the lecture regarding the Cold War and the broader context of international relations.

The Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, roughly from 1947 to 1991.

Three Worlds

A concept introduced by Alfred Sauvy to classify countries based on their political alignment during the Cold War: the First World (capitalist), the Second World (communist), and the Third World (developing countries).

Decolonisation

The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial powers, significant during the Cold War.

NIEO

New International Economic Order, a set of proposals to reform the international economic system to benefit developing nations.

Détente

A period of relaxed tensions and improved relations between the US and the USSR from the late 1960s until the late 1970s.

Marshall Plan

A US initiative that provided aid to Western Europe following the devastation of World War II, aimed at economic recovery and containment of communism.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949 among the US, Canada, and several Western European nations.

SALT Treaties

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks; agreements between the US and the USSR to restrict the growth of their nuclear arsenals.

Non-Aligned Movement

A group of states that did not formally align with either the US or the USSR during the Cold War, promoting coexistence and cooperation.

Vietnam War

A conflict from 1955 to 1975 in which North Vietnam, backed by the USSR and China, fought against South Vietnam, supported by the US.