Western Civ. Quarter 4 Vocabulary

anarchy

anarchy

a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority

appease

to make concessions to (someone, such as an aggressor or a critic) often at the sacrifice of principles

brinkmanship

the art or practice of pushing a dangerous situation or confrontation to the limit of safety especially to force a desired outcome

coalition 

a temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action

containment 

the act, process, or means of keeping something within limits

democratization 

to make democrative

demilitarization 

to do away with the military organization or potential of

decolonize

to free (a people or area) from colonial status : to relinquish control of (a subjugated people or area)

dictator 

a person granted absolute emergency power

Duma

a representative council in Russia

detente

the relaxation of strained relations or tensions (as between nations)

embargo 

an order of a government prohibiting the departure of commercial ships from its ports

espionage

the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company

ethnic cleansing 

the expulsion, imprisonment, or killing of an ethnic minority by a dominant majority in order to achieve ethnic homogeneity

genocide 

the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group

holocaust 

the mass slaughter of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during World War II

Inflation 

a continuing rise in the general price level usually attributed to an increase in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods and services

fascism  

a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascist)that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition

isolationism 

a policy of national isolation by abstention from alliances and other international political and economic relations

neutral

not aligned with a political or ideological grouping

ghetto  

a quarter of a city in which Jews were formerly required to live

infamy 

evil reputation brought about by something grossly criminal, shocking, or brutal

Leninism 

the political, economic, and social principles and policies advocated by Lenin especially : the theory and practice of communism developed by or associated with Lenin

Stalinism 

the political, economic, and social principles and policies associated with Stalin especially : the theory and practice of communism developed by Stalin from Marxism-Leninism and marked especially by rigid authoritarianism, widespread use of terror, and often emphasis on Russian nationalism

nuclear/denuclearize

being a weapon whose destructive power derives from an uncontrolled nuclear reaction

to remove nuclear arms from : prohibit the use of nuclear arms in

massacre 

the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty

comrade

from its use as a form of address by communists

propaganda 

the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

reparations 

the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury

segregation 

the separation or isolation of a race, class, or ethnic group by enforced or voluntary residence in a restricted area, by barriers to social intercourse, by separate educational facilities, or by other discriminatory means

terrorism 

the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion