GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP IGCSE

Democracy

A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

Authoritarianism

A government that concentrates political power in an authority not responsible to the people (North Korea

Dictatorship

A ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force (Thailand)

Sovereignty

It was believed that sovereignty came from the people, god, and violence. It is thought that it was because of god that they were made as the king or the leader.

International Relations

The way in which two or more nations interact with and regard each other, especially in the context of political, economic, or cultural relationships.

The State

A nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.

Power

The ability to influence what happens, power is the capacity of an individual to influence the conduct (behaviour) of others. (Authority... ). The ability to influence/change events in politics.

Governance

The action or manner of governing a state, organization, etc.

Legitimacy

Conformity to the law or to the rules. "Refusal to recognize the legitimacy of a government or ruling party"

Transparency

In politics, transparency is used as a means of holding public officials accountable and fighting corruption. When a government's meetings are open to the press and the public, its budgets may be reviewed by anyone, and its laws and decisions are open to discussion, it is seen as transparent.

Accountability

The fact or condition of being accountable; responsible for one's own actions or that of a collective.

Rule Of Law

The restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws.

Rule By Law

principal meaning is that the power of the Government and all government servants shall be derived from law as expressed in legislation and the judicial decisions made by independent courts.

Human Rights

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your life. These basic rights are based on shared values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948

Basic Rights

The basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are considered to be entitled, often held to include the rights to life, liberty, equality, and a fair trial, freedom from slavery and torture, and freedom of thought and expression.

Civil Rights

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Political Rights

The rights that involve participation in the establishment or administration of a government and are usually held to entitle the adult citizen to exercise of the franchise, the holding of public office, and other political activities

Social/Cultural
Rights

involves the social and cultural aspects. An example of socioculturalism is a focus of study in anthropology. An example of socioculturalism is knowing about the people around you and their family backgrounds. A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something. That which is morally correct, just, or honourable.

Economic Rights

Economic Rights guarantee adequate sustenance ,housing, such as the right to education, right to housing, right to an adequate standard of living, right to health, victims' rights and the right to science and culture.

Universal Rights

These are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to all of us, from birth until death. ... These values are defined and protected by law.

International Law

A body of rules established by custom or treaty and recognized by nations as binding in their relations with one another.

The Role of the United Nations

The main function of the United Nations is to preserve international peace and security. ... Any state, whether it is a member of the UN or not, may bring any dispute or situation that endangers international peace and security to the attention of the Security Council or the General Assembly.

Responsibility To Protect (R2P)

The Responsibility to Protect (R2P or RtoP) is a global political commitment which was endorsed by all member states of the United Nations at the 2005 World Summit in order to address its four key concerns to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Intervention

The action or process of intervening. Interference by a state in another's affairs.

Non Intervention

The principle or practice of not becoming involved in the affairs of other countries

Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines.

Autocracy

Autocracy is a form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual. I.e. A non democratic system of government

Development

Development is the process in which a country is improving, it can be in many different sectors such as economical, education. etc.

GDP

Gross Domestic Product is the entire market value of a country's goods and services.

GDP Per Capita

Gross Domestic Product Per Capita tells us how wealthy the people are in a particular country, which is more of a true representation of how wealthy the whole population is rather than just the few wealthiest.

Economic development

Economic growth deals with an increase in the level of output, but economic development is related to an increase in output coupled with improvement in the social and political welfare of people within a country. Therefore, economic development encompasses both growth and welfare values.

Human Development Index (HDI)

Human Development Index is an index used to gauge how developed a country is, it uses indexes of many different aspects such as Economical, expected years of education and life expectancy. etc.

Happy Planet Index (HPI)

The Happy Planet Index measures what matters to healthy, happy citizens: sustainable wellbeing for all. It tells us how well nations are doing at achieving long, happy, sustainable lives.

Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs)

LEDC is an abbreviation for Less Economically Developed Country or we may know it as a developing country. Countries that are claimed to be LEDCs are relatively poor countries, LEDCs are countries with a low standard of living and a much lower GDP.. But the question should be asked - what defines if a country is a poor country or not?

More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs)

MEDCs are countries which have a high standard of living and a large GDP. Generally most of the southern hemisphere is less developed, while countries in the northern hemisphere are more developed.

Developing Countries

Developing countries are counties that have a relatively lower Human Development Index, and example of a developing country could be Nigeria due to its low life expectancy resulting in a low HDI

Migration

Migration is the act of moving from one place to another and they wish to settle at that place, such as a student moving from HK to the UK to study.

Push factors

"Push" factors are conditions in migrants' home countries that make it difficult or even impossible to live there. Common "push" factors include violence, gender inequality, political corruption, environmental degradation and climate change, as well as lack of access to adequate health care and education.

Pull factors

"Pull" factors are circumstances in the destination country that make it a more attractive place to live than their home countries. Common "pull" factors include more economic and work opportunities, the possibility of being reunited with family members, and a better quality of life, including access to adequate education and health care.

Refugees

Refugees is a person that is displaced and is forced out of a country due to many reasons such as the political environment or conflict. An example would be Syrian refugees moving to Europe.

International Organisations

International organization, institution drawing membership from at least three states, having activities in several states, and whose members are held together by a formal agreement. Notable examples include the United Nations (UN), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Council of Europe (COE), International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Police Organization (INTERPOL).

Intergovernmental Organisations (IGOs)

An intergovernmental organisation (IGO) or international organisation is an organisation composed primarily of sovereign states (referred to as member states), or of other intergovernmental organisations. IGOs are established by a treaty that acts as a charter creating the group. An example would be the International Organization for Migration.

Sustainability (economic, social and environmental)

Sustainability is most often defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It has three main pillars: economic, environmental, and social. These three pillars are informally referred to as people, planet and profits. Sustainability is the state in which the things we use (power, items) are all renewable and will not be used up. For example wind power or solar energy.

Environmental Issues

Major current environmental issues may include climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, and resource depletion. The conservation movement lobbies for protection of endangered species and protection of any ecologically valuable natural areas, genetically modified foods and global warming.

International Aid

Foreign aid, the international transfer of capital, goods, or services from a country or international organization for the benefit of the recipient country or its population. Aid can be economic, military, or emergency humanitarian (e.g., aid given following natural disasters).

Remittances

A remittance is a transfer of money, often by a foreign worker to an individual in their home country. Money sent home by migrants competes with international aid as one of the largest financial inflows to developing countries.

NGOs

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a non-profit group that functions independently of any government. NGOs, sometimes called civil societies, are organized on community, national and international levels to serve a social or political goal such as humanitarian causes or the environment. An example is the UN.

Charities

An organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need. An example is FeedingHK, which helps to feed those in need in HK.

Free Trade

Is a policy in which the government doesn't do anything about the trades coming in and out, without restrictions.

Fair Trade

Fair trade is made to allow workers in developing countries to receive the right pay. An example of this could be workers in Africa making coffee beans. They are paid quite little so fair trade will help them.

Global commons

Global commons is a term typically used to describe international, supranational, and global resource domains in which common-pool resources are found. Global commons include the earth's shared natural resources, such as the high oceans, the atmosphere and outer space and the Antarctic in particular.

Communications Technology

An extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications

Globalisation

The integration of technologies between many different countries and people

Technology Leapfrogging

Areas with poorly developed technology can move forward rapidly through the adoption of modern systems without going through intermediary steps

Inequality

Inequality occurs when resources in a given society are distributed unevenly, typically through norms of allocation, that engender specific patterns along lines of socially defined categories of persons

Diaspora

The dispersion or spread of a people from their original homeland

Artificial Intelligence

AI is the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.

Bionics

The study of mechanical systems that function like living organisms or parts of living organisms

Identity Theft

The fraudulent practice of using another person's name and personal information in order to obtain credit, loans, etc.

Social Media

An interactive digitally-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation or sharing/exchange of information, ideas, career interests, and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks

Energy Saving Technologies

Relates to products, systems, etc. that use as little electricity, gas, electricity, etc. as possible: an energy-saving appliance/light/product. energy-saving technology/materials.

Renewable Energy

Energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

The process of capturing waste carbon dioxide, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere

Cyberspace

Cyberspace is a time-dependent set of interconnected information systems and the human users that interact with these digital systems

24 Hour News Reporting

Is 24-hour investigation and reporting of news, concomitant with fast-paced lifestyles. ... A complete news cycle consists of the media reporting on some event, followed by the media reporting on public and other reactions to the earlier reports.

Global community

the people or nations of the world, closely connected by modern telecommunications

Telecommunication

Communication over a distance by cable, telegraph, telephone, or broadcasting

Freedom of speech

The principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction

Online Identity

A social identity that an Internet user establishes in online communities and websites

Climate Change

a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

Bias

prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

Cyberterrorism

The politically motivated use of computers and information technology to cause severe disruption or widespread fear in society

Censorship

The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security

National boundary

Places of interaction between territorially based socioeconomic systems

Printed Media

Any written or pictorial form of communication produced mechanically or electronically using printing, photocopying

Asylum seeker

a person who seeks safety and protection away from their home country.

Community

a group of people that share common characteristics.

Cultural globalisation

the rapid spread and exchange of ideas, attitudes, meaning, values, and cultural products between different people in different cultures.

Cultural identity

the shared characteristics of a group of people belonging to a particular culture.

Culture

the way of life, customs, and beliefs of people in a particular country or region.

Global village

Where individual group attachments to ethnic and religious identities are replaced by a shared identity, based on the principles of global citizenship.

Identity

the characteristics of a person or thing that distinguish them from others. e.g hair colour, personality, culture...

National identity

a person's sense of belonging to a certain nation, such as a Chinese citizen identifying with China and its culture/politics.

Anti-Globalists

People opposing globalization believe that international agreements and global financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization, undermine local decision-making.

International Migration

when people cross borders of countries for example a person migrating from China to India

Push Factors

factors that will make a person want to migrate away from a country examples of push factors could be wars, natural disasters and political reasons. etc.

pull factors

reasons why a person will migrate to a country, this mainly consists of benefits, this can be because of job/business opportunities, family interests.

Tourism

travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours.

Ethnicity

a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups such as a common set of traditions, ancestry, language, history

Women's Rights

the right to live free from violence and discrimination; to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; to be educated; to own property; to vote; and to earn an equal wage.

Ageing Population

Globally, the population aged 65 and over is growing faster than all other age groups. This is the amount of citizens who will need more support & care as they get older adding to a country's expenditure.

Cultural change

a term used in public policy making that emphasizes the influence of cultural capital on individual and community behavior. It has been sometimes called repositioning of culture, which means the reconstruction of the cultural concept of a society

Global 'Middle Class'

This is earning enough money in your part of the world to be able to afford the basics of food, clothing and shelter and then having some money left over to spend how you want. ... you fall in the global middle class.

Tradition

a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past.

Modernity

a topic in the humanities and social sciences, is both a historical period and the ensemble of particular socio-cultural norms, attitudes and practices that arose in the wake of the Renaissance - in the "Age of Reason" of 17th-century thought and the 18th-century of "Enlightenment".

Cultural Values

the core principles and ideals upon which an entire community exists. This is made up of several parts: customs, which are traditions and rituals; values, which are beliefs; and culture, which is all of a group's guiding values.

Cultural Diversity

describing that a community has many different cultures. For example, Hong kong is a very culturally diverse place because it has many cultures such as Indian Chinese English. etc.

discrimination

a prejudiced treatment of a person because of their race, gender this can be in the form of
harassment and bans because of their race.

Artificial intelligence

computers designed to think and act like humans.