POLS 271 International Politics Final

actor

An individual, group, state, or organization that plays a major role in world politics.

global politics

The politics of global social relations in which the pursuit of power, interests, order, and justice transcends regions and continents.

government

The people and agencies that have the power and legitimate authority to determine who gets what, when, where, and how within a given territory.

international relations

The field of international politics that concerns the interactions across national borders among states, other entities, organizations, and individuals on a wide range of security and non-security issues.

levels of analysis

Analysts may examine factors at various levels: individual, domestic, systemic, and global.

nation

A group of people who feel a common identity due to a shared language, culture, and history.

nation-state

A political community in which the state claims legitimacy on the grounds that it represents all citizens.

nonstate actor

Any participant in global politics that is neither acting in the name of government nor created by government.

transnational actor

Any nongovernmental actor that has dealings with any actor from another country or with an international organization.

state

An organized political entity with a permanent population, a well-defined territory, and a government.

arms race

As states build up their military to address threats, they create insecurity in other states, leading to an arms race.

balance of power

A state of affairs in which there is parity and stability among competing forces.

bipolar

An international political order in which two states dominate all others.

Cold War

The period defined by ideological conflict and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.

containment

An American political strategy for resisting perceived Soviet expansion.

hegemon

A single, overwhelmingly powerful state that exercises predominant influence over the global system.

multipolar

An international system with more than two dominant power centers.

national self-determination

The right or desire of distinct national groups to become states and to rule themselves.

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Ended the Thirty Years' War and delineated political rights and authority of European monarchs.

sphere of influence

The area dominated by a great power.

Superpower

A state with a dominant position in the international system, projected power globally.

Thirty Years' War (1618–1648)

The last of the great wars in Europe fought nominally for religion.

Treaty of Versailles, 1919

Formally ended World War I.

Warsaw Pact

A mutual defense agreement signed in 1955 by the USSR and several communist states.

anarchy

A system operating in the absence of any central government.

collective security

A security regime based on the principle of a collective response to aggression.

constructivism

An approach that focuses on the impact of ideas in international politics.

feminism

A critical theory examining the intersection of gender and global politics.

liberalism

A theoretical approach arguing for human rights, parliamentary democracy, and free trade.

Marxism

A critical theory of capitalism from the workers' perspective.

power

The capacity to do things and affect others to achieve desired outcomes.

realism

A theory that views the nation-state as the most important actor in international politics.

security dilemma

When one state's efforts to improve security create insecurity in others.

self-help

The principle that in anarchy, actors must rely on themselves.

coercive diplomacy

The use of diplomatic and military methods to force a state to concede.

diplomacy

The process by which international actors communicate to resolve conflicts without war.

economic sanctions

Coercive monetary measures to induce state behavioral changes.

failed or fragile state

A state that fails to provide basic services and security for its citizens.

foreign policy

The articulation of national interests and the means to secure them in the international arena.

great power

A state with the resources to shape the world beyond its borders.

hard power

Material threats and inducements employed to achieve state goals.

soft power

Influence deriving from a country's attractive political and social values.

ideal interests

Psychological, moral, and ethical goals a state pursues.

material interests

Physical goals of state officials in setting policy.

levels of analysis in foreign policy

Factors influencing foreign policy: individual, national, and systemic.

modern state

A political unit where citizens see the state as legitimate and have services monopolized.

national interest

The material and ideational goals of a nation-state.

nationalism

The idea of nations as primary sources of political identity and loyalty.

bilateral

Relationships or agreements between two states.

collective security

An arrangement where each state's security is a collective concern.

European Union

A union formally created in 1992 for regional cooperation and integration.

Global governance

Regulation of transnational issues by states and international organizations.

intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)

Institutions created by states to make collective decisions on global problems.

International organization

An institution with formal procedures and three or more member countries.

League of Nations

The first permanent international security organization aimed at preventing wars.

multilateralism

States working together to find solutions to common problems.

multinational corporations (MNC)

Businesses with operations worldwide.

nongovernmental organization (NGO)

Grassroots organizations pursuing policy goals without governmental ties.

Peacekeeping

The interposition of third-party military personnel in conflict zones.

Responsibility to protect

UN resolution marking the community's duty to prevent mass atrocities.

State sovereignty

The principle that states are equal under law and protected from outside interference.

Supranational organization

An authoritative international organization operating above nation-states.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace and security.

asymmetric warfare

Conflict between unequal military forces, often involving unconventional tactics.

civil war

Armed conflict within a country between government and insurgent groups.

democratic peace

Theory that democratic states do not fight each other.

internationalized civil war

Internal conflict with foreign intervention on behalf of insurgents.

interstate war

Sustained armed conflict between sovereign states.

military-industrial complex

The influence of defense industries and military on government.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

A military alliance of Western countries formed in 1949 for defense.

nuclear deterrence

Threats to use nuclear weapons to deter an adversary.

state-sponsored terrorism

Support provided by a state to foreign terrorists for policy goals.

arms control

Agreements to limit arms buildups and weapon types.

mutual assured destruction (MAD)

Deterrence system ensuring both sides can retaliate after a first strike.

Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)

International agreement to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

proliferation

The spread of weapon capabilities among states.

revolution in military affairs (RMA)

The impact of advanced technology on military conflict.

second-strike capability

A state's ability to retaliate after being attacked.

weapons of mass destruction (WMD)

Weapons defined by the UN that cause significant destruction.

Asian values

A critique of Western values, emphasizing collective rights.

displaced people

People forced from their homes but remaining in their country.

genocide

Deliberate extermination of an ethnic or minority group.

human development

Improvements in health, education, and economic and social well-being.

human rights

Inalienable rights entitled to all humans.

human security

The security of people regarding their dignity and human rights.

humanitarian intervention

Military action to protect people within a sovereign state.

natural law

The belief that humans have an essential nature dictating desired goods.

nonintervention

Principle that outside powers should not interfere in sovereign states.

refugees

Individuals fleeing to another country due to persecution.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The foundational document for human rights accepted by most states.

War crimes

Illegal acts committed during wars against civilians or POWs.

Bretton Woods system

Post-WWII economic accords establishing the IMF, World Bank, and GATT.

dollar standard

The US dollar as the key currency in international finance since 1947.

exchange rate

The rate at which one state's currency can be exchanged for another's.

free market

A market driven by supply and demand without government intervention.

globalization

Processes enhancing the interconnectedness among societies.

import quotas

Limits on specific products that can be imported.

international political economy

The study of politics and economics in terms of wealth distribution.

New International Economic Order (NIEO)

A UN resolution promoting participation of developing countries in economics.

protectionism

Policies to shield local industries from foreign competition.