Politics Chapter 15

Non‐State actors

Groups other than nation‐states that attempt to play a role in the international system; terrorist groups are one type of non‐state actor.

Isolationism

Avoidance of involvement in the affairs of other nations.

Containment

A policy designed to curtail the political and military expansion of a hostile power.

Preventive War

A policy of striking first when a nation fears that a foreign foe is contemplating hostile action.

Appeasement

The effort to forestall war by giving in to the demands of a hostile power.

Deterrence

An effort to prevent hostile action by promising to retaliate forcefully against an attacker.

Cold War

The period of struggle between the United States and the former Soviet Union lasting from the late 1940s to about 1990.

Nation-States

Political entities consisting of a people with some common cultural experience (nation) who also share a common political authority (state), recognized by other sovereignties (nation‐states).

World Trade Organization (WTO)

An international organization promoting free trade that grew out of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA)

A trade treaty between the United States, Canada, and Mexico to lower and eliminate tariffs among the three countries.

Bush Doctrine

A foreign policy based on the idea that the United States should take preemptive action against threats to its national security.

Executive Agreement

An agreement, made between the president and another country, that has the force of a treaty but does not require the Senate’s “advice and consent”.

Diplomacy

The representation of a government to other governments.

United Nations (UN)

An organization of nations founded in 1945 to be a channel for negotiation and a means of settling international disputes peaceably.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

An institution established in 1944 that provides loans and facilitates international monetary exchange.