PS 100 Final

Bretton Woods Institutions

The international financial institutions set up in 1944, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund by agreement of 43 countries.

Cold War

A conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, characterized by militarization without direct military conflict.

Empirical

Relating to observation and experience rather than theory or logic.

Epistemology

A branch of philosophy concerning the nature of knowledge and the distinction between fact and opinion.

Global North

Countries like Europe, North America, and Japan that industrialized first and have economic power through resources from the Global South.

Global South

Countries marginalized in the global political economy, often as a result of economic or legal colonization by Global North countries.

International relations

An interdisciplinary field studying global politics and its influences on national and local politics.

Positivism

An epistemology in international relations that knowledge comes from empirical data, interpreted through reason.

Racialize

The process of creating social hierarchies by attributing racial identities to differences.

Sovereignty

A state's control over its internal and foreign affairs.

Structural Violence

Social structures that systematically harm or disadvantage certain groups.

Commodification

Transforming something into a commodity to be sold.

Commodity fetishism

Understanding the economy through market relationships rather than human relationships.

Exchange Rates

The rate at which one currency is exchanged for another.

Foreign Currency

Money in a denomination different from one's own.

Gross Domestic Product

The total measurable output of a national economy valued in monetary terms.

Hierarchies of Difference

Stratification of status and wealth based on race, gender, class, and other social categories.

Inflation

Rising price levels without changes in underlying value, usually over a short term.

International Political Economy

The study of power and wealth across countries.

Market

The venue for exchanging goods and services and organizing economic relations.

Microfinance

Financial services providing loans and savings for those without access to banking.

Remittance Economies

Economies supported by funds sent home by migrant workers.

Social Construction

Shared understandings informing collective assumptions about the world.

Social reproduction

Work necessary for maintaining life, households, and community.

Environmental (In)security

Safety from environmental threats like disasters or pollutants.

Food (In)security

The lack of availability or certainty about basic food needs.

Health (In)security

Inadequate access to health resources and protection from physical harm.

Human Security

Meeting basic needs for security in terms of health, safety, and community.

Intersectional Security

Understanding security through multiple axes of vulnerability.

Nation

A group identifying itself as part of a political organization.

Nuclear Deterrence

A strategy to prevent nuclear warfare through the threat of retaliation.

Security/(In)security

The ability or inability to feel secure in various dimensions.

Security Narratives

Stories about in/security framed in conflict terms.

Womenandchildren

A term grouping women and children often seen as requiring protection.

Crimes Against Humanity

Widespread attacks directed at civilians.

Customary International Law

Legal rules based on long-term state practices.

General Principles

Recognized international legal principles.

Genocide

Intentional actions to destroy a designated group.

Human Rights

Rights entitled to all humans for living in dignity and security.

Indigenous Peoples

The earliest inhabitants of an area, asserting rights against colonialism.

International Conventions and Treaties

Agreements between states.

International Court of Justice

The UN's main judicial body resolving state disputes.

International Criminal Court

Tribunal prosecuting individuals for serious crimes.

International Law

Legal regulations governing relations among states.

International Organizations

Groups established by treaties involving multiple states.

Public Versus Private Spheres

Differences between public interests and private life.

Self-Determination

The right of states to control their external and internal affairs.

Slavery

A system treating people as property.

Socioeconomic Rights

Rights ensuring a dignified life free from material want.

Statism

The concept that states are central in the international system.

Torture

Deliberate infliction of suffering by state officials.

Universalism

A view asserting that some ideas have general applicability.

War Crimes

Acts violating international wartime conduct rules.

Women’s Rights

Entitlements for women to live autonomously and equally.

Austerity Measures

Policies to reduce budget deficits through cuts and tax increases.

Balance Of Payments

The difference in total payments into and out of a country.

Distributional Problems

Issues from unequal benefits in cooperative agreements.

Export-Processing Zones

Areas offering incentives for export-oriented growth.

Global Governance

Cooperative problem-solving structured through rules or institutions.

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

Organizations composed of multiple states working toward common goals.

Loan Conditionality

Conditions requiring policy adjustments for IMF loans.

Mandate

Obligations specified by IGOs for states.

Multinational Corporation

A corporation operating in multiple countries.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Private organizations pursuing common purposes across countries.

Subsidies

Financial support to maintain low prices of commodities.

Veto Power

The ability to block measures through a single negative vote.

Washington Consensus

Policy recommendations favoring trade liberalization and privatization.

Anarchy

A system without an overarching authority among states.

Balance Of Power

Distribution of power preventing domination by any single state.

Bipolarity

A power structure dominated by two states or coalitions.

Collective Security

An agreement among states to respond together to threats.

Constructivism

A theory stressing the significance of ideas in international relations.

Domination

Control by one actor over others through various means.

Globalization

Increased global interconnectedness of economies and cultures.

Hard Power

Influence through coercion or force.

Hegemony

Dominance of one actor shaping international norms.

Liberalism

A theory advocating cooperation and legal frameworks in politics.

Multilateralism

Coordinating policies in groups of three or more states.

Multipolarity

A global power distribution among three or more states.

National Interest

A state's goals justifying its foreign policies.

Realism

A theory focused on power, sovereignty, and national interests.

Soft Power

Influence through attraction rather than coercion.

Sphere Of Influence

Regions where a state holds significant power.

Developed Countries

Nations with high income and living standards.

Emerging Economies

Countries rapidly growing economically.

International Monetary Fund

An institution aiding countries with monetary issues.

Millennium Development Goals

International goals for poverty reduction and equality.

Political Economy

Study of the interaction between politics and economics.

Poverty

Lacking sufficient resources for basic needs.

World Bank

An organization providing funds for economic development.

Civil War

Internal conflict between groups within a country.

Correlation

Statistical relationship between two moving variables.

Non-State War

Conflict involving unofficial armed groups.

Peace

Absence of active conflict or violence.

Proxy War

A conflict where external powers influence opposing sides.

Spurious Correlation

Illusory connection between variables caused by a third factor.

State

A defined political entity with population and governance.

War

Organized armed conflict between political entities.

War (According To Correlates Of War Project)

A conflict with at least 1,000 battle-related deaths.

Androcentrism

Focus on male experiences, marginalizing other perspectives.