Globalization, Consumerism, and Political Systems Vocabulary

Key thematic vocabulary covering global history, consumerism, labor policy, and political systems from the lecture notes.

(economic) supremacy

position in which a country/an economy is more powerful or advanced than others

industrialized country

country that has a lot of factories, etc.

Industrial Revolution

period in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and the US when machines began to be used to do work, and industry grew rapidly

secure markets

safe markets

slavery/slave trade

system of having slaves/the buying and selling of slaves, esp. Africans who were taken to America

taxation

system of charging taxes

transatlantic trade

trade/business involving countries on both sides of the Atlantic

transportation network

system of roads/channels/railroads to transport goods

triangular trade

slave trade involving the three continents Europe, Africa and America

acquisition of sth.

act of buying sth.

availability

fact that sb. is free to be contacted; the fact that sth. is there to be bought

consumer

sb. who buys and uses products and services

customer

sb. who buys goods or services from a shop, company, etc.

discount shopping

to go shopping at a store that sells goods cheaply

distribution of sth.

act of giving or delivering sth. to a number of people

efficiency

quality of doing sth. well without wasting money or time

industrialized mass production

when products are made in large numbers by industrial machines so they can be sold cheaply

to instil a desire

to put the idea in sb.'s mind that they want sth.

Internet retailer

online business

to line the shelves

to offer for sale in large amounts

mounting consumer debt

strongly rising amount of money customers have to pay back

online shopping portal

website where you can buy things

purchasing power

amount of money a person or group has available to spend

shipping

delivery of goods

range of products

selection of products

retailer/retail store

person or store that sells goods

company board

group of elected or appointed members who supervise the activities of a company

company pension plan

arrangement between a company and its employees (or a union representing the employees) to provide money (a retirement pension) for the employees' retirement

to dismiss

to officially remove sb. from their job

employment legislation

laws that govern the employer-employee relations and rights of employees; labour legislation

freelancing

working independently (for different companies)

amendment

addition to a law or document

to cast one's ballot/vote

to vote in an election

to declare sth. unconstitutional

to state that a law or rule is not allowed by the constitution of a country or organization

electorate

people in a country who have the right to vote

inaugural address

first speech of a new leader

inauguration

ceremony of putting sb. into an official position

legislation

law or set of laws

oath of office

formal promise sb. takes before undertaking the duties of an office

to run for president

to be a candidate in an election for president

separation of powers

principle of dividing the political power of a government into an executive, a legislative and a judicial branch

to serve a term

to spend a fixed or limited period of time in a job

system of checks and balances

principle of government in the US by which the President, Congress and the Supreme Court each have some control over the others

administration

government of a country at a particular time

to dissolve (parliament)

to officially end (parliament)

domestic policy

laws and policies that apply within a particular nation's borders

to be eligible to vote

to be legally allowed to vote

first-past-the-post system

voting system in which the person who gets the most votes is elected; majority vote

foreign policy

policy dealing with or involving other countries

(constitutional) monarchy

country with a king or queen, whose power is controlled by a set of laws and basic principles

proportional representation

political system in which parties are represented in parliament according to the number of votes they receive

universal suffrage

right of all eligible people in the country to vote

annual session

session which takes place every year

collective military action

military action that is carried out by more than one country, member state, etc.

diplomacy

job or activity of managing the relationships between countries

General Assembly

representatives of all the member nations of the United Nations

to impose sanctions

to use official orders or laws as a way of forcing a leader of another country to make political changes

to maintain peace

to make peace continue

to mediate between

to try to end a disagreement between two or more people or groups by talking to them

trade embargo

trade boycott

tribunal

type of court that is given official authority