History definitions 1

Geopolitics

study of government and its policies as affected by physical geography

autonomy

(n.) self-government, political control

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Monarchy

A government in which power is in the hands of a single person and family for generations

Autocracy

a system of government by one person with absolute power.

tyrant

a cruel and oppressive ruler

independence

freedom from control by another government or country

Sovereignty

Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Diplomacy

the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad.

Diaspora

A dispersion of people from their homeland

mutual intelligibility

The ability of two people to understand each other when speaking different languages

Coup d'etat

A sudden overthrow of the government by a small group

refugee

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster

bilateral agreement

the resulting agreement when two nations create a joint policy

non-governmental organization (NGO)

Private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development.

terrorist

a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

diplomatic immunity

A privilege under which diplomats' activities fall outside the jurisdiction of the host country's national courts

insurgency

an organized rebellion aimed at overthrowing a constituted government through the use of subversion and armed conflict

infrastructure

the basic framework of a building or a system

Free Trade Agreement

an agreement between member countries to remove duties and trade barriers on products traded among them.

Schengen Agreement

The 1985 agreement between some - but not all - European Union member countries to reduce border formalities in order to facilitate free movement of citizens between member countries of this new "Schengenland." For example, today there are no border controls between France and Germany or between France and Italy.

United Nations

An international organization formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation.

African Union

organization formed in 2002 to promote unity among African states and to foster development and end poverty

Commonwealth of Nations

an association of nations consisting of the United Kingdom and its dependencies and many former British colonies that are now sovereign states but owe allegiance to the British Crown

Arab League

a regional political and economic organization focused on Arab unity and development

World Bank

A specialized agency of the United Nations that makes loans to countries for economic development, trade promotion, and debt consolidation.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

an international organization that acts as a lender of last resort, providing loans to troubled nations, and also works to promote trade through financial cooperation

Colombian Exchange

the transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and Europe, Asia, and Africa