glopo

power

power

the ability or capacity to do something in a particular way or effect change

sovereignty

the authority of a state to govern itself or another state

legitimacy

an actor or an action being commonly considered acceptable and provides the fundamental basis or rationale for all forms of governance and other ways of exercising power over others.

interdependence

refers to the mutual reliance between and among groups, organizations, geographic areas and/or states for access to resources that sustain living arrangements.

human rights

are basic claims and entitlements that, many argue, one should be able to exercise simply by virtue of being a human being.

justice

the quality of being fair or reasonable

liberty

refers to having freedom and autonomy. It is often divided into positive and negative aspects

equality

concept that all people, or groups of people, are seen as having the same intrinsic value.

development

a sustained increase in the standard of living and well-being of a level of social organization.

globalization

term used to describe how trade and technology have made the world into a more connected and interdependent place

inequality

refers to a state of affairs where equality between people or groups of people is not realized and the consequent potential compromises of justice and liberty.

sustainability

the idea that development should meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

peace

both the absence of conflict and violence as well as a state of harmonious relations.

conflict

serious incompatibility between two or more opinions, principles, or interests

violence

physical or psychological force afflicted upon another being.

non-violence

practice of advocating one's own or others' rights without physically harming the opponent.

global

refers to events and trends that have far-reaching and long-term impact across the world, cutting across national identities and interests.

international

refers to events and trends that have a narrower impact than global events and trends, but nonetheless have implications for several countries.

regional

refers to events and trends that have implications limited to a particular geographic region, such as the Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, etc.

national

refers to events and trends that have a limited impact within the geographical boundaries of a particular country.

local

refer to the geographic area in which social organization is created and in which culture is transmitted from one generation to the next.

community

once thought of as geographically based groups of people with similar interests, mutual support and cultural traits. but now commonly viewed as including not only spatial and ecological definitions, but institutional and emotional ones.

realism

theory that argues that global politics is dominated by states acting in their own self interest, prioritizing, first and foremost, national security

liberalism

have a more cooperative view of the world. a host of actors influence outcomes in global politics and share a primary concern for justice, liberty and equality.

green politics

theory advocating the notion of an intristic link between humankind and nature, sometimes linked to the gaia hypothesis

marxism

philosophy based on the materialist conception of history driven by a dialectical process in which internal contradictions within each mode of production, reflected in class conflict, lead to social revolution and the construction of a new and higher mode of production

post-structuralism

all ideas and concepts are expressed in language which itself is enmeshed in complex relations of power.

post colonialism

critical study of the legacy of colonialism and imperialism, focusing on the impact of human control and exploitation of colonized people and their lands

feminism

approach that focuses on exposing and critiquing gender bias in global politics

social constructivism

belief that there is no objective social or political reality independent of our understanding of it

soft power

The ability to influence other actors by persuading them to follow or agree to norms and aspirations that produce the desired behaviour.

hard power

The ability of one actor to influence another through the use of threats or rewards,

smart power

the use of soft power backed up by the possible use of hard power

power as a capability

traditionally defined by an attribute or possession, but more recently as potential or latent rather than actual power

structural power

the ability to shape the frameworks within which global actors relate to one another

relational power

is the ability of one actor to influence another actor in a manner not of their choosing.

analyze

break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure

compare

give an account of the similarities between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout

compare and contrast

give an account of similarities and difference between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout

contrast

give an account of the differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout

define

gives the precise meaning of a word, phrase, concept, or physical quantity

describe

give a detailed account

discuss

offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors, or hypotheses. opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence

distinguish

make clear the difference between two or more concepts or items

evaluate

make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations

examine

consider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers the assumptions and interrelationships of an issue

explain

give a detailed account including reasons or causes

identify

provide an answer from a number of possibilities

justify

give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion

outline

give a brief account or summary

suggest

propose a solution, hypothesis, or other possible answer

to what extent

consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported with appropriate evidence and sound argument

unipolar

in this type of system, there is but a single great power, implying an absence of constraints or potential rivals

bipolar

the existence of only two great powers thus reducing the chances of political miscalculation, offering clearer systems of deterrence, and stabilizing power relations

multipolar

these systems are regarded as inherently unstable due to a larger number of great powers increasing the possibility of great-power conflict, bias toward fluidity in alliances, and decentralized power structure

treaty of Westphalia

the agreement defining the modern understanding of state sovereignty whereby states are considered separate, independent entities, and autonomous actors operating in an anarchic environment

anarchy

a model for understanding international politics, its origins dating back to the emergence of the Westphalian sate-system in the seventeenth century. one of the core assumptions of realist theory centered on the fact that the international system lacks a supranational authority capable of regulating the behavior of states

multilateralism

involving three or more states in actions, negotiations, or agreements in global politics

non state actor (NSA)

any group or organization that has, or attempts to have, some political influence at any layer of analysis

unilateralism

one sidedness; a policy determined by the interests and objectives of a single state, unconstrained by other states and bodies

institutional NSA

non state actors having a clearly defined and recognizable structure, organization, and leadership (hierachy)

non-institutional NSA

non state actors lacking a clearly recognized structure, little to no organization, or leadership (hierarchy0

inter-governmental organization

an entity created by treaty, involving two or more nations, to work in good faith, on issues of common interest

non-governmental organization

a private, non commercial group or body which seeks to achieve its ends through non violent means

multi-national corporation

a company that has business operations in at least one country other than its home country

social movements

a loosely organized effort by a large group of people to achieve a particular goal, typically a social or political one, in order to carry out a social change, or to resist or undo one, It is a type of group action and may involve individuals, organizations, or both.

resistance movements

Characterized by the opposition to state authority and questioning of state legitimacy.

united nations

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

united nations security council

The 15-member organ of the UN that is responsible for maintaining peace and security. There are 10 rotating members who serve two-year terms and five permanent members who have veto power: US, Britain, China, Russia, and France.

informal forums

Unpermanent annual meeting between states to discuss policy and cooperation. Agreements made by informal forums are nonbinding.

global governance

Formal and informal processes and institutions that guide and control the activities of both state and non state actors in the international system

strategic alliance

Alliance made between 2 or more states for the mutual benefit of both states.

trade agreement

intergovernmental agreement designed to manage and promote trade activities for specific regions

treaty

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

terrorism

Acts of violence designed to promote a specific ideology or agenda by creating fear among a population

collective security

The cooperation of several countries in an alliance to strengthen the security of each. An attack against one state is an attack against all. Eg. Nato

political party

a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office