Global Politics Glossary

Cosmopolitanism

A desire amongst global actors to cooperate to reach common goals and outcomes to meet challenges presented to the global community

Aid

the provision of assistance to global actors with the intention of influencing their decisions and actions in order to achieve a specific aim

Crisis Diplomacy

Negotiations between actors in the global political arena in response to an immediate crisis

Cultural power

use of specific aspects of a state's language and culture to influence the actions of other actors through attraction

Diplomacy

The ability to conduct effective negotiations between states without arousing hostility

Economic power

ability to influence the actions of another state through finance and trade

Economic prosperity

indicates the capability to weather international economic instability as well as protect and build the wealth and welfare of its citizens

Ethics

The morals that guide the actions of global actors and the creation and application of international laws

Global governance

The institutions, rules, norms and legal arrangements that seek to facilitate cooperation and manage relations between states

Globalisation

The acceleration and intensification of the exchange of goods, services, labour and capital which promotes global interdependence
Facilitated by rapid changes in communication and technology

Idealism

The school of thought in which policy is influenced primarily by an ideological principle, as opposed to practical and pragmatic considerations

Intergovernmental organisation

An organisation composed primarily of states

International cooperation

Occasions when global actors collaborate and interact with each other in the pursuit of common ideals, goals and interests

International law

A body of rules established by custom or written legal agreements that are accepted as binding upon the international community

Justice

The concept of moral rightness based on ethics, law, fairness and equity that also seeks punishment and or compensation when breached

Military power

The use of state's military to exert influence over the actions of other global actors

Multilateralism

A system of coordination relations between three or more global actors, usually in pursuit of specific objectives

Nation

a group of people claiming common bonds based on culture, language and history

National interests

pursued to ensure the survival and potential growth of that state

national security

a national interest of a state to ensure it maintains sovereignty

nation-state

political or social groupings in which people with territorial boundaries have common bonds based on culture-language and history

Non-state actor

a global actor that is not a state but still influences global politics

political power

the ability of a state to use its internal political machinery to exercise influence over the actions of others

pragmatism

the school of thought in which policy is primarily influenced by practical considerations as opposed to a particular ideology

realism

involves a state prioritising their specific interests and needs over those of the international community

regional relationships

a national interest of states that ensures that its neighbours will not behave in a hostile manner and thus threaten state sovereignty

security

the protection of a state’s borders from intruders and the maintenance of sovereignty

soft power

the ability to influence the actions of another global actor through attraction in the absence of coercion and or incentives

sovereignty

the legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control within recognised borders

state

possess a permanent population, defined borders and recognised sovereignty

trade

the manipulation of exchange of goods, services, capital and labour to influence the actions of another state

TNCs

a company whose operations and investments extend beyond the boundaries of the state in which it is registered

unilateralism

the policy of a state acting alone in regards to upholding or defending their national interests with little or no regard for the views or interests of other global actors