International Studies

State

A defined territory with a permanent population and recognized sovereignty. Eg. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, China, etc.

Sovereignty

Legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control of a territory within recognised borders.

Nation

A large body of people claiming common bonds based on culture, language, ethnicity or history. Eg. Indigenous tribes within Australia, ie. The Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation

Nation-State

A political & social grouping in which people within territorial boundaries, with recognised sovereignty, have common bonds based on culture, language and history. Eg. Japan, North Korea

Citizenship

Citizenship is membership in a political community (usually a nation or state) and carries with it rights to political participation. Children born in Australia automatically acquire Australian citizenship if at least one parent is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident at the time of the child's birth.

Global Actor

A person, or group of people, who has power and influence on an international scale. Eg. State actors (US Gov.) Eg. Non-State actors (Red Cross)

International Organisations

An international organisation is an organisation with an international membership, scope, or presence. There are Non-Government organisations and Inter-government organisations

Non-government organisations

Specialised organisations, agencies and groups committed to promoting particular issues or interests on an international basis.

Regional group

Representative from States within a particular geographic region coming together to promote the interests of their region. E.G. APEC

Transnational Corporation

A company whose operations and investments extend beyond the boundaries of the state in which it is registered. Also referred to as multinational corporations. Eg. Apple, McDonalds, Starbucks, Volkswagen, Aldi, Exxon Mobil

Multilateralism

System of coordinating relations between three or more states, usually in pursuit of objectives in particular areas. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an example of 21 Pacific Rim member states coming together to promote free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Unilateralism

Policy of acting alone, with little regard for the views or interests of other global actors, in pursuit of foreign policy objectives. Eg. If the President of the USA launched a military strike against North Korea.

Hard Power

Power exercised through coercion or threatened acts of coercion, to influence the acts of other global actors. E.G. Russia trying to take over Ukraine.

Soft Power

The ability to get what you wanted through attraction, instead of coercion. E.G opening maccas in Eastern Europe in 1970s and 80s to make American culture seem more attractive.

Terrorism

Acts of violence, or threatened acts of violence, targeting civilians with intent to incite fear, in pursuit of religious, political or ideological gains.

Globalisation

The growing independence of the worlds economies, cultures and populations, brought about by cross-border trade in goods and services, technology, flows of investment and people.

Causes of globalisation

Labour availability and skills. Improvements of communication. Freedom of trade. Improvements in transportation.

Positive Effects of Globalisation

ideas, experiences, and lifestyles of people and cultures are shared across international borders. Increased awareness of events in faraway parts of the world. Transnational corporations bring wealth and foreign currency to local communities. Increased international communication. Provides new jobs and skills for local people.

Negative Effects of Globalisation.

Threat to worlds cultural diversity. Developed countries continue to dominate world trade. Drives local companies out of business. Absence of strictly enforced international laws, means that corporations can operate in ways a developed country couldn’t.

6 main organs of the UN

Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, International Court of Justice, Trusteeship Council.

Security Council

Primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security. 5 permanent members including France, Russia, China, UK and USA, who all have veto power in voting. Other 10 members are rotating.

General Assembly

Main deliberative organ of the UN, comprised of all member states.

International Court of Justice

The UN’s main judicial organ, settling disputes only between nations. 15 judges elected for 9 year terms, from both the General Assembly and Security Council.

Trusteeship Council

Helps depending territories gain independence.

Economic and Social Council

Central body for coordinating the economic and social work of the UN and its system. 54 members chosen for equal geographical representation.

Secretariat

Responsible for servicing the other organs of the UN and administering the programmes and policies laid down by them. Headed by the secretary-general.

8 stages of genocide

Classification, Symbolisation, Dehumanisation, Organisation, Polarisation, Preparation, Extermination, Denial.

Classifcation

If societies are too segregated, they are more likely to have genocide.

Symbolisation

Giving names or symbols to the classification of ethnicity, race, religion or nationality.

Dehumanisation

When one group treats another group as second class citizens.

Organisation

Special army units or militias are trained and armed. Plans are made for genocidal killings.

Polarisation

Extremists drive groups apart. Hate groups broadcast propaganda that reinforces prejudice and hate.

Preparation

Victims are identified and separated out because of their ethnic or religious identity.

Extermination

Extermination begins and quickly becomes the mass killing called ‘genocide’.

Denial

The perpetrators of genocide dig up the mass graves, burn the bodies, try to cover up evidence and intimidate witness. They deny that they committed any crimes and often blame what happened on the victims.

Refugee

A person who has fled their country and cannot return due to fear of persecution and has been given refugee status.

Migrant

Someone who voluntarily chooses to leave his or her own country and make a new life in another country.

Asylum Seeker

A person who has fled their country due to fear of persecution and has applied for legal physical protection in another country but has not yet had their claim for protection assessed.

Internally displaced person

Someone who is living inside the borders of their own country, but is unable to safely live in their own home or region.

Stateless person

Someone who does not have a nationality recognised by any country.

Persecution

Targeting someone in a hostile manner due to their religious or political beliefs.

Refoulement

Removing someone from a safe place back to the state in which they faced persecution due to their characteristics.

Liberalism

An attitude or philosophy that places a heavy emphasis on freedom, equality, and opportunity.

Realism

States work only to increase their own power relative to that of other states.