All of Global Politics Vocab

Power

The ability to affect others to get the outcomes one wants.

Hard Power

The use of force and money to push or force another actor to do something they would not have otherwise done.

Soft Power

The ability to affect change in others by framing the agenda or establishing norms, so that actors are drawn or pulled towards doing something because they are attracted or convinced of the outcomes.

Smart Power

The ability to combine hard and soft power into successful strategies where they reinforce rather than undercut each other.

Structural Power

influence by actors to shape and determine the structures of the global political system

Resource Power

Power that comes out of the assets an actor possesses, such as a large population or strong military.

Relational Power

Power that focuses on the actual outcome or influence that comes from using resources.

Cyberpower

The use of cyberspace (the internet, computer networks, digital devices) to create advantages and influence events, from cyber warfare to digital diplomacy.

Structural Violence

A form of violence built into the structures of society, revealing itself as unequal power and unequal opportunities. It is essentially the same as social injustice.

Sovereignty

The independence of a state, linked to having unchallenged control over its territory and the expectation that all states respect the independence of each other.

Popular Sovereignty

Not explicitly defined, but related to the idea that the legitimacy of a state's authority comes from the people, often associated with democracy.

Self-Determination

The idea that people should decide who they want to be their rulers, and that empires and colonies should be a thing of the past.

Internal Sovereignty

The absolute authority of the state within its own borders, implying secure structures of rule and the people's acceptance of the government's authority.

External Sovereignty

The ability of the state to act independently when dealing with actors and states from outside of its borders.

Supranationality

A principle of IGOs where the institution makes decisions as a group, and the will of the institution prevails over that of individual state members.

Transnationalism

A concept referring to migrants who maintain strong ties with their heritage and culture while living in another state.

Legitimacy

An actor or action that is commonly considered acceptable to a population; the fundamental rationale for all forms of governance.

Input/Process Legitimacy

Legitimacy that reflects how the state acquires power, such as through the perceived fairness of the electoral system.

Output/Performance Legitimacy

Legitimacy that reflects how well the state exercises its power, such as by providing security and justice.

Top-Down Legitimacy

Legitimacy rooted in the idea that authority originates from a central authority and flows towards the population, with little to no input from citizens.

Bottom-Up Legitimacy

Legitimacy that originates through participation from the broader population, found in democratic systems where power is born out of representation.

Non-State Actors

A broad category of actors in global politics that are not states, including IGOs, NGOs, civil society, private companies, and social movements.

Interdependence

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

Global Governance

The systems and institutions of decision-making and cooperation among state and non-state actors that facilitate collective action on global political issues.

Globalization

The process describing how the growth of trade and technology, and the spread of social and cultural influences, have made the world a more connected and interdependent place.

United Nations (UN)

A major intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, and promote human rights.

Collective Security

A principle, enshrined in treaties like NATO's Article 5, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.

Strategic Alliances (Economic)

Formal relationships between states, such as trade agreements (e.g., EU, USMCA), intended to foster economic cooperation and provide advantages to members.

Rights

Basic claims and entitlements human beings have, often seen as essential to living a life of dignity and purpose.

Justice

A complex concept associated with individuals or groups being treated fairly or getting what they deserve.

Equality

The idea that all people have the same intrinsic value.

Equity

(didn't find in textbook) fair distribution of resources?

Negative Liberty

Freedom from coercion, meaning people should not be forced to do something they don't want to do.

Positive Liberty

The ability of people to do what they want to do.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

A non-binding UN declaration adopted in 1948 listing 30 rights and fundamental freedoms that all people are entitled to.

Civil rights

Rights related to individual freedom and equality in dignity, such as the right to life and freedom from discrimination.

Civil liberties

Rights protecting individual freedom from government interference, such as freedom of expression and freedom from arbitrary arrest.

Legal rights

Rights concerning equality before the law, a fair trial, and recognition as a person before the law.

Social rights

Rights related to a person's well-being and participation in society, such as rights to education, health, and an adequate standard of living.

Economic rights

Rights concerning work, fair wages, property ownership, and social security.

Political rights

Rights allowing participation in the political process, including freedom of belief, expression, assembly, and the right to vote.

Cultural & solidarity rights

Rights to participate in community cultural life and to a social order where all rights can be realized.

Non-binding international law

Agreements that contain political or moral commitments but are not legally enforceable.

Natural rights

Rights based on the idea that human beings possess them inherently, not dependent on the laws or culture of any particular government.

Positive rights

Rights that require authorities, such as governments, to take action to ensure them (e.g., the right to education).

Negative rights

Rights that require those with power to respect individuals' rights by doing nothing at all (e.g., the right to privacy).

First generation rights

Civil and political rights, focused on liberty.

Second generation rights

Economic, cultural, and social rights, focused on equality.

Third generation rights

collective rights for all comunities, societies and nations

Collective rights

The rights of groups of people or communities, such as the right to self-determination.

Universality of rights

The principle that human rights belong to all people, regardless of culture, religion, or nationality.

Cultural relativism

The view that concepts of right and wrong should be determined by the moral codes of a specific community, arguing that universal rights can impose outside values.

Social justice

Justice concerning comparisons of different people, such as their access to food, education, and housing within a region or globally.

Political justice

Justice concerning the power members of a society have in decision-making and how they are treated by judicial systems.

Egalitarian justice

A form of social justice asserting that all individuals must be treated with equal respect and dignity and have equal freedoms and opportunities.

Cosmopolitan justice

A form of justice arguing that we must work at achieving justice for all individuals on a global scale, with IGOs having an obligation to act when needed.

Ecological justice

The view that we must consider all living beings when taking action to address environmental concerns, as non-human beings are holders of moral considerability.

Zulu Ubuntu

A Zulu African philosophy where the idea of community is essential; "My humanity is inextricably bound up in yours."

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The principal judicial organ of the UN that settles legal disputes between states in accordance with international law.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

A permanent international court that prosecutes individuals for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

A UN body that works to ensure people know about and can use their rights, composed of 47 member states.

UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)

A UN organization established to protect refugees, internally displaced people, and stateless persons.

Regional human rights tribunals

Courts or commissions, such as the European Court of Human Rights, that attempt to address the protection of human rights within specific geographical regions.

Human rights civil society organizations

Non-governmental, non-profit groups (e.g., Amnesty International) that monitor, investigate, and advocate for human rights.

Marginalized populations

Groups perceived as "different" by wider society, often denied basic rights and access to justice due to their social identities.

Vulnerable populations

People who are not treated fairly due to factors like age, health, or legal status, such as children, the elderly, or stateless persons.

Codification of rights

The process of making human rights laws legitimate and enforceable within the legal systems of states, for example through constitutions.

International humanitarian law

A set of regulations to limit the harm of armed conflict, protecting people involved in conflict and restricting certain weaponry.

Human rights treaties

Legally binding agreements between states, such as covenants and conventions, that aim to codify and enforce human rights.

Human rights monitoring

The process of observing and reporting on the human rights situation in a state, carried out by states, IGOs, and NGOs.

Responsibility to Protect (R2P)

A global norm that states have a responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity, and that the international community should help them do so.

Humanitarian intervention

The use of military force by the international community, as a last resort, to protect populations from atrocities when a state is unable or unwilling to do so.

Sanctions

Hard power tactics, such as travel bans, asset freezes, or trade restrictions, used by states or IGOs to force a state, group, or individual to change its behaviour.

Indigenous rights

The collective rights of indigenous peoples, including the right to self-determination, to land and resources, and to be free from discrimination.

Sharia law

Islamic law that guides the personal religious practices of Muslims; whether it should influence modern legal and political systems is a subject of intense debate.

Development

A process that creates growth, progress, and positive change; a contested and multidimensional concept.

Political development

The development of political and social institutions, often involving moving towards greater democracy and protection of human rights.

Social/human development

A process of enlarging people's choices and capabilities to lead lives they value.

Institutional development

The development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

Economic development

Economic growth with the aim of increasing productivity, or the distribution of wealth and income within a country.

Sustainability

The ability to meet our own present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.

Environmental sustainability

The need to tackle pressing environmental issues to ensure future generations can meet their needs.

Social sustainability

Satisfying human needs like nutrition, security, justice, and well-being.

Economic sustainability

An economic model that can be maintained over the long term, sometimes seen as a component of social sustainability.

Poverty

A pronounced deprivation in well-being.

Absolute poverty

When household income is below a certain level, making it impossible to meet basic needs.

Relative poverty

When households receive 50% less than the average household income, meaning they have some money, but only enough to cover basic needs.

Poverty trap

The idea that the mechanisms causing poverty are self-reinforcing, making it difficult for those in poverty to escape it.

Inequality

The unfair situation in society where some people have more opportunities, money, and a better standard of living than others.

Economic inequality

Unequal distribution of income, pay, and wealth.

Political inequality

Unequal influence over decisions made by political bodies and the unequal outcomes of those decisions.

Social inequality

Unequal access to society's opportunities, benefits, and resources, such as in education and health care.

Power asymmetries

A relationship where one actor has control over the outcomes of the other; a root cause of much inequality.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

An independent and neutral CSO with an exclusively humanitarian mission to protect victims of armed conflict.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) (MSF)

An NGO that provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care.

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

A global humanitarian and relief NGO that operates programmes in over 40 countries.

World Bank

A Bretton Woods institution whose stated mission is to reduce poverty and encourage economic growth, largely through lending money to its poorest member states.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

A Bretton Woods institution that works to further international monetary cooperation and provides loans and financial aid to member countries, often with conditionalities.

Global trade networks

A network of bilateral trading routes and partnerships between states.

Gross domestic product (GDP)

The total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a given time period.