End of Empire & Cold War VOCAB

terms related to Cold War & Decolonization

activism

The belief in or practice of trying to make social or political changes through active, sometimes militant, involvement.

apartheid

A policy of racial segregation, especially the segregation of blacks and whites and the discrimination against blacks in the Republic of South Africa.

containment

A government policy intended to curb the territorial growth, economic expansion, or ideological influence of a hostile nation.

coup

The sudden and forceful attempt of a group to seize state power.

decolonization

The process or act of freeing a colony or eliminating colonialism.

dependency

The condition of relying on another for help or support.

dissident

One who disagrees with or opposes the opinions or authority of another group.

ideological

Of or concerning basic beliefs, concepts, and social and political aims of an individual or group.

intervention

The act of entering a situation to change what is happening, especially in the affairs of another nation.

minority

A group that differs in race, ethnic background, religion, or political ideas from the majority in society.

nationalize

To bring under government ownership or control.

nonviolence

The policy or practice of refusing to use violent means to pursue political or social aims.

nuclear

Of or having atomic or hydrogen bombs.

partition

The political division of a nation into two or more separate nations.

protest

A gesture or formal action by a person or group as a public display of objection or dissent.

redistribute

To distribute (spread over an area) again, often in different ways or amounts.

sphere of influence

A country or region that another country has informal power over but no formal authority.

superpower

A country with great international power and influence, especially one that dominates the affairs of other countries.

union

An organization of laborers.

sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state, reflecting its independence and legal recognition in international law.

colony

A territory under the political control of another country, and exploited for resources.

confrontation

A hostile or argumentative encounter between opposing forces or ideas, often leading to conflict.

independence

The condition of being free from control or influence of another state or authority, allowing a nation to govern itself.

nation-state

A distinct sovereign entity characterized by a defined territory and a permanent population, typically governed by its own institutions and recognized by other states.

deterrence

A strategy aimed at preventing an adversary from taking an undesirable action, particularly through the promise of retaliatory action or punishment.

arms race

A competition between nations for military superiority, often involving the accumulation and advancement of weapons technology.

MAD

Mutually Assured Destruction, a military strategy in which both sides possess enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, deterring conflict through the threat of total annihilation.