Introduction to Sovereignty and Intergovernmental Organizations

Vocabulary flashcards created from lecture notes detailing the origins of state sovereignty, European feudalism, historical treaties, and the role of intergovernmental organizations.

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

Organizations with member countries working together on issues of mutual self-interest, created through treaties that act as charters for the group.

Sovereign state

A state possessing free authority where rules are set by its own government within its borders without interference from other countries.

Feudalism

A system of political authority in European history where people pledged loyalty to others who possessed more resources or military strength.

Vassal

A person in the feudal system who offered support to a lord in return for military protection, land, or money.

Lord

A powerful individual in the feudal system who received support from vassals and provided them with military protection, land, or money in return.

Pope

The leader of the Catholic church in Rome who claimed political authority over all Christians regardless of where they lived.

Dominus Vulni

A title declared by at least one Holy Roman Emperor, meaning Lord of the Wharf.

Thirty Years' War

One of history's deadliest conflicts, starting in 1618 when a Protestant region rebelled against the Catholic emperor, leading scholars to view its 1648 end as a turning point for Europe.

Peace of Westphalia

The treaties that ended the war in 1648 and established the principle of sovereignty.

Sovereignty

A principle establishing that countries should accept borders without using force to change them, avoid interfering in domestic affairs, and maintain complete authority within their borders.

Nations

Groups of people within empires who share distinct languages, cultures, and ideas, and frequently reject imperial political authority.

Nation states

States that have a specific nation residing within them.

Charter

A set of rules or laws created through treaties that governs the operations of an intergovernmental organization.

IMF

An organization that lends money to countries and provides details on how they can restructure their financial system.

WHO

The World Health Organization, which acts as an intergovernmental organization within the international system.

WTO

The World Trade Organization, an intergovernmental organization whose member countries must abide by its specific rules and laws.