International Relations and UK Politics Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, essential terms, and empirical studies from International Relations and UK Government lectures.

Prisoner’s dilemma

A situation where two actors both choose to betray each other, even when cooperating would give them a better outcome.

Stag hunt

A choice between working together for a big reward or acting alone for a small, guaranteed reward.

Hard vs. Soft power

Hard power uses force and money to compel others. Soft power uses culture and values to persuade others.

Positivist

Studying politics using objective facts, hard data, and measurable evidence rather than opinions.

Rationalist

The belief that political actors make logical, calculated choices to get the best possible outcome for themselves.

Reflectivist

The belief that global politics is shaped by ideas, culture, language, and social history rather than just hard power.

Realism

A theory that states act out of self-interest, focusing strictly on military strength, power, and survival.

Gregory J. Goalwin (2022)

Countries use religion to decide who truly belongs.

Steffen Ganghof et al. (2024)

One powerful president is dangerous; power should be split.

Steve Smith (2002)

• IR theory is biased toward the U.S. and ignores other countries.

Anarchy

The lack of a single world government or central authority above sovereign states.

Sovereignty

A state’s supreme right to govern itself without outside interference.

State vs. Non-State Actors

States are official countries with borders. Non-state actors are global groups like the UN, NGOs, or corporations.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

The rule that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK and can make or unmake any law.

Prime Minister (PM) vs. Head of State

The Prime Minister runs the government. The Head of State (Monarch) serves as a neutral, symbolic figurehead.

Unwritten/Uncodified Constitution

A constitution not written in a single document, but spread across historical laws, court cases, and customs.

Executive Personalism

When political power centers on an individual leader’s strong personality rather than on laws or institutions.

Separation of powers

Dividing the government into independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system where a King or Queen acts as the non-political Head of State, while an elected Prime Minister serves as the Head of Government who actually runs the country.

Fusion of Powers

When executive leaders (PM and Cabinet) are chosen directly from the legislative body (Parliament).

Interest Aggregation

Combining diverse public demands into organized political party platforms and policies.

Bicameralism

A legislature split into two separate lawmaking chambers (e.g., House of Commons and House of Lords).

Boundary Making (Goalwin)

Creating a national identity during crises by defining ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ using religion.

Thomas Loughran et al. (2022)

Lowering the voting age to 16 splits people by age and political party.

Kai Steemers (2024)

The Rejoin EU movement is good at economic points, bad at fixing travel/democracy messages.