IB Global Politics Year 1 - Key Terms

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms in Global Politics, aiding in exam preparation.

Political Issue

Definition: A problem or challenge in society that requires political action and collective decision-making.

Examples: Climate change, healthcare reform, economic inequality.

Traits: Requires collective decision-making, involves societal impact, often debated publicly.

Level of Analysis

Definition: The scope or perspective from which political phenomena are examined.

Examples:

• Local: City council decisions
• National: Federal policy changes
• Regional: European Union policies
• Global: International climate agreements

Traits: Determines the scale of actors and issues considered, influences policy implications.

Political Actor

Definition: An individual or group with the capacity to influence political decisions and outcomes.

Examples: Presidents, lobbyists, corporations, NGOs.

Traits: Possesses power or influence, actively participates in political processes, aims to shape policy.

Political Stakeholder

Definition: An individual or group affected by a political issue, having an interest in its outcome but often with limited power to directly change it.

Examples: Citizens affected by pollution (concerned but might not directly set policy), small businesses impacted by trade tariffs.

Traits: Has vested interest, can be indirectly influenced, may mobilize to gain influence.

State

Definition: A sovereign political entity characterized by a defined territory, a permanent population, a recognized government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Examples: France, Brazil, Japan.

Traits: Exercises internal and external sovereignty, possesses a monopoly on the legitimate use of force, provides public services.

Nation

Definition: A large group of people united by common descent, language, culture, religion, or a shared history, forming a distinct identity.

Examples: The Kurds, the Quebecois, the Navajo Nation.

Traits: Shared identity, often expresses a desire for self-determination, not necessarily tied to a specific political territory.

Nation-State

Definition: A sovereign state where the majority of its citizens share a common national identity (e.g., language, culture, ethnicity).

Examples: Japan, Iceland, Portugal.

Traits: High degree of cultural homogeneity, strong sense of national unity, often emerged from historical processes of national self-determination.

Multi-Nation State

Definition: A sovereign state that contains two or more national groups or distinct cultures within its borders.

Examples: Canada (English and French Canadians), India (numerous linguistic and ethnic groups), United Kingdom (English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish).

Traits: Cultural diversity, potential for internal conflict or secessionist movements, often employs federalism or devolved power structures.

Stateless Nation

Definition: A national group of people who share a common heritage but do not possess their own independent sovereign state.

Examples: The Kurds (spread across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria), the Palestinians (in the West Bank, Gaza, and diaspora), the Roma (dispersed across Europe).

Traits: Lacks political independence, often faces discrimination or conflict, may seek self-determination or statehood.

Microstate

Definition: A very small, independent sovereign state, usually defined by its tiny land area, population, or both.

Examples: Monaco, Vatican City, Nauru, San Marino, Liechtenstein.

Traits: Limited geographic size and population, full UN recognition and sovereignty, often relies on larger neighbors for defense or economic support.

Republic

Definition: A form of government in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, rather than a monarch or dictator.

Examples: United States, Germany, India.

Traits: Separation of powers, rule of law, representative democracy, often has a written constitution.

Micronation

Definition: A self-proclaimed entity that claims to be an independent sovereign state but is not recognized by any major international body or existing sovereign state.

Examples: Sealand, Republic of Molossia, Christiania (debatably).

Traits: Lacks international recognition, often formed for novelty or political statement, usually has small territory and population, if any.

Political Theories

Definition: Conceptual frameworks or intellectual models used to analyze, explain, and understand political phenomena, behavior, and systems.

Examples: Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, Marxism.

Traits: Provides explanatory power, offers normative prescriptions, aids in predicting outcomes, rooted in philosophical traditions.

Constructivism

Definition: A political theory positing that international politics is shaped by ideational factors such as norms, identities, and shared beliefs, rather than purely material ones like power or economic interests.

Examples: The changing norm against slavery or nuclear weapons, the formation of collective identities like 'European'.

Traits: Emphasizes social construction of reality, highlights the role of ideas and discourse, allows for change through the reconstruction of norms.

Post-colonialism

Definition: A critical political theory and academic field that examines the lasting political, economic, and cultural effects of colonialism on societies, particularly those formerly colonized.

Examples: Persistent economic underdevelopment in former colonies, impact of colonial borders on ethnic conflicts, debates over indigenous rights.

Traits: Critiques Eurocentrism, highlights power imbalances, focuses on issues of identity, representation, and subaltern voices.

Constitutional Monarchy

Definition: A form of monarchy where the monarch's power is limited by a constitution and usually by a parliament or other elected body.

Examples: United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Sweden.

Traits: Monarch serves as head of state (often ceremonial), real political power rests with elected government, operates under rule of law.

Absolute Monarchy

Definition: A form of monarchy where the monarch holds supreme autocratic authority, not restricted by written laws, legislature, or customs.

Examples: Saudi Arabia, Eswatini, Brunei.

Traits: Unchecked power of the monarch, often hereditary, lack of popular sovereignty, decision-making centralized in the monarch.

Theocracy

Definition: A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god, or where religious law forms the basis of the state's legal system.

Examples: Iran, Vatican City (as an ecclesiastical monarchy).

Traits: Religious leaders hold political power, laws are derived from religious texts, religious beliefs are central to state policy.

Oligarchy

Definition: A form of government where power effectively rests with a small number of privileged people or ruling class.

Examples: Historically, Sparta; modern interpretations sometimes apply to certain authoritarian regimes or states dominated by economic elites.

Traits: Power concentrated in a few hands, often based on wealth, military strength, or family connections, decisions made by a select group.

Plutocracy

Definition: A form of oligarchy where the society is governed by or controlled by the wealthy class.

Examples: While no state explicitly identifies as a plutocracy, critics argue features of plutocracy exist in systems where money heavily influences politics (e.g., campaign finance).

Traits: Wealth is the primary determinant of political power, lack of economic mobility, policies often favor the rich.

Federalism

Definition: A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces).

Examples: United States, Germany, Canada, Australia.

Traits: Dual sovereignty (central and regional), shared powers, often a written constitution defining power distribution, allows for regional diversity.

Dictatorship

Definition: A form of government in which a single individual (the dictator) or a small group exercises absolute power without constitutional or legal limitations.

Examples: North Korea, historical regimes like Fascist Italy or Nazi Germany.

Traits: Concentration of power, suppression of dissent, no free and fair elections, often relies on propaganda and force.

Military Dictatorship

Definition: A form of dictatorship where political power is held by the military, often following a coup d'état.

Examples: Myanmar (briefly in 2021), historical regimes in Latin America (e.g., Chile under Pinochet).

Traits: Military leaders control government, suppression of civilian political institutions, emphasis on order and security, often violates human rights.

Flawed Democracy

Definition: A democratic system where elections may be generally free and fair, but significant weaknesses exist in terms of civil liberties, political participation, governance, or judicial independence.

Examples: Many countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia.

Traits: Free elections, but often issues with media freedom, corruption, weak rule of law, or limited political culture.

Full Democracy

Definition: A democratic system characterized by robust civil liberties, fair and free elections, a culture of political participation, an independent judiciary, and a strong rule of law.

Examples: Norway, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand.

Traits: High protection of human rights, transparent governance, strong civic engagement, minimal corruption, checks and balances.

Policy

Definition: A set of principles, plans, or courses of action adopted by a government, party, business, or individual to address specific issues or achieve particular goals.

Examples: Environmental policy, foreign policy, education policy, economic policy.

Traits: Goal-oriented, often involves decision-making and implementation, can be laws, regulations, or informal guidelines, aims to solve problems.

Policy Debate

Definition: A structured discussion or argument among various political actors and stakeholders regarding different approaches or solutions to political issues.

Examples: Debates over tax reform, immigration laws, climate change strategies.

Traits: Involves presenting arguments and evidence, seeks to persuade decision-makers or public, often occurs in legislatures or public forums, aims to find optimal solutions.

Political Leader

Definition: An individual who holds a position of authority and influences political decisions, guiding a group or state towards specific goals or policies.

Examples: President, Prime Minister, Party Leader, Mayor.

Traits: Exercises authority and influence, responsible for making key decisions, often represents a constituency or ideology, uses various sources of power.

Sources of Power

Definition: The underlying bases or means by which an individual or group can exert influence, control, or authority over others.

Examples: Wealth, physical force, state action, social norms, ideas, numbers.

Traits: Varies in nature (coercive, persuasive, legitimate), can be combined, determines the effectiveness and legitimacy of power.

Physical Force

Definition: A source of power derived from the ability to use violence or coercion to compel obedience or achieve objectives.

Examples: Military strength, police enforcement, threats of physical harm.

Traits: Direct and immediate, often generates fear, can be illegitimate, foundational for state authority (monopoly on legitimate force).

Wealth

Definition: A source of power stemming from economic resources and assets, enabling individuals or groups to influence political decisions and outcomes.

Examples: Campaign donations, lobbying efforts, control over industries, media ownership.

Traits: Can purchase influence, provides resources for political action, often concentrates power in the hands of the affluent.

State Action

Definition: A source of power derived from the government's legitimate authority to create, implement, and enforce laws and policies.

Examples: Legislation (e.g., environmental protection laws), executive orders, judicial rulings, police actions.

Traits: Possesses legal legitimacy, backed by coercive force, applies to all citizens within a territory, shapes societal behavior.

Social Norms

Definition: A powerful source of influence stemming from unwritten rules, shared expectations, and culturally accepted behaviors and ideas that guide individual and collective actions.

Examples: Voting as a civic duty, respecting authority, gender roles, attitudes towards environmental protection.

Traits: Often internalized, can be highly persistent, shapes public opinion and behavior, can reinforce or challenge existing power structures.

Ideas

Definition: A source of power derived from compelling beliefs, ideologies, visions, or narratives that inspire and mobilize political action and shape understanding of the world.

Examples: Democracy, human rights, nationalism, socialism, religious doctrines.

Traits: Provides legitimacy, inspires collective action, can challenge existing power, shapes policy debates and societal goals.

Numbers

Definition: A source of power that arises from the collective strength, unity, and mobilization of large groups of people.

Examples: Mass protests, elections, consumer boycotts, organized labor unions.

Traits: Democratic potential, requires organization and coordination, can challenge established power, influences public opinion and policy through collective action.

3 Laws of Power

Definition: Fundamental principles describing the dynamic nature and accumulation of power in political contexts.

Laws:

1. Power is never static: It is constantly shifting, rising, and falling.
2. Power is like water; it flows: It finds ways around obstacles and through channels, always seeking a path.
3. Power compounds over time: Like interest, power tends to accumulate and grow, building on past successes.

Traits: Dynamic, fluid, accumulative, influences all political interactions.

Hard Power

Definition: The use of military and economic strength to influence the behavior or interests of other political bodies.

Examples: Military intervention, economic sanctions, trade embargoes, threats of force.

Traits: Coercive, often involves immediate and tangible results, can be costly, may generate resentment.

Soft Power

Definition: The ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion, by co-opting rather than coercing, often through cultural appeal, political values, and foreign policies.

Examples: Cultural exchange programs, diplomatic initiatives, shared democratic values, attractive higher education systems.

Traits: Persuasive, long-term impact, less costly (often), builds goodwill and legitimacy, relies on shared values and appeal.

Smart Power

Definition: The strategic use of both hard power (coercion, military force, economic pressure) and soft power (cultural appeal, diplomatic influence, values) in a coordinated and effective manner.

Examples: Diplomatic pressure backed by the threat of sanctions, providing humanitarian aid alongside military assistance, cultural engagement paired with security alliances.

Traits: Holistic approach, adaptive, seeks optimal outcomes, leverages diverse tools of influence, aims for efficiency and long-term effectiveness.

Structural Power

Definition: The ability to shape the rules, norms, and institutions that govern global or national interactions, thereby influencing the behavior of others without direct coercion.

Examples: Setting the agenda in international organizations (e.g., UN, WTO), controlling global financial systems, defining intellectual property rights.

Traits: Deeper and often invisible forms of power, shapes the playing field, provides long-term advantages, often exercised by powerful states or economic blocs.

Relational Power

Definition: The power an actor has over another actor within a specific relationship, based on their interactions and mutual dependencies.

Examples: A larger state's influence over a smaller client state, a major donor's leverage over an aid recipient, a company's power over its suppliers.

Traits: Context-dependent, arises from direct interactions, involves bargaining and negotiation, can be reciprocal in some ways.