Key Concepts in International Relations

Agency (in IR)

Ability of actors (states, NGOs, individuals) to influence outcomes.

Anarchy

Lack of a central authority above states in the international system. Significance: Core assumption in realism explaining why states prioritize self-help and security.

Article 2(4) of the UN Charter

Prohibits use of force against territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Significance: Legal basis for international peace and security; often contested in conflicts (e.g., Ukraine invasion).

Asymmetric Warfare

Conflict where opposing forces have unequal military capabilities, e.g., insurgency vs. state armies. Significance: Challenges traditional war concepts; affects security policies.

Balance of Power

Distribution of power among states to prevent any one from dominating.

Balance of Terror

Mutual deterrence through nuclear weapons possession.

Bretton Woods System

Post-WWII economic order establishing IMF, World Bank, fixed exchange rates. Significance: Foundation for global economic cooperation and stability.

Clash of Civilizations

Theory that future conflicts will be cultural rather than ideological or economic.

Cold War

Bipolar global rivalry (US vs USSR) characterized by ideological conflict and proxy wars.

Collective Security

Principle that an attack on one is an attack to all (e.g., NATO)

Constructivism

IR Theory emphasizing the role of ideas, identities, and norms in shaping state behavior.

Cybersecurity

Protection of digital infrastructure from attacks or espionage.

Detente

Relaxation of tensions between adversaries, especially during Cold War

Deterrence

Strategy to prevent aggression by threatening unacceptable retaliation

Diplomacy

Practice of negotiation and communication between states.

Economic Sanctions

Restrictions on trade or finance to coerce policy changes.

Failed State

A state unable to provide basic governance or security.

Feminist IR Theory

Analyzes how gender shapes global politics and international security.

Global Commons

Resources or spaces beyond national jurisdiction (oceans, space, cyberspace).

Global Governance

Collective management of global issues through institutions and cooperation.

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness of states, economies, cultures, and politics.

Global South

Collective term for developing countries, often former colonies.

Great Power Politics

Interactions and competition among the most powerful states.

Hard Power

Use of military or economic force to influence others.

Hegemony

Dominance of one state or group over others in the international system.

Human Rights

Universal rights inherent to all individuals.

Human Security

Security approach focusing on protecting individuals rather than states.

International Law

Rules governing relations between states (treaties, customs).

International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)

Civil society groups working across borders (e.g., Amnesty International).

International Regimes

Sets of implicit or explicit principles and rules governing state behavior.

Interventionism

State action in other states' affairs for political or humanitarian reasons.

Jus in bellum

Laws governing the conduct of war (e.g., distinction, proportionality). Significance: Protects civilians, regulates armed conflict; important in IR legal frameworks.

Liberal International Order (LIO)

Post-WWII system of rules, institutions (UN, IMF, WTO) promoting democracy, free trade, and multilateralism. Significance: Framework underpinning global governance; challenged by rising nationalism and great power rivalry.

Liberalism (IR theory)

Emphasizes international institutions, cooperation, and shared norms to manage conflict. Significance: Supports the idea of the Liberal International Order and global governance.

Multilateral Institutions

Bodies like the UN, NATO, WTO facilitating cooperation among states.

Multilateralism

Multiple countries working together through institutions and agreements. Significance: Supports cooperation, conflict resolution, and global governance.

Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism

Multilateralism is cooperation among many states; unilateralism is acting alone.

Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

Companies operating in multiple countries influencing global economy.

Neo-Realism (Structural Realism)

Focus on international system structure as determinant of state behavior.

Non-Aligned Movement

Group of states not formally aligned with major power blocs during the Cold War.

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Treaty to prevent spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament.

Non-State Actors

Entities other than states, like terrorists, corporations, or NGOs.

Peacebuilding

Efforts to rebuild political, social, and economic institutions post-conflict.

Peacekeeping

Deployment of international forces to maintain ceasefires and peace.

Populism and Nationalism

Political movements emphasizing national sovereignty, often opposing global institutions. Significance: Threatens multilateral cooperation and liberal norms.

Postcolonialism

Critique focusing on how colonial legacies and Western dominance shape IR institutions. Significance: Highlights power imbalances and marginalization of Global South perspectives.

Realism

IR theory focusing on power, state survival, and national interest in an anarchic world. Significance: Explains great power competition, skepticism about international cooperation.

Responsibility to Protect (R2P)

International norm to intervene to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing. Significance: Balances sovereignty with human rights; controversial in practice.

Sanctions

Economic or political penalties applied to influence state behavior.

Security Dilemma

Situation where one state's defensive actions cause others to feel threatened.

Soft Power

Ability to influence others through attraction, culture, values, and diplomacy.

Sovereignty

Principle that states have supreme authority within their territory and are equal under international law. Significance: Central to state-centric IR; tensions arise when intervention or global norms challenge sovereignty.

Strategic Ambiguity (US Taiwan Policy)

US policy of supporting Taiwan militarily without clearly stating response to invasion. Significance: Aims to deter aggression while avoiding provocation.

Taiwan Strait Tensions

Conflict potential between China and Taiwan, involving US strategic ambiguity. Significance: Flashpoint for US-China rivalry and questions of sovereignty and intervention.

Terrorism

Use of violence by non-state actors to achieve political aims through fear.

Treaty of Westphalia (1648)

Established principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Trump's 'America First' Policy

US approach rejecting global leadership, withdrawing from agreements, and prioritizing nationalism. Significance: Disrupted traditional US role in the LIO, increased unpredictability in global politics.

Ukraine War (2022-present)

Russian invasion of Ukraine challenging international law and security norms. Significance: Tests the resilience of the LIO and Western-led sanctions/cooperation.

United Nations Security Council Paralysis

Inability to act decisively due to veto power of permanent members. Significance: Limits UN effectiveness in conflict resolution and peace enforcement.

War on Terror

US-led global campaign against terrorist groups post-9/11.