IB Global Politics Year 1 - Key Terms

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms in IB Global Politics for Year 1.

Political Issue: Definition

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

Political Issue: Examples

• Climate change - Economic inequality - Healthcare access

Political Issue: Traits

• Requires government intervention - Involves public debate - Affects multiple stakeholders - Often complex and controversial

Level of Analysis: Definition

The lens through which we examine political issues.

Level of Analysis: Examples

• Local: A city council decision on waste management - National: A federal immigration policy - Regional: European Union economic regulations - Global: United Nations climate negotiations

Level of Analysis: Traits

• Provides different perspectives on an issue - Helps understand the scale of impact - Aids in identifying relevant actors and institutions

Political Actor: Definition

An individual or group that has power to influence political decisions.

Political Actor: Examples

• A president - A member of parliament - A non-governmental organization (NGO) - A multinational corporation

Political Actor: Traits

• Possesses power or influence - Actively participates in political processes - Seeks to achieve specific political goals

Political Stakeholder: Definition

An affected party with interest in the issue but limited power to change it.

Political Stakeholder: Examples

• Citizens affected by a new tax law - Residents living near a proposed factory - Environmental groups impacted by pollution

Political Stakeholder: Traits

• Affected by political decisions - Has an interest in the outcome - Often advocates for their interests - Typically has less direct power than political actors

State: Definition

A sovereign political entity with defined borders, a permanent population, and a recognized government.

State: Examples

• France - Canada - Japan - Egypt

State: Traits

• Possesses sovereignty over its territory - Has territorial integrity - Generally recognized internally and externally - Exercises supreme authority within its borders

Nation: Definition

A cultural group with a shared identity (language, ethnicity, religion).

Nation: Examples

• The Kurds - The Québécois - The Navajo Nation

Nation: Traits

• Shared culture and identity - Common heritage - Often a desire for self-determination - Not necessarily tied to a specific political territory

Nation-State: Definition

A sovereign state whose population largely shares a national identity.

Nation-State: Examples

• Iceland - Japan - Portugal

Nation-State: Traits

• Strong cultural homogeneity within political borders - National identity often aligns with state identity - Typically leads to greater internal stability

Multi-Nation State: Definition

A sovereign state with multiple cultural/national groups.

Multi-Nation State: Examples

• Canada (English, French, Indigenous peoples) - India (numerous linguistic and ethnic groups) - Switzerland (German, French, Italian speakers)

Multi-Nation State: Traits

• Cultural and ethnic diversity - Potential for internal conflict or secessionist movements - Requires policies for managing diverse national identities

Stateless Nation: Definition

A nation without its own sovereign state.

Stateless Nation: Examples

• Palestinians - Kurds - Roma people - Tibetans

Stateless Nation: Traits

• Shared national identity - Often seeks self-determination or statehood - Lacks formal political recognition as a state - Often faces challenges regarding rights and autonomy

Microstate: Definition

A very small but sovereign state.

Microstate: Examples

• Monaco - Vatican City - San Marino - Liechtenstein

Microstate: Traits

• Very limited land area and population - Possesses full international recognition - Often relies on larger neighbors for defense or economic support

Republic: Definition

A government in which leaders are elected to represent the people.

Republic: Examples

• United States - Germany - India - South Korea

Republic: Traits

• Citizens elect representatives - Often has a written constitution - Typically involves a separation of powers - Emphasizes the rule of law

Micronation: Definition

A self-proclaimed state not recognized by others.

Micronation: Examples

• Sealand - The Republic of Molossia

Micronation: Traits

• Self-declared sovereignty - Lacks international recognition - Often has a small population and territory (sometimes even fictional) - Usually formed for novelty, protest, or artistic expression

Political Theories: Definition

Frameworks used to analyze and explain political behavior and systems.

Political Theories: Examples

• Liberalism - Realism - Marxism - Feminism

Political Theories: Traits

• Offer systematic explanations for political phenomena - Provide tools for analysis and interpretation - Guide policy-making and understanding of power - Often make assumptions about human nature or societal structures

Constructivism: Definition

Belief that norms, identity, and ideas shape global politics and can be reconstructed.

Constructivism: Examples

• The evolving norm against the use of chemical weapons - The impact of shared democratic values on alliance formation - National identity shaping foreign policy decisions

Constructivism: Traits

• Focuses on the social construction of reality - Emphasizes the role of ideas, discourse, and culture - Sees actors' interests as shaped by identity, not inherent - Allows for significant change in international politics

Post-colonialism: Definition

Focuses on how colonial histories impact current political structures and identities.

Post-colonialism: Examples

• Persistent economic underdevelopment in former colonies - Border conflicts stemming from arbitrarily drawn colonial divisions - Cultural hybridity in post-colonial societies