International History Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the International History lecture notes.

Realism

A school of thought in international relations theory that believes world politics is always and necessarily a field of conflict among actors pursuing powers.

Liberalism

A school of thought in international relations theory grounded on cooperative ideals. It rejects power politics as the only possible outcome of international relations and stresses mutual benefits and international cooperation.

French Revolution

A turning point in international history that started in 1789. It established a republic in France, which was perceived as a direct threat to the monarchies and the Ancient Regime in Europe.

Declaration of the Right of Man of the Citizen (1789)

A document from the French Revolution that established values and principles that are still valid, such as men are born and remain free and equal in rights.

Congress of Vienna

A meeting after Napoleon's defeat where European powers aimed for long-term security and peaceful history in Europe, with principles of restoration, legitimacy, and compensation.

Restoration (Vienna Settlement)

Re-establishing the old boundaries of the Ancien Regime, reversing Napoleon's changes.

Legitimacy (Vienna Settlement)

Re-establishing monarchies and traditional institutions.

Compensations (Vienna Settlement)

Territorial gains to compensate EU powers that fought against Napoleon.

Concert of Europe

A system of treaties, agreements, and balance of power after 1815, aiming for a peaceful and diplomatic framework where war was perceived as the ultimate means.

Crimean War

A war from October 1853 to February 1856 where Russia lost to an alliance of Ottomans, France, Britain, and Piedmont, due to London and Paris feeling threatened by Russia's expansion.

Italian Unification (Rinascimento)

The political, social, and cultural movement that consolidated Italy into a single state, reaching its end in 1861 with Turin as its capital.

Otto von Bismarck

A conservative statesman who led the unification of Germany, serving as the first Chancellor until 1890, employing a policy of "iron and blood".

Congress of Berlin 1878

Addressed reorganization of Balkan states after Russo-Turkish War, reflecting Bismarck's desire to maintain European order.

European Imperialism

From 1868-1914, a period where European powers focused on expanding influence abroad, driven by economic, military, political, humanitarian, religious, social darwinism, technological, and geopolitical reasons.

The White Man’s Burden

The idea expressed by Kipling - Colonialism was justified as a moral obligation. the mission to civilise the uncivilised was perceived as a duty to raise the people and spread christianity and development

Weltpolitik

The new doctrine was determined by domestic concerns (a goal to keep the nation cohesive with state institutions and the monarchy), to unify the people in order to reach and achieve the goal through colonization.

Entente Cordiale

In 1904, Britain and France signed an agreement granting freedom of action to GB in Egypt and to France in Morocco.

German Blank Cheque

Germany's commitment to support Austria, whatever measure they decided against Serbia after the killing of Francis Ferdinand, contributing to the start of WWI.

Treaty of London

A secret pact where Italy shifted sides and sided with Great Britain, France and Russia.

Brest-Litovsk Treaty

Due to the Russian territories: Finland, Georgia, the Balkans, etc., were now part of Germany, happened to Russia to leave WW1.

Fourteen Points

These are a milestone document: Open covenants of peace openly arrived at, Freedom of the seas, in peace and war, Equality of trade conditions, Reduction of armaments. A League of Nation to guarantee independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.

Treaty of Versaille

Germany had to pay with the Kaiser abdication (Wilhelm II) as he would not represent the democracy promoted and wanted by Wilson. It was an essential condition for peace.

Washington Naval Conference

In 1922, A conference was hosted to discuss about treaties: five Power Treaty, Four Power Pact, Nine Power tTreaty

Treaty of Rapallo

A treaty signed in April 1922 between the two countries under which each renounced all terrioral and financial claims against the other following treaty of Brest-Litovsk and WWI.

Kellog-Briand Pact

Signed by french foreign minister and the American secretary of state where it condemned war as a means of national policy and urged peaceful means as the only tool for international disputes.

Young Plan

1928 Reduced further German payments by about 20% because of the success of previous plans for German economic recovery

Taiping Rebellion

The revolt was between 1850-54, and Hong Xiuquan gained control of a part of China (small but decisive and developed. Established a modernization regarding its ethics, he prohibited slavery, arranged marriage, opium smoking…

Japanese Expansion

Japan’s conquests: Taiwan 1894 (first declaration of war on China), South Manchuria 1905, Korea 1910 (vs. Russia)

Shidehara Diplomacy

1924 A non-aggressive policy over China and supported friendly relationships with the US and GB. In his first speech he pledged to uphold the principle of the League of Nations

Spanish Civil War

The soviets supported the republican government, while germany and italy supported the right front. The International consequences of this war: became an european issue where the European powers established an informal agreement for non-interventional

Munich Agreement

Is a diplomatic way to find an accommodation with more aggressive powers, in order to mitigate, to calm down the ambitions of the aggressive power.

Domino Theory

American foreign policy advisors believed that once one country fell to communism, each surrounding country would fall as well, like a row of dominoes

Mahn

Industrial development was necessary to build battleships and modern weapons (The influence of sea power in history) It allowed mobilization of the army, for example Germany, which was surrounded by enemies, needed to move troops quickly from East to West