Key Vocabulary from International Relations and Conflict Studies

These flashcards cover important vocabulary and concepts related to International Relations and Conflict Studies.

War

A conflict between organized groups or states involving the use of force, leading to significant political, social, and economic consequences.

Clausewitz

A Prussian military theorist known for his work On War, emphasizing the fog of war and moral factors in military strategy.

Limited War

A type of conflict where belligerents restrict their military operations to avoid full-scale mobilization.

Total War

A warfare strategy where nations mobilize all available resources to achieve victory, blurring the distinction between combatants and noncombatants.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a nation's power and influence through colonization or military force.

Jihad

An Islamic term meaning 'struggle' or 'striving', referring to both internal spiritual efforts and external armed struggles.

Geopolitics

The study of how geographic factors influence political power and international relations.

Security

The condition of being protected from danger, encompassing military, political, economic, and social measures.

Human Security

A broader concept focusing on the protection and well-being of individuals across various dimensions.

Security Community

A group of states that have built mutual trust and resolve disputes without armed conflict.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, established in 1949 for collective defense among its members.

International Organizations

Entities formed by multiple states to manage issues crossing national boundaries, such as the UN and WHO.

Multilateralism

A diplomatic approach where multiple countries cooperate on shared issues through institutions and treaties.

International Political Economy

An academic field examining the interplay between global politics and economics.

Bretton Woods

The international monetary system established in 1944, fixing exchange rates and creating the IMF and World Bank.

Washington Consensus

A set of free-market economic policies promoted for developing countries in the late 20th century.

IMF

The International Monetary Fund, providing financial support and policy advice to countries in economic difficulty.

WTO

The World Trade Organization, overseeing trade rules and facilitating international trade negotiations.

GATT

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, aimed at reducing global trade barriers.

International Law

The body of rules governing relationships between sovereign states and other international actors.

Laws of War

Rules governing the conduct of armed conflict, aiming to protect those not participating in hostilities.

Geneva Conventions

A series of treaties establishing international legal standards for humanitarian treatment during war.

ICC

The International Criminal Court, which prosecutes individuals for serious international crimes.

ICTY and ICTR

Tribunals addressing war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

Jus ad Bellum and Jus in Bello

Legal norms determining the justification for war and the conduct of warfare, respectively.

Global Governance

The cooperative management of common issues in the international system involving various actors.

Collective Action

The process where individuals or states coordinate efforts to achieve common goals.

Prisoners’ Dilemma

A scenario illustrating challenges in cooperation between rational actors.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty to phase out substances depleting the ozone layer.

Kyoto Protocol

An agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions among industrialized nations.

Paris Climate Agreement

A landmark accord aiming to limit global warming to below 2°C.

Terrorism

The use or threat of violence by non-state actors to instill fear for political aims.

Al Qaeda

A terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden, known for major attacks like 9/11.

NPT

The Non-Proliferation Treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

Nationalism

An ideology emphasizing loyalty to one’s nation, often leading to exclusionary practices.

Self-determination

The right of peoples to choose their political status freely.

Decolonization

The process through which colonies gained independence, altering power dynamics.

Balkanization

The fragmentation of regions into smaller, often hostile entities based on ethnic lines.