unit 8-9 vocab apwh

Activism

the belief in or practice of trying to make social or political changes through active, sometimes militant, involvement,

especially in particular issues

Apartheid

a policy of racial segregation, especially the segregation of Blacks and Whites and the discrimination against Blacks in

the Republic of South Africa

authoritarianism

a system of ruling that advocates for complete obedience or subjection to authority, especially political authority, without

concern for individual rights

balance of power

in international politics, the distribution of power or influence among nations so that one nation cannot threaten the

interests of others

boycott

the refusal to purchase certain types of goods, refusal to engage in commercial relations with a particular entity

cold war

political, ideological, and military rivalry between nations that often does not include full-scale war but may include wars

in satellite or peripheral regions

containment

a government policy, enacted in a variety of ways, that is intended to curb the territorial growth, economic expansion, or

ideological influence of a hostile nation, usually in reference to the American policy of containing communism during the Cold War

coup

the sudden and forceful attempt of a group, especially of military or other government personnel, to seize state power

decolonization

the process or act of freeing a colony or eliminating colonialism

dependency

the condition of relying on another for help or support

dissident

one who disagrees with, dissents from, or opposes (the opinions or doctrines of others or the authority of some group

or institution)

ideological

of or concerning basic beliefs, concepts, and social and political aims of an individual, group, or institution

intervention

the act of entering a situation so as to change what is happening by one nation in the affairs of another, as with military force

minority

a group that differs in race, ethnic background, religion, or political ideas from the majority of people in a society

nationalize

to bring under government ownership or control

nonaligned

not considered an ally of another nation, especially in reference to the Cold War and refusing to align with either the

United States or Soviet Union

nonviolence

the policy or practice of refusing to use violent means to pursue political or social aims

nonviolent noncooperation

a form of resistance that refuses to comply with particular orders and laws but does not resort to the use of violence

partition

the political division of a nation into two or more separate nations

proliferation

the act or process of spreading quickly

protest

a gesture or formal action by a person or especially a group as a public display of objection or dissent

proxy war

a war or armed conflict fought between two states that each represent or are backed by a larger power that is not

directly involved in the conflict

redistribute

to distribute (spread over an area) again, often in different ways or amounts

resettlement

the movement or relocation of people from one place to another

sabotage

to damage something with the intent (often political) of causing harm to processes or structures

sphere of influence

a country or region that another country has informal power over but no formal authority

superpower

a country with great international power and influence, especially one that dominates the affairs of other countries

union

an organization of laborers

Anthropocene

the most recent geological epoch in which humans have made the largest impact on the environment through land use,

the burning of fossil fuels, and other mostly harmful activities

automation

operation by machinery rather than by people

biodiversity

the diversity of life forms on Earth or part of the Earth, including diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems, especially

when regarded as providing the optimal conditions for evolution

civil disobedience

the intentional, nonviolent refusal to comply with a government law or requirement, in order to try to influence the

government to change some law, policy, or the like

climate change

a change in global and regional climate patterns attributed to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide from the burning

of fossil fuels

consumption

the purchase of goods and services

deforestation

the removal of forest or trees from an area of land

drought

an unusually prolonged lack of rain

economic liberalization

the state or act of decreasing government control of the economy in order to increase the role of private entities in

the market

emission

that which is discharged or released, usually relating to such things as car exhaust and factory fumes

environment

the sum of everything that surrounds animals and humans in the natural world, including the air, water, and soil; the sum

of things, circumstances, and conditions that surround one and may have an effect on one

epidemic

an outbreak, usually of disease, that spreads rapidly, afflicting many individuals

globalization

the process or idea of the world becoming more like that of a single nation with one shared economy and culture rather

than separate, distinct countries

gross domestic product (GDP)

the total market value of the goods and services produced by a country’s economy during a specified period of time

humanitarian

characterized by concern for improving the welfare of humanity

inequality

the condition of being unequal, especially in natural talents or social or economic status

liberalize

to make or become more liberal (relating to a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and

usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard)

monoculture

the cultivation or growth of a single crop or organism especially on agricultural or forest land

multinational

relating to or involving several countries

nationalization

the act of bringing under government ownership or control

neocolonialism

the use of economic, political, or other means to retain control over former colonies

non-governmental organization (NGO)

any non-profit organization or body that operates independently of government

pesticide

a chemical substance used to kill pests, especially insects that harm crops

privatize

to change from governmental control or ownership to private

regulation

a principle, rule, or law designed to regulate behavior and conduct

socioeconomic

of, related to, or characterizing the social and economic aspects of something