social diploma

Collectivism

the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.

Cooperation

Behavior by two or more individuals that leads to mutual benefit

Equality

As a political value, the idea that all people are of equal worth.

Economic equality

A situation where there are only small differences in wealth between citizens

Public property

resources and products owned by government

Social security

any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with an inadequate or no income.

collective interest

the set of goals or ideas that members of a group pursue together will benefit the group.

non-governmental organization (NGO)

private group that pursues self-defined goals outside of government

Common good

The good of the community as a whole.

Left wing

the liberal, socialist, or radical section of a political party or system

Modern Liberalism

a political ideology focused on equality and supporting government intervention in society and the economy if it promotes equality

Progressive tax

A tax for which the percentage of income paid in taxes increases as income increases

Individualism

a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.

Individual rights

rights guaranteed or belonging to a person

Liberalism

values individualism, interested in progress and moving forward

Private property

property owned by individuals or companies, not by the government

Free market

an economic system in which prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses.

Right wing

the conservative or reactionary section of a political party or system.

self-interest

one's own personal gain

flat tax

a tax system in which all people pay the same percentage of their income

Feudalism

A system of government based on landowners and tenants

Hierarchy

a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.

Black Plague

A disease that engulfed Europe during the Middle Ages. It killed about one-third of the population and was carried by fleas. Because of this, the feudal system died out.

Printing press

15th century invention which revolutionized the ability to print information which in turn affected the speed of the spread of information itself.

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.

Reformation

a 16th century movement for religious reform, leading to the founding of Christian churches that rejected the pope's authority

Renaissance

"rebirth"; following the Middle Ages, a movement that centered on the revival of interest in the classical learning of Greece and Rome

Radical

Favoring drastic political, economic, or social reforms.

Reactionary

Ideological view that favors a return to a previous state of affairs

Conservatism

A political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes.

Rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Divine right

Belief that a rulers authority comes directly from god.

Stagflation

a period of slow economic growth and high unemployment (stagnation) while prices rise (inflation)

Consumerism

a movement advocating greater protection of the interests of consumers

income disparity

Difference in earnings between the rich and poor

Inflation

A general and progressive increase in prices

Monopoly

A market in which there are many buyers but only one seller.

Social Programs

services provided by government to reduce economic inequalities and promote the well-being of citizens

welfare state

a state that assumes primary responsibility for the social welfare of its citizens

Monetarism

the belief that inflation occurs when too much money is chasing too few goods

Trickle Down Economics

economic theory that holds that money lent to banks and businesses will trickle down to consumers

Reaganomics

Reagan's economic policy; tax cuts, arms build up, budget cuts

Thatcherism

Margaret Thatcher's economic policy. Reduced state economic power, introduced free market, privatization with certain constraints, deregulated the UK's market.

Blair's Third Way

democratic socialist movement that advocated for a synthesis of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies

Sweden cradle to grave

Sweden government provides comprehensive social programs - "easy life"

Red Scare

A period of general fear of communists

The great depression

the economic crisis beginning with the stock market crash in 1929 and continuing through the 1930s

Harding and Coolidge

pro-business presidents, Laissez-Faire presidents

buying on margin

paying a small percentage of a stock's price as a down payment and borrowing the rest

Robert Owen

Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)

Luddites

group of workers who broke into factories and destroyed machinery

Chartists

English reformers of the 1830-40s who demanded universal suffrage for men over 21, secret ballot

Utopian Socialist

socialists who hoped to replace the overly competitive capitalist structure with planned communities guided by a spirit of cooperation.

Edmund Burke

believed in limited suffrage, and for the educated elites to run government; conservatives

Welfare Capitalism

an economic and political system that combines a mostly market-based economy with extensive social welfare programs

New Deal

The name of President Roosevelt's program for getting the United States out of the depression; labour standards act, housing act

Square Deal

Economic policy by Roosevelt that favored fair relationships between companies and workers

Communism

a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership

Fascism

A political system headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and no tolerance of opposition

Authoritarianism

A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

Totalitarianism

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

Nazism

German brand of fascism

Iron Curtain

Winston Churchill's term for the Cold War division between the Soviet-dominated East and the U.S.-dominated West.

Detente

A policy of reducing Cold War tensions that was adopted by the United States during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

Containment Policy

US policy to stop expansion of Soviet Union and Communism by establishing strategic allies through trade and military alliance

Cold war

the ideological conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II

Brinkmanship

pushing dangerous situations to the edge of disaster

Neo-conservatism

Going back to old policies like laissez-faire capitalism and classical capitalism

Satellite states

A state that is formally independent but is dominated by another more powerful state

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership of capital and minimal government involvement

Socialism

Ideology that contains the belief that resources should be controlled by the public for the benefit of everyone in society

Command economy

An economic system in which the government controls a country's economy.

Sphere of Influence

A foreign region in which a nation has control over trade and other economic activities.

Hot War

A traditional war which includes troops in direct conflict, as opposed to a cold war

Alignment

An alliance or agreement

Deterrence

Cold War foreign policy of both major powers aiming to deter the strategic advances of the other through military buildup

Liberation movements

Military and political struggles of people for independence from countries that have colonized or otherwise oppressed them

episonage

The practice of spying or using spies to obtain information

McCarthyism

An anti-communist movement in the United States during the 1950s led by Joseph McCarthy

Foreign policy

A nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations

Expansionism

A policy that calls for expanding a nation's boundaries.

Mutually Assured Destruction

(MAD) if either US or the USSR was hit with a nuclear weapons they would respond with the same

Non-alignment

Resistance to side with one nation/force. Ex: India did not take a side during the Cold War

Propaganda

information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause

Proxy war

a war in which the powers in conflict use third parties as substitutes instead of fighting each other directly

Warsaw pact

An alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations. This was in response to the NATO

Perestroika

An initiative that allowed limited market incentives to Soviet citizens

Glasnost

more openness, a willingness on the part of Soviet officials to allow western ideas and goods into the USSR

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country

Counterculture

cultural patterns that strongly oppose those widely accepted within a society

Yalta Conference

1945 strategy meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin

Postsdam Conference

(1945) a meeting of Allied leaders in the German city of Potsdam to address issues about the post-World War II Europe

Marshall plan

A United States program of economic aid for the reconstruction of Europe (1948-1952)

Truman Doctrine

1947, President Truman's policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology, mainly helped Greece and Turkey

Domino Theory

A theory that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 crisis that arose between the United States and the Soviet Union over a Soviet attempt to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba

Berlin Wall

A wall separating East and West Berlin built by East Germany in 1961 to keep citizens from escaping to the West

Law of sacred life

Each person is born sacred and complete

law of nature

The natural world provides the gifts of life and place

Law of mutual respect

People in groups of mutual support are strong. Alone a person will not survive