VCE POLITICS UNIT 2 GLOSSARY

State

The central actor in global politics, with a permanent defined population. The state has recognised sovereignty.

Citizenship

Membership of a community that necessitates specific rights, responsibilities and privileges. Widely referred to as the membership of a state.

Globalisation

Speeding up and intensifying the exchange of goods, labour, services and capital. This promotes worldwide interdependence and is aided by quick changes in technology and communication.

Environmentalism

Having concern for the environment and taking appropriate actions to protect it.

Power

The ability of one global actor to impact the other’s actions in many forms.

Multilateralism

A system of coordinating relations between 3+ states to pursue objectives in specific areas.

Global community

People, states and non state actors that are closely connected by economically, socially and politically interdependent. Usually correlated with cosmopolitanism.

Iron Curtain

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Barrier created by the Soviet Union following WWII to prevent contact w/ non-communist areas.

Global actor

State, intergovernmental, non-state actor or transnational corporation involved in global politics.

National interests

Pursued to ensure a state’s survival + potential growth. Policies and types of powers are implemented so national interests are achieved and state sovereignty is maintained.

Non-state actors

Any global actor that is not a state or essential to global governance. Examples include non-profit organisations or terrorist groups.

Unilateralism

The policy of a state acting alone, without much regard for other global actors’ views or interests. This is for the pursuit of foreign policy objectives.

Terrorism

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The calculated use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and bring about a specific political objective.