Global Politics Key Concepts

Power

Power can be seen as the ability to effect change and, rather than being viewed as a unitary or independent force, is an aspect of relations among people functioning within a social organization. Contested relationships between people and groups of people dominate politics, particularly in this era of increased globalization, so understanding the dynamics of power plays a prominent role in understanding global politics.

Sovereignty

Sovereignty characterizes a state’s independence, its control over territory, and its ability to govern itself. How states use their sovereign power is at the heart of many important issues in global politics. Some theorists argue that sovereign power is increasingly being eroded by aspects of globalization such as global communication and trade, which states cannot always fully control. Others argue that sovereign states exercise a great deal of power when acting in their national interest and that this is unlikely to change.

Legitimacy

Legitimacy refers to an actor or an action being commonly considered acceptable and provides the fundamental basis or rationale for all forms of governance and other ways of exercising power over others. The most accepted contemporary source of legitimacy in a state is some form of democracy or constitutionalism whereby the governed have a defined and periodical opportunity to choose who they wish to exercise power over them. Other sources of legitimacy are suggested in states in which such an opportunity does not exist. Within any proposed overall framework of legitimacy, individual actions by a state can be considered more or less legitimate. Other actors of global politics and their actions can also be evaluated from the perspective of legitimacy.

Interdependence

In global politics, the concept of interdependence most often refers to the mutual reliance between and among groups, organizations, geographic areas and/or states for access to resources that sustain living arrangements. Often, this mutual reliance is economic (such as trade), but can also have a security dimension (such as defence arrangements) and, increasingly, a sustainability dimension (such as environmental treaties). Globalization has increased interdependence, while often changing the relationships of power among the various actors engaged in global politics.

Human rights

Human rights are basic claims and entitlements that, many argue, one should be able to exercise simply by virtue of being a human being. Many contemporary thinkers argue they are essential for living a life of dignity, are inalienable, and should be accepted as universal. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN in 1948 is recognized as the beginning of the formal discussion of human rights around the world. Critics argue that human rights are a Western, or at least culturally relative, concept.

Justice

The concept of liberty refers to having freedom and autonomy. It is often divided into positive and negative liberty, with negative liberty defined as individuals having freedom from external coercion and positive liberty defined as individuals having the autonomy to carry out their own rational will. Some scholars reject this distinction and argue that, in practice, one form of liberty cannot exist without the other. It is also questioned if such an understanding of liberty is sufficient for an interdependent world, in which the seeming freedom and autonomy of some may depend on lack of some forms of liberty for others. Hence, debates on equality inform our understanding of liberty as well.

equality

Egalitarian theories are based on a concept of equality that all people, or groups of people, are seen as having the same intrinsic value. Equality is therefore closely linked to justice and fairness, as egalitarians argue that justice can only exist if there is equality. Increasingly, with growing polarization within societies, equality is also linked to liberty, as different people have differing possibilities to be free and autonomous.

Development

Development is a sustained increase in the standard of living and well-being of a level of social organization. Many consider it to involve increased income; better access to basic goods and services; improvements in education, health care and public health; well-functioning institutions; decreased inequality; reduced poverty and unemployment; and more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Globalization

Globalization is a process by which the world’s local, national and regional economies, societies and cultures are becoming increasingly integrated and connected.

Inequality

Inequality refers to a state of affairs where equality between people or groups of people is not realized and the consequent potential compromises of justice and liberty.

• Inequality often manifests itself through unequal access to resources that are needed to sustain life and develop individuals and communities.

• Closely linked with power

Sustainability

Definitions of sustainability begin with the idea that development should meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

• Sustainability today has three fields of debate environmental, sociopolitical and economic.

Peace

Peace is often defined as both the absence of conflict and violence as well as a state of harmonious relations.

Peace is the ultimate goal of many organizations that monitor and regulate social relationships.

Conflict

Conflict is the dynamic process of actual or perceived opposition between individuals or groups. This could be opposition over positions, interests or values. Most theorists would distinguish between non-violent and violent conflict. In this distinction, non-violent conflict can be a useful mechanism for social change an transformation, while violent conflict is harmful and requires conflict resolution.

Violence

Violence is often defined as physical or psychological force afflicted upon another being. In the context of global politics, it could be seen as anything someone does that prevents others from reaching their full potential.

• This broader definition would encompass unequal distribution of power that excludes entire groups from accessing resources essential for improved living standards or well-being, and discriminatory practices that exclude entire groups of people from accessing certain resources.

non violence

the practice of advocating one’s own or others’ rights without physically harming the opponent. It often involves actively opposing the system that is deemed to be unjust, through for example boycotts, demonstrations and civil disobedience. Theorists argue that non-violence can often draw attention to a conflict situation and that it could provide a fertile basis for post-conflict transformation.

Realism

Realists in global politics view the world in competitive terms. In a realist view, global politics is dominated by states acting in their own self-interest, prioritizing, first and foremost, national security. Relations between states are heavily influenced by the amount of power they have.

Liberalism

politics have a more cooperative view of the world. In a liberalist view, a host of actors influence outcomes in global politics and share a primary concern for justice, liberty and equality.

Capitalism

It is the dominant ideology of production, exchange, distribution and consumption in the modern world, according to which the basis of resource allocation is the generation of profit.

• all models of capitalism agree that the generation of profit is necessary for economic growth and maintenance of the global system, and generally conducive to development.

neoliberalism

a strand of capitalism that advocates minimum political interference in the market mechanism.

constructivism

holds that social interactions and practices construct political principles, morality, and international relations.

Relativism

the ethical theory of relativism suggests values to be culturally and individually determined. In a relativist view, global agreements on the most fundamental aspects of human life are hence difficult to achieve.

Universalism

the ethical theory of universalism puts forward

the notion of a universal human nature that transcends traditional boundaries of

identity. In a universalist view, universal values are therefore possible.