International Relations Terms & World Leaders Quiz

A war in which opposite sides use third parties as substitutes for fighting each other directly.

proxy war

A “country” where the alignment between the boundaries of the state and nation are identical.

Nation-State

A political organization that allows for a multiplicity of “imagined communities” to coexist beneath a single democratic roof.

State-Nation

A large group of people having a common origin, language, tradition and usage constitutes a political entity.

Nation

A sudden, violent, and unlawful overthrow or seizure of power from a government.

coup

Another term for the President of the United States. In this role, the civilian head of the US military - which by design- helps to avoid a military coup.

Commander in Chief

The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations without arousing hostility or causing conflict

diplomacy

The only branch of the US government that can formally declare war.

Legislative-Congress

During the Cold War, this policy of nuclear deterrence is what prevented both a limite and a full-scale nuclear exchange between the superpowers: the US and USSR. Acronym for mutually assured destruction.

MAD

Any one of five levels of US military defense readiness that are ranked from 5 to 1 according to national security, with 1 indicating the highest level of perceived threat

defcon

A war in which the weapons used, the nations or territory involved, or the objectives pursued are restricted in some way, in particular one is which the use of nuclear weapons is avoided

Limited war

A war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued especially one in which the laws of war are disregarded

Total War

A type of warfare fought by irregulars in fast-moving, small-scale actions against orthodox military and police forces and, on occasion, against rival insurgent forces, either independently or in conjunction with a larger political-military strategy.

guerilla war

The policy of territorial or economic conquest

expansionism

A union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations

alliances

A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries.

Isolationism

Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others

hegemony

Identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations

nationalism

The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically

colonialism

A policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force

Imperialism

A political principle that advocates greater political or economic cooperation among states and nations

internationalism

The policy of defending domestic industries against foreign competition by means of tariffs, subsidies, import quotas or other restrictions or handicaps place on the imports of foreign competitors.

protectionism