Concept terms - real life examples

1) State 
 An example of a state would be France.

2) Sovereignty 
Example: the treaty of Westphalia formalised the principles of sovereignty by recognising that each state holds political authority within its territory and can establish its own foreign policy. This marked the acknowledgment of an existing interstate system in Europe, where no higher political authority presided over sovereign states.

3) Nation 
Example: Kurdish people are often cited as a nation without a state, sharing language, culture, and identity across countries like Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. 

4) Imperialism 
Example: British empires, European colonisation of Africa during the 19th and early 20th centuries is a classic example of imperialism, driven by resource extraction and strategic control. 

5) Anarchy 
Example the UN cannot itself provide protection to a state if it is attacked or penalize a state that turns to violence. 

6) Security dilemma 
Example: Cold war - the arms race during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union exemplifies the security dilemma, where defensive measures taken by one party heightened insecurity for the other, India-Pakistan 

7) Commercial liberalism 
Example: The European Union serves as a successful example of commercial liberalism, where economic interdependence among member states has reduced the likelihood of conflict. 

8) Power transition 
Example: US-China - Contemporary relations between the United States and China reflect power transition theory, as China’s rise potentially challenges the dominant position of the United States. 

9) Interstate war 
Example: The Gulf War (1990–1991) is an example of interstate war, where Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait prompted a coalition of states to respond militarily. 

10) Democratic peace 
Example: Post WW2 Europe has shown democratic peace such as France and Germany avoiding conflicts and fostering cooperation. 

11) Globalisation 
Example: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic highlights globalisation, with nations relying on international supply chains for vaccines and sharing information across borders. 

12) Levels of analysis 
Individual - this involves looking at the impact of individual decision makers (like leaders and their main advisors) on international relations and foreign policy. 

State - focus on the political or economic characteristics of countries or states, good example is democratic peace theory.  

International/systematic - Taken collectively, states and non-state actors coexisting and interacting at any point in history form an international system. That system has its own features and characteristics which themselves might strongly influence how countries behave 

Example: The 2003 invasion of Iraq can be analysed using the systemic level (global power structures), the state level (U.S. foreign policy post 9/11), and the individual level (decisions made by George W. Bush and his administration). 

13) Strategic culture 
Example: Russia, Japan’s pacifist constitution after World War II reflects a strategic culture shaped by historical experiences and deeply rooted norms. 

14) Norm 
Example : The global prohibition of chemical weapons is an internationally recognised norm, upheld by the Chemical Weapons Convention, which influences state behaviour. 

15) International institution 
Example: United nations – UNSC, WHO 

16) Deterrence 
Example: NATO’s nuclear deterrence strategy during the Cold War aimed to prevent aggression by the Soviet Union. 

17) Diplomacy  

Example: The Good Friday Agreement (1998) successfully ended decades of conflict in Northern Ireland through diplomacy involving the British and Irish governments, Northern Irish parties, and international mediation particularly by the United States. 

18) Peacekeeping                                                                                                             Example: United Nations peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone have contributed to stabilising post-conflict regions and supporting governance