Chapter 1: Intro to Global Politics Flashcards
global politics
The politics of global social relations in which the pursuit of power, interests, order, and justice transcends regions and continents.
international relations
The study of the interactions of states (countries) and other actors in the international system.
nongovernmental organizations
An organization, usually a grassroots one, that has policy goals but is not governmental in its makeup. An NGO is any group of people relating to each other regularly in some formal manner and engaging in collective action
transnational actors
Any nongovernmental actor, such as a multinational corporation or a global religious humanitarian organization, that has dealings with any actor from another country or with an international organization.
governments
The people and agencies that have the power and legitimate authority to determine who gets what, when, where, and how within a given territory.
non state actors
Any participant in global politics that is neither acting in the name of government nor created and served by government. Nongovernmental organizations, terrorist networks, global crime syndicates, and multinational corporations are examples.
multinational corporations (MNC)
A business or firm with administration, production, distribution, and marketing located in countries around the world. Such a business moves money, goods, services, and technology around the world depending on where the firm can make the most profit.
nation
A community of people who share a common sense of identity, which may be derived from language, culture, or ethnicity; this community may be a minority within a single country or live in more than one country.
state
The concept that all countries are equal under international law and that they are protected from outside interference; this is the basis on which the United Nations and other international and regional organizations operate.
nation-state
A political community in which the state claims legitimacy on the grounds that it represents all citizens, including those who may identify as a separate community or nation.
sovereignty
The condition of a state having control and authority over its own territory and being free from any higher legal authority. It is related to, but distinct from, the condition of a government being free from any external political constraints.
theories
Theories that are critical of the status quo and reject the idea that things can be fixed under the present system. These theories challenge core assumptions of the dominant paradigm and argue for transformation and not just reform.
traditions
In international relations, a way of thinking that describes the nature of international politics. Such traditions include Machiavellian, Grotian, Kantian, and Marxism as a critical theory.
machiavellian
A tradition in international relations theory named for Niccolò Machiavelli that characterizes the international system as anarchic; states are constantly in conflict and pursue their own interests as they see fit.
grotian
A liberal tradition in international relations theory named for Hugo Grotius that emphasizes the rule of law and multilateral cooperation. Grotians believe the international system is not anarchic, but interdependent: A society of states is created in part by international law, treaties, alliances, and diplomacy, which states are bound by and ought to uphold.
