Foundations Flashcards
democracy
system of government that means rule by the people in which citizens are allowed to associate, express, and participate in politics freely.
capitalism
socioeconomic system of production characterized by market-based transactions, private property, and wage labor.
rule of law
expectation that all citizens are equally subject to laws, regardless of their power or status.
State
Sovereign organization with compulsory membership that claims a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence withing a territory.
Nationalism
attitudes and emotions that individuals experience in reference to their national identity, or the desire for self- determination, the desire for a state of one’s own.
nation
group that thinks of itself as a political community.
nation-state
where the state governs, and is governed by, people of one nation.
Civic nationalism
also known as liberal nationalism, is a form of nationalism identified by political philosophers who believe in an inclusive form of nationalism that adheres to traditional liberal values of freedom, tolerance, equality, individual rights and has no ethnocentrism.
Ethnic nationalism
a shared inheritance based on race, genetics, culture, language, religion etc.
Individualism
the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant.
Equality
the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
Power
the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality.
Hard power
a state’s ability to force actors to change their behavior (coercive)
Soft power
a state’s ability to influence actors’ behavior through values (persuasive)
liberalism
theory of international relations that says states are self-interested but realize that mutually beneficial relations with other states are possible, and that democracy, capitalism, and IGOs can help states cooperate with each other.
neoliberalism
ideological belief that free markets are desirable in an economy and in society as a whole.
realism
theory of international relations that says because states are self-interested and cannot rely on others for their security, cooperation between states is the exception, and mutual distrust and conflict is the norm.
constructivism
approach to international relations that sees states as social actors and norms as shaping the identities and wants of states.
intergovernmental organization (IGO)
organization created and controlled by sovereign states in which the members are states.
international nongovernmental organization (INGO)
nongovernmental organization (NGO) that has members in more than one country, typically meaning a physical office with employees.
civil society
voluntary association of people outside of families, firms (companies), and states (governments). Includes nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), social movements, and transnational advocacy networks (TANs).
social movements
collective action for social change involving very loosely organized individuals, networks, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Example: Black Lives Matter.
Norm entrepreneurs
any actor that tries to create or change a norm. Many civil society actors are, or aim to be, norm entrepreneurs.
transnational advocacy networks (TANs)
coalition or network of people—but not a formal organization—working for change, typically narrowly focused on a specific issue. Example: Jubilee Debt Campaign.
Bretton Woods Institutions (BWIs)
This is where the World Bank (WB), World Trade Organization (WTO), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) all come from.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
main international treaty that seeks to commit countries to target levels of greenhouse gas emission.
complex interdependence
in liberal theory, the concept that states do not pursue just one policy. Government officials and nonstate actors within a country engage in international activity in the pursuit of diverse (often conflicting) policy goals.
logic of appropriateness
people respond to nonmaterial things, such as norms, values, and identities. Thus, how people act reflects their understanding of appropriate behavior. Constructivists say the behavior of people and states is shaped by socially shared understandings of appropriateness.
logic of consequences
people respond to material things, such as money or threats of violence. Thus, how people act reflects the consequences they expect. Constructivists say liberal and realist theories emphasize a logic of consequences in the behavior of states.
Social class identity
Social class as a social identity relates to the importance/significance and affect/emotions associated with an individual’s membership/self-categorization within a social class group (e.g., working class). An individual’s socioeconomic status does not always align with their social class identification.
culture
traditions, customs, and meanings that shape behavior and understanding.
ethnicity
named human population with myths of common ancestry, shared historical memories, one or more elements of common culture, a link with a homeland, and a sense of solidarity among at least some of its members.
gender identity
social identity in which belonging is determined by gender difference.
in-group / out group
is a social group to which a person psychologically identifies as being a member. By contrast, an out-group is a social group with which an individual does not identify.
comparative advantage
economic principle that countries should specialize in what they do best, where “best” means most efficiently.
Free Trade vs Fair Trade
Free trade emphasizes the need for less borders, restrictions, and tariffs on goods and services passing through countries and continents. Meanwhile, fair trade involves ensuring that the workers behind these goods and services are treated fairly and that human rights are maintained throughout the supply chain.
mercantilism
belief that trade is only good if it strengthens a state’s power as well as its economy.
protectionism
government policies to favor domestic producers and discriminate against imported goods.
structuralism
belief that global trade rules have been created by rich countries to protect their wealth. Hence, the global economy is “structurally” unfair to poor countries.
tariff
tax on imported goods.
Fordism
form of capitalism characterized by mass production for mass consumption, as introduced by Henry Ford, with repetitive, semiskilled factory work in production for mass consumer markets
Post-Fordism
late 20th century form of capitalism characterized by product quality rather than by price, with global production, flexible labor markets, and weak worker bargaining strength.
