Global Politics Introduction Flashcards
What is an authoritarian state?
A governmental or political system where individual freedom is completely subordinate to the power or authority of the state, centred in one person or a small group not constitutionally accountable to the people.
What is an autocratic state?
A state that is ruled by a single person with unlimited power.
What is colonisation?
The process of establishing control over foreign territories or peoples for the purpose of exploitation and possibly settlement.
What is cultural power?
Power based on the influence of a country via media, food, language, and beliefs.
What is dependency theory?
Emphasises structural imbalances within capitalism that impose dependency on poorer states.
What is a democratic state?
A state in which citizens have rights and freedoms and are able to vote for their leaders.
What is diplomatic power?
Power based on the ability of a country to influence others due to its status in international bodies and how others consider the state.
What is economic power?
Power based on the size of a country’s GDP and wealth.
What is an empire?
An extensive group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch, an oligarchy, or a sovereign state.
What is an emerging power?
A state that is considered to be rising, primarily in economic power and influence.
What is the End of History?
The view that post the collapse of the Soviet Union, states shared the same values and aims.
What is a failed state?
A state that is unable to operate as a viable political unit.
What is G7(8)/G20?
Organisation of the richest states in the world.
What is global governance?
Broad and complex process of decision making at a global level.
What is globalisation?
Emergence of a complex web of interconnectedness in many forms.
What is a great power?
A state that is recognised as having the ability and expertise to exert its influence on a global scale.
What is hard power?
The use of military and economic means to influence the behaviour or interests of other political bodies.
What is the international rules based order?
Concept of international relations based on capitalist, liberal democratic values.
What is the international state system?
The global system of the organisation of countries/nation states around the world.
What is liberalism in international relations?
The view that the state system relies on cooperation and mutual respect and rights, linked to socialism and liberalism.
What is military power?
Power based on the size of army, navy, air force and the ability to challenge others.
What is a nation state?
An autonomous political community held together by citizenship and nationality.
What is natural resource power?
Power based on the resources a country has, such as oil, minerals, coal, metals, etc.
What is a non-democratic state?
A state that lacks the central characteristics of a democratic state.
What are non-state actors?
Participants in international relations with significant power and influence, which are not states.
What is the North-South divide?
Global socio-economic and political divide.
What is political globalisation?
Growing importance of international organisations.
What is population power?
Power based on the number of people living in a country.
What is a rogue state?
A state that has a foreign policy that poses a threat to other states.
What is realism in international relations?
The view that self-interest and hard power motivate states, linked to conservatism as an ideology.
What is the rule of law?
The concept that all states and people have to obey the same laws.
What is regional power?
The level of power based in a specific area surrounding the nation state.
What is the Security Council?
The United Nations’ most powerful body, with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
What is smart power?
A combination of soft power with the threat of hard power.
What is soft power?
The ability to attract and co-opt and to shape the preferences of others through appeal and attraction.
What is sovereignty?
Absolute and unlimited power and authority.
What is structural power?
Power based on positions held in international bodies.
What is a superpower?
A state with a dominant position in international relations, characterised by its unparalleled ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale.
What is the United Nations?
Organisation created in 1945, following the Second World War, to promote international co-operation and to prevent another such conflict.
What is the Westphalian state system?
Principle in international law that each state has exclusive sovereignty over its territory, based on the 1648 treaty.
What is world government?
Idea of a common political authority with legislative and executive power over states.
