Key Definitions

Question 1

Citizenship

Answer 1

The State of being a citizen of a particular social political or national community. A citizen enjoys the privileges and rights accorded by the state, as well as the obligations such as a jury service. Moves towards transnational political communities has raised the possibility of global citizenship, where individual loyalties to the state are transformed to a global society on the basis of universal moral principles.

Question 2

Crisis Diplomacy

Answer 2

Negotiations between actors in the global political arena in response to crisis, most commonly concerning conflicts and natural disasters, but also economic and health crises.

Question 3

Democratisation

Answer 3

Processes associated with the spread of democracy around the world.

Question 4

Diplomacy

Answer 4

Entire process in which state conduct their foreign relations with one another. A means for states to cooperate and conduct resolve conflicts without force. An instrument of foreign policy most recognisable through the establishment of embassies and the work of ambassadors, ministers and envoys. Vehicle through which a state asserts itself and means by which it seeks to achieve its national interests. Occurs on bilateral and multilateral levels.

Question 5

Environmentalism

Answer 5

Political, social and philosophical ideology that seeks to prevent human-induced environmental degradation whilst seeking to improve the state of the environment, often through conversation. It is a major influence in global politics.

Question 6

Ethics

Answer 6

Seeks to address questions of morality. This extends to global politics on the basis that a common humanity binds all human beings beyond individuals in states to the world as a whole, thus necessitating certain actions.

Question 7

Globalisation

Answer 7

Accelerations and intensification of exchanges of goods, services, labour and capital which promote global interdependence. These have been facilitated by Rapid changes in communication and technology. Has widespread impacts on social, political, economic and cultural life.

Question 8

Global Governance

Answer 8

Institutions, rules, norms and legal arrangements that seek to facilitate cooperation and manage relations between states. Governance is carried out by both governmental organisations such as the United Nations and non-governmental organisations such and the International criminal court.

Question 9

Hard Power

Answer 9

Power exercised through coercion, or threatened acts of coercion, to influence the actions of other global actors. Most commonly exercised via military forms.

Question 10

Human Rights

Answer 10

Rights that are afforded to all human beings universally on the basis of their common humanity. Rights are restricted as much by what is necessary to secure comparable rights of others as the right of any particular individual. The concept of human rights has evolved over time to include three categories: civil and political rights (right to life and political participation), economic, social and cultural rights (right to subsistence) and solidarity rights (right to peace, right to clean environment).

Question 11

Idealism

Answer 11

School of thought in which foreign policy is influenced above all else by moral principle, as opposed to practical and pragmatic considerations.

Question 12

Utility of Violence

Answer 12

Violence employed as a means of achieving one’s political objectives, commonly witnessed in global politics through interstate war. Violence is purposeful and organised. Traditionally perceived as an instrument of state power, violence and threatened acts of violence are increasingly utilised by terrorist groups as a means of achieving their objectives.

Question 13

International Corporation

Answer 13

When global actor work together to achieve common ideals and goals.

Question 14

International Community

Answer 14

An entity that makes decisions and takes action for the benefit of all countries and peoples on the basis of common duties and obligations between states, their citizens and other global actors. Most commonly used in the context of taking action against repressive regimes or upholding human rights. The extent to which a functioning and effective international community exists is contentious.

Question 15

International society

Answer 15

The notion of a society of states in which law, order and cooperation are the basis of interaction, and that stats work towards achieving common ideals and goals. The extent to which a functioning and an effective international society exists is contentious.

Question 16

Justice

Answer 16

Concept of moral rightness based on ethics, law, fairness and equity that, importantly, also seeks punishment when said ethics are breached. Extends to global politics through international systems of justice such as the International Criminal court and the international court of justice, which seek to uphold international law and deter future violations.

Question 17

Multilateralism

Answer 17

System of coordinating relations between three or more states, usually in pursuit of objectives in particular areas.

Question 18

Nation

Answer 18

Groups of people claiming common bonds based on suture, language and history. Some nations have their own state, such as the Japanese, whilst others want their own state such as the Tibetans and Kurds

Question 19

Nation-State

Answer 19

Political social grouping in which people within territorial boundaries, with recognised sovereignty, have common bonds based on culture, language and history.

Question 20

National Interest

Answer 20

Used as an all-embracing concept to justify policy preferences and actions, and includes the goals or objectives of foreign policy.

Question 21

Non-government organisations

Answer 21

Specialised organisations, agencies and groups committed to promoting particular interests or issues. These organisations work on the basis of links between individuals across the global and are independent from government influence, and as such act so s moderating influence on government behaviour.

Question 22

Power

Answer 22

The ability of one global actor to influence the actions of another global actor. Power can be exercised in a range of types and forms.

Question 23

Pragmatism

Answer 23

School of thought in which foreign policy is influenced above all else by practical and pragmatic considerations, as opposed to moral principles.

Question 24

Propaganda

Answer 24

Form of communication aimed at influencing the attitude and perspective of the international community toward some cause or position by presenting a one-sided perspective. Can be used as an instrument of power to influence the actions of other actors.

Question 25

Soft Power

Answer 25

The ability to shape the actions of other global actors most commonly exercised through diplomacy, culture, policies and history. A term first coined by Joseph Nye.

Question 26

Sovereignty

Answer 26

Legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control of a territory within recognised borders. Primary organising principle of global politics which provides states with the authority to represent their territorial entity within the international community. State sovereignty can be challenged internally (for example secessionist groups) or externally (e.g. One state invades another).

Question 27

State

Answer 27

Traditionally the central actor in international relations, state possess a permanent population, defined territory and recognised sovereignty. States are not necessarily culturally homogenous e.g. Australia.

Question 28

Sustainability

Answer 28

Most commonly used in relation to development policies, sustainability seeks to organise states and their economies so that current needs are met whilst not jeopardising meeting these needs in the future. Advocates for maintenance of ecosystems and biodiversity as well as the sustainable use of resources.

Question 29

Terrorism

Answer 29

The threatened or actual use of violence to achieve political objectives. Can be utilised by individuals, groups and governments.

Question 30

Third-agenda Issues

Answer 30

Issues which affect a number of states at any one time and so require joint action to be resolved, for example global warming, migration and terrorism.

Question 31

Transnational corporation

Answer 31

Company whose operations and investments extend beyond the boundaries of the state in which it is registered. Also referred to as multinational corporations.

Question 32

Unilateralism

Answer 32

Policy of acting alone, with little regard for the views or interests of other global actors, in pursuit of foreign policy objectives.

Question 33

Arms control

Answer 33

Exercise of restraint in the acquisition deployment and use of weapons. Underlying assumption of arms control is that weapons are a continuing and persistent feature of interaction between states. Seeks to regulate the use of arms and therefore, the actions of states.