U3 AOS 2

Question 1

Sovereignty

Answer 1

Legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control of a territory within recognised borders. This is the primary organising principle of global politics, providing 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 (for example, one state invades another).

Question 2

National Interests

Answer 2

The national interests of a state are pursued to ensure the survival and potential growth of that state. States implement policies and types of power to achieve their national interests and achieve state sovereignty

The national interests are national security, economic prosperity, regional relationships and international standing.

Question 3

Power

Answer 3

Refers to the ability of one global actor to influence the decisions of another global actor. Power can be exercised in a range of types.

Power can be classified as hard, soft, military, economic, political, diplomatic or cultura.

Question 4

Security

Answer 4

Traditionally this term refers to the protection of a state’s borders from intrusion and the maintenance of sovereignty, most commonly achieved through the use of military power. It has now evolved to include softer forms of security, such as access to resources and the protection of the environment.

Question 5

Idealism

Answer 5

Refers to a school of thought in which policy is influenced primarily by and ideological principle, as opposed to practical and pragmatic considerations

Question 6

Pragmatism

Answer 6

A school of thought in which policy is influenced primarily by practical considerations, as opposed to a particular ideology.

Question 7

Economic Prosperity

Answer 7

The national interest of economic prosperity is important to a state as it indicates whether a state can weather international economic instability as well as protect and build the wealth and welfare of its citizens. If a state is economically prosperous, it encourages other states to develop relationships with them and bolsters state sovereignty.

A national interest

Question 8

Regional relationships

Answer 8

Positive regional relationships are an important national interest to a state as they ensure its neighbours will not behave in a hostile manner and thus threaten state sovereignty. Alliances with other likeminded neighbours may help the success of other national interests. However, a state may consider other national interests more important than positive regional relationships if they better achieve the aims of a state.

A national interest

Question 9

International Standing

Answer 9

The international standing of a state is an important national interest as it influences the power a state has in global politics. Other national interests impact on international standing as well as a state’s role and recognition in intergovernmental organisations and as a proponent of international law. If a state has a poor international standing it may threaten their sovereignty.

A national interest

Question 10

National security

Answer 10

This is the national interest of a state to ensure it maintains sovereignty. Traditionally this term refers to the protection of a state’s borders from intruders but has evolved to include other forms of security, such as resource and environmental security, that are necessary for a state to maintain sovereignty.

Question 11

Hard power

Answer 11

Refers to power exercised through incentive or coercion to influence the actions of other global actors. This is most commonly exercised through diplomatic, military and/or economic forms.

Question 12

Soft power

Answer 12

Refers to the ability of one global actor to shape the actions of other global actors via attraction, with the absence of incentive or coercion. This can be achieved in various ways, for example through diplomatic and cultural ties. It is a term first coined by Joseph Nye.

Question 13

Military Power

Answer 13

Refers to the use of a state’s military to exert influence over the actions of other global actors. This may not need to be implemented through a use of force as placement and capacity of the military may be enough to influence other global actors.

Hard power

Question 14

Economic power

Answer 14

A state’s economic power is often determined by figures such as the gross domestic product (GDP), which indicate the wealth of a state and its economic activity. Economic power can also be assessed by the state’s reliance on imports of goods and services. Crucially, economic power refers to a state’s ability to influence the actions of another state through finance and trade.

hard power

Question 15

Political power

Answer 15

Refers to the use of a state’s internal political machinery to exert influence over the actions of others. For example, legislation, executive orders, white papers.

hard power

Question 16

Diplomatic power

Answer 16

Refers to the power accrued by states through their relationships with others in the form of alliances, alignments and international standing. Essentially, it is the ability of a state to influence other global actors by way of discussion and negotiation.

hwrd power

Question 17

Cultural power

Answer 17

Refers to a desirable and transportable culture that states can use to achieve ends that might not be achieved through military and political means. It is often linked to soft power and may influence regional relationships and international standing.

soft power

Question 18

Diplomacy

Answer 18

Refers to the ability to conduct effective negotiations between states without arousing hostility. As a foreign policy instrument of a state, it may be utilised through formal diplomatic channels, such as an ambassador, through its conduct in intergovernmental organisations and from meetings and speeches made by leaders of states.

foreign policy instrument

Question 19

Trade

Answer 19

Refers to the manipulation of the exchange of goods, services, labour and capital to influence the actions of another state.

foreign policy instrument

Question 20

Aid

Answer 20

Refers to the provision of assistance, predominantly monetary, to global actors with the intention of influencing their decisions and actions in order to achieve a specific aim.

foreign policy instrument

Question 21

Military

Answer 21

Military as a foreign policy instrument refers to the military capacity of a state and how this is utilised to achieve its foreign policy objectives. The capacity will depend on the amount of money spent on the military, the type and calibre of weapons available, the number and expertise of servicemen and women in the armed forces, and the relationship between the military and the state. It may also refer to the placement of armed forces.

foreign policy instrument

Question 22

Sharp Power

Answer 22

a subset of hard power that involves influencing the views of other public actors and distrupting public opinion. weaponing information, censorship and controlling citizens through information and limiting free expression.