International Relations Flashcards
Grade 12 · Social Studies · Flashcards
Essential vocabulary for international relations, diplomacy, global governance, and foreign policy analysis.
Flashcards
- Hegemony
- The dominance of one state over others in the international system, through military, economic, or cultural power; a hegemon may shape global rules and norms.
- Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
- An international treaty (1968) aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, promoting disarmament, and allowing peaceful use of nuclear energy.
- Diplomacy
- The practice of managing international relations through negotiation, communication, and agreement rather than force; conducted by diplomats and foreign ministries.
- Proxy War
- A conflict in which two major powers support opposing sides in a third-party conflict rather than fighting each other directly, as occurred frequently during the Cold War.
- Globalization
- The increasing interconnectedness of the world through trade, investment, migration, communication, and culture, reducing the barriers imposed by national borders.
- Failed State
- A state that can no longer perform basic governmental functions such as maintaining order, providing public services, or controlling its territory.
- Multilateral Treaty
- A formal agreement between three or more states that creates binding obligations under international law, such as the Paris Climate Agreement or the Geneva Conventions.
- Cold War
- The geopolitical rivalry (1947–1991) between the United States and the Soviet Union characterized by ideological conflict, arms races, proxy wars, and mutual nuclear deterrence.
- Intergovernmental Organization (IGO)
- An organization composed primarily of sovereign states as members, such as the United Nations, European Union, or World Health Organization.
- Territorial Integrity
- The principle in international law that a state's borders should not be violated or altered by force; a cornerstone of the post-WWII international order.
- Hard Power
- The use of military and economic coercion to influence the behavior of other actors in international relations.
- Unilateralism
- A foreign policy approach where a state acts independently without seeking the cooperation or approval of other states or international organizations.
- Stateless Nation
- A group of people sharing a common identity, culture, or history who lack their own sovereign state (e.g., the Kurds, Palestinians, or Tibetans).
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