Global Politics - Definitions

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FAILED STATE

Back 1

A state that has collapsed and cannot provide for the basic needs of its citizens.

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NATION

Back 2

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

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STATE

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States possess a permanent population, defined territory and recognised sovereignty.
States are not necessarily culturally homogenous.
E.g. Australia.

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NATIONAL INTEREST

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

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CITIZENSHIP

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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 objections (such as jury service).

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SOVEREIGNTY

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Legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control of a territory within recognised borders.
Provides states with authority to represent their territorial entity within the international community.

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POWER

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Ability of one global actor to influence the actions of another global actor.
Can be exercised in a range of different types and forms.

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GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

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Institutions, rules, norms and legal arrangements that seek to facilitate cooperation, and manage relations, between states.
Governance is carried out by both government organisations (UN) and NGOs (International Criminal Court)

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DISARMAMENT

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Seeks to create a world free from weapons. Reduction/ elimination of the number of weapons and troops maintained by a state.

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DEVELOPMENT

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Has become associated with 'human security' and the interrelationship of insecurity and inequality to achieving security for all.

Often measured in terms of increases in gross national product (GNP) between states.
A state is 'developing' if its GNP is increasing.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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Encourages and supports development which is benign or least harmful to the environment.

Each generation has a responsibility to utilise the resources of the planet in such a fashion that it doesn't damage future generations ability to survive and thrive.

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INEQUALITY

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Disparities between peoples on either a political, economic or social level.
Inequality has not only been identified as an ethical issue but also a cause of economic instability.

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POVERTY

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Condition in which individuals or societies find themselves experiencing lack of fundamental needs and basic requirements that undermine the opportunity to live a normal life.
EXTREME POVERTY: degree that life experience is shortened

Ethical issue when those experience it are surrounded by a world of plenty.

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ARMS CONTROL

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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 the interaction between states. Seeks to regulate the use of arms and, therefore, the actions of states)

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PROLIFERATION
HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL

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HORIZONTAL: Spread of nuclear weapons throughout state and non-state actors that are obtaining them.

VERTICAL: Number of nuclear weapons states are obtaining.

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NUCLEAR WINTER

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Notion that detonating dozens or more nuclear weapons could have a profound and severe effect on the climate causing cold weather and reduced sunlight for a period of months/years.

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NUCLEAR UMBRELLA

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Guarantee by a nuclear weapons state to defend a non-nuclear allied state.
Australia is said to be under the US nuclear umbrella.

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"SECURITY DILEMMA"

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Situation in which actions by a state intended to heighten its security, such as increasing its military strength or making alliances, can lead other states to respond with similar measures, producing increased tensions that can create conflict.
*Trust deficit biggest obstacle in achieving Arms Control/ Disarmament.

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WMD

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WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION:
Nuclear, radiological, biological, chemical or other weapon that can kill or bring significant harm to a large number of humans or cause great damage to the biosphere.

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ARMS TRADE

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Trafficking or smuggling of contraband weapons or ammunition.
Very few laws about Arms Trade are in place, however the Arms Trade Treaty (UN) is attempting to regulate it.

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FIRST STRIKE CAPABILITY

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States ability to defeat another nuclear party by destroying its arsenal to the point where the attacking country can survive the weakened retaliation while the opposing side is unable to continue war.

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MAD

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MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION:
Doctrine of military strategy and national security policy in which all full-scale use of high-yield weapons of mass destruction by two or more opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and defender.

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MULTILATERALISM

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

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HUMAN RIGHTS

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Rights that are afforded to all human beings universally on the basis of their common humanity.

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GLOBALISATION

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Acceleration and intensification in exchanges of goods, services, labour, and capital which promote global interdependence.
Has widespread impacts on social, political, economic and cultural life.