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Political Science

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May 24, 2024

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For each term listed below, define it and explain how it helps us understand international politics. 1. State sovereignty – The state possesses the authority to govern and protect its people, economy, and internal affairs within its borders. It maintains clearly defined boundaries and safeguards its territory. State sovereignty is upheld by the military, police, and intelligence agencies. This sovereignty is acknowledged by other established states and nonstate actors as a legitimate government. International recognition is crucial for a state's security, balance of power, alliances, and deterrence. Such recognition prevents other nations from dominating the state within international organizations like the United Nations (UN) and imposing governance on it. It fosters an equal environment among states, determining power dynamics in international politics. 2. Power – Power can be understood in three dimensions. The first is the ability to compel someone to take a specific action, such as the United States requiring its citizens to pay taxes. The second dimension is the power to prevent someone from taking an action, like the historical restriction on women voting before the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the United States. The third dimension involves shaping people's beliefs and perceptions, causing them to support ideas or politicians that may not align with their own interests. These dimensions of power provide insight into why a nation might choose to veto or approve measures in an international context. 3. Ideology – An ideology is a set of beliefs that groups adhere to. For example, racism is the belief that one group is superior to another. Similarly, colonialism is a form of Western imperialism that employs military force, terror, and scholarly knowledge to oppress people outside of Western Europe. Both race and colonialism significantly influence international politics. Racism often drives colonialism, and with the establishment of the United Nations, smaller nations outside the Western sphere have gained the ability to vote as equals alongside the nations that once oppressed them. Ideology helps categorize different nations into archetypes, aiding in the understanding of each state's objectives. 4. Liberalism – Liberalism is a moderate ideology that originated during the Enlightenment period, rooted in the ideals of John Locke, focusing on protecting the rights to life, liberty, and property. The founding fathers of the United States were influenced by liberal principles. Liberals view international systems like the United Nations, multinational corporations, NGOs, and IGOs as equally important as sovereign states. Liberalism aids in identifying which nations are more inclined to support and engage with international organizations.
5. Marxism – Marxism originated as an ideology from Karl Marx, a philosopher and economist, advocating for the internal transformation of a nation. It proposes a revolution led by the proletariat (the working class) against the bourgeoisie (capitalist class). Marx identified class oppression as a fundamental catalyst for change and revolution. In Critical Theory Number Four, Marxism is among the ideologies emphasized to underscore the necessity of transforming the entire international system. 6. Fascism – Fascism represents an extreme right-wing ideology wherein the nation-state is governed by a Supreme Leader, and citizens are required to adhere to state authority. Its objective is to institute and safeguard an ethnically homogeneous society. Nazi Germany serves as a prime example of a fascist state, aiming to establish an all-white German society, ultimately resulting in the genocide of Jewish people. Fascism poses a significant challenge to democracy and human rights within the realm of international politics. 7. Genocide – Genocide, as defined by Raphael Lemkin in 1944, constitutes an unfathomable crime involving deliberate actions targeting a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Such acts may include killing group members, causing severe physical or mental harm, deliberately creating conditions conducive to the group's physical destruction in whole or in part, implementing measures to prevent births, and forcibly transferring children to other groups. Recognizing these atrocious acts within the sphere of international politics can serve as a deterrent against other nations committing similar atrocities, establishing a firm legal standard. 8. International norms – International norms refer to a collection of regulations that are formalized in international treaties or conventions. These norms serve to restrain governments, exemplified by agreements like the Geneva Conventions of 1949. States found in violation of international norms may be subject to sanctions. The establishment of the International Criminal Court in 2002 further enables the enforcement of these sanctions. Within the domain of international politics, adherence to a framework of international norms plays a crucial role in preventing atrocities like those witnessed during the era of Nazi Germany. 9. Imperialism – Imperialism is an ideology denoting unwarranted state intervention across borders beyond their own. A contemporary illustration of this is the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where Russia is exerting control over Ukraine. Similarly, China's endeavors to annex and control Tibet serve as another instance. Imperialism involves one state infringing upon the sovereignty of another. Historically, the West has engaged in imperialist practices in Latin American countries. This historical phenomenon serves as a subject of study in international politics, offering insights to facilitate change. 10. Proxy War – This phenomenon involves influential global powers providing financial resources and weaponry to conflicting parties in territories outside their own borders. For instance, the United States supports Israel financially and militarily in the conflict with
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