U3 AOS2 - Key terms Flashcards
What is sovereignty?
The legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control of a territory within recognised borders.
Is the primary organising principle of global politics, and enables states to represent their territorial integrity within the international community.
Define national interests
The goals and objectives to ensure the survival of the state.
Why are national interests pursued?
To ensure the survival and potential growth of the state. Policies ad types of power are used to achieve national interests and maintain sovereignty.
What are the 4 types of national interest?
National security, economic prosperity, regional relationships and international standing.
What is national security?
Refers to the state’s ability to defend its sovereignty. Particularly by guarding national citizens against internal and external threats.
What is economic prosperity?
Whether a state can weather international economic instability, whilst also protecting and building the wealth and welfare of its citizens.
What are regional relationships?
The way in which a state interacts, positively or negatively with its geographic neighbours.
Why are positive relations important to a state?
Ensures its neighbours do not interact in a hostile manner, and also contributes to international standing. Thus, state sovereignty in not threatened.
What is international standing?
A state’s reputation among the broader international community.
How is international standing promoted?
It is a form of soft power, promoted through state actions.
- transfer of culture, beliefs, values and ideas
- hopes to leverage a favourable reputation
What is power?
The ability of a state to exert influence or control over the action of another state.
What is hard power?
The use or threatened use of coercive measures to achieve states’ aims.
This can occur through military power or diplomacy
What makes hard power effective?
When it is used against a state that is vulnerable to it.
e.g threat of use of a strong military is only effective against a state with a weak military.
How are the two types of hard power employed?
- Military power - deploy military forces along a sensitive border to imply willingness to attack (e.g US ends aircraft carrier)
- Diplomacy - Threat of sanctions, diplomatic isolation, UN resolution
What is soft power?
The ability of a state to get what it wants through cultural or ideological attraction.
If a state’s ideas and culture are appealing, they will have a greater influence abroad. (e.g glory of American freedom through hollywood)
