INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ESSAYS
AND TEST QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
Global Warming - An increase in the average temperatures worldwide, argued to be caused by the
greenhouse effect. Some global warming discussions have taken place at Kyoto in 1997 and Balia in
2007.
Globalization - The integration of regional economies, cultures, and societies through a
worldwide network of political ideas through transportation, trade, technology and military
presence. Flows across national boundaries of goods, people and ideas.
Groupthink - The term was proposed by Irving Janis. It's a type of thought within a deeply cohesive
group whose members try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing,
analyzing and evaluating ideas. Problem is unwillingness to test, desire to have a consensus and
cohesion, but things that actually might be the right outcome don't get tested. (Cuban Missile
Crisis- Kennedy and the people around him)
Hegemonic Stability Theory - Theory in IR where the international system will be more stable when
there is a single dominant state in the world, than when there are competing powers. Hegemon
will ensure stability.
Hegemony - Dominance of world power by a single state. Whereby no other state could
challenge hegemon. Currently the US is the hegemony in the world
High and Low Politics - The concept high politics covers all matters that are vital to the very
survival of the state: namely national and international security concerns. It is often used in
opposition to "low politics". Low politics is not essential to states survival. Trade is considered by
most IR scholars as low politics. Low politics- trade, high politics counterterrorism
Human Rights - "Inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply
because she or he is a human being." All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
,Human Security - Rather than national interests, the proper referent for security of a state should
be the citizens rather than the state. "Human security holds that a people-centered view of
security is necessary for national, regional and global stability."
Humanitarian Intervention - the use of military threat and/or force in order to disrupt the
internal policies of another state and promote human rights. This can include ending genocide
via military force, or providing food and water to starving citizens when their own government
denies them the resources.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) - From Bova: One of the principal organs of the United
Nations, oversees UN economic and social programs. From website:
http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml: Est. 1946, controls 70 percent of human and
financial resources for UN. Seeks to achieve development goals.
Economic Interdependence - When two or more states are engaged economically where they
depend on the commercial and financial exchanges with the other. A key part of the "Kantian
triangle" the strongest liberal perspective, economic interdependence is argued to contribute to
peace. Mutual economic gains will prevent war and conflict
Economic Sanctions - From Bova: the limitation and prevention of trade, investment or aid with
a target country in order to get that country to change its policies. Examples, US economic
embargo on Cuba, current sanctions against Iran.
Emissions Trading - "market-based approach used to control pollution by providing economic
incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants". Basically a policy instrument
that seeks to manage industrial greenhouse gas emissions.
Ethnic Cleansing - The systematic elimination of an ethnic group or groups from a region or society,
as by deportation, forced emigration, or genocide. United Nations defines it as "rendering an area
ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove from a given area persons of
another ethnic or religious group." REmoving a specific group from a specific area
European Union - - founded in 1948 after World War II to provide stability and cooperation
between the 27 European member states. The EU operates through institutions and
intergovernmental decisions. Some of the institutions are: European Commission, Council of the
European Union, European Council, etc
Export-Led Growth (ELG) - "economic strategy used by some developing countries. This strategy
seeks to find a niche in the world economy for a certain type of export". Types of exports can be
either manufactured goods or raw materials (more common).
, Feminism - "A collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing, and
defending equal political, economic and social rights for women".
Free Rider - : a) A situation in which individuals or nation-states shoulder less than their fair share
of responsibility. Exploiting other states' work.
b) When a nation-state is able to reap the benefits of being in an alliance without any cost or risk
Free Trade - International trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other
restrictions
Free Trade Agreement - a type of trade bloc or a designated group of countries that have agreed
to eliminate tariffs, quotas, and preferences. (NAFTA and the EU are examples of free trade areas)
G20 - The Group of 20 is a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 major
economies: 19 countries plus the European Union. The G-20 is a forum for cooperation and
consultation on matters related to the international financial system.
G7 and G8 - Beginning in 1975, the G7 was a group consisting of the finance ministers from seven
industrialized nations (Canada, France, Germany, USA, Italy, Japan, and the UK). The group meets
several times throughout the year to discuss economic policies.
The G8 is comprised of the G7 members plus Russia and a representative of the EU. The G8 is
traditionally known as representing the governments of the 8 largest economies in the world,
however both China (#2) and Brazil (#7) are excluded from this group. The G8 Summits are seen
as an informal way for the leaders of these nations to discuss pressing world issues.
GATT - The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was signed in 1947 and later changed into the
World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1994. The international agreement established rules for liberal
trade and lowered trade barriers.
Glasnost and Perestroika - Glasnost (open discussion) was a policy Gorbachev introduced once he
was in power (1985) that allowed people to say what they were thinking, removing the USSR's
censorship. Perestroika (restructuring) also introduced by Gorbachev, is the restructuring of the
political and economic control of the Soviet Union. This also led to more independent actions from
different ministries. The goal was to create a semi-free market system.
AND TEST QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
Global Warming - An increase in the average temperatures worldwide, argued to be caused by the
greenhouse effect. Some global warming discussions have taken place at Kyoto in 1997 and Balia in
2007.
Globalization - The integration of regional economies, cultures, and societies through a
worldwide network of political ideas through transportation, trade, technology and military
presence. Flows across national boundaries of goods, people and ideas.
Groupthink - The term was proposed by Irving Janis. It's a type of thought within a deeply cohesive
group whose members try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing,
analyzing and evaluating ideas. Problem is unwillingness to test, desire to have a consensus and
cohesion, but things that actually might be the right outcome don't get tested. (Cuban Missile
Crisis- Kennedy and the people around him)
Hegemonic Stability Theory - Theory in IR where the international system will be more stable when
there is a single dominant state in the world, than when there are competing powers. Hegemon
will ensure stability.
Hegemony - Dominance of world power by a single state. Whereby no other state could
challenge hegemon. Currently the US is the hegemony in the world
High and Low Politics - The concept high politics covers all matters that are vital to the very
survival of the state: namely national and international security concerns. It is often used in
opposition to "low politics". Low politics is not essential to states survival. Trade is considered by
most IR scholars as low politics. Low politics- trade, high politics counterterrorism
Human Rights - "Inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply
because she or he is a human being." All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
,Human Security - Rather than national interests, the proper referent for security of a state should
be the citizens rather than the state. "Human security holds that a people-centered view of
security is necessary for national, regional and global stability."
Humanitarian Intervention - the use of military threat and/or force in order to disrupt the
internal policies of another state and promote human rights. This can include ending genocide
via military force, or providing food and water to starving citizens when their own government
denies them the resources.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) - From Bova: One of the principal organs of the United
Nations, oversees UN economic and social programs. From website:
http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml: Est. 1946, controls 70 percent of human and
financial resources for UN. Seeks to achieve development goals.
Economic Interdependence - When two or more states are engaged economically where they
depend on the commercial and financial exchanges with the other. A key part of the "Kantian
triangle" the strongest liberal perspective, economic interdependence is argued to contribute to
peace. Mutual economic gains will prevent war and conflict
Economic Sanctions - From Bova: the limitation and prevention of trade, investment or aid with
a target country in order to get that country to change its policies. Examples, US economic
embargo on Cuba, current sanctions against Iran.
Emissions Trading - "market-based approach used to control pollution by providing economic
incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants". Basically a policy instrument
that seeks to manage industrial greenhouse gas emissions.
Ethnic Cleansing - The systematic elimination of an ethnic group or groups from a region or society,
as by deportation, forced emigration, or genocide. United Nations defines it as "rendering an area
ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove from a given area persons of
another ethnic or religious group." REmoving a specific group from a specific area
European Union - - founded in 1948 after World War II to provide stability and cooperation
between the 27 European member states. The EU operates through institutions and
intergovernmental decisions. Some of the institutions are: European Commission, Council of the
European Union, European Council, etc
Export-Led Growth (ELG) - "economic strategy used by some developing countries. This strategy
seeks to find a niche in the world economy for a certain type of export". Types of exports can be
either manufactured goods or raw materials (more common).
, Feminism - "A collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing, and
defending equal political, economic and social rights for women".
Free Rider - : a) A situation in which individuals or nation-states shoulder less than their fair share
of responsibility. Exploiting other states' work.
b) When a nation-state is able to reap the benefits of being in an alliance without any cost or risk
Free Trade - International trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other
restrictions
Free Trade Agreement - a type of trade bloc or a designated group of countries that have agreed
to eliminate tariffs, quotas, and preferences. (NAFTA and the EU are examples of free trade areas)
G20 - The Group of 20 is a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 major
economies: 19 countries plus the European Union. The G-20 is a forum for cooperation and
consultation on matters related to the international financial system.
G7 and G8 - Beginning in 1975, the G7 was a group consisting of the finance ministers from seven
industrialized nations (Canada, France, Germany, USA, Italy, Japan, and the UK). The group meets
several times throughout the year to discuss economic policies.
The G8 is comprised of the G7 members plus Russia and a representative of the EU. The G8 is
traditionally known as representing the governments of the 8 largest economies in the world,
however both China (#2) and Brazil (#7) are excluded from this group. The G8 Summits are seen
as an informal way for the leaders of these nations to discuss pressing world issues.
GATT - The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was signed in 1947 and later changed into the
World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1994. The international agreement established rules for liberal
trade and lowered trade barriers.
Glasnost and Perestroika - Glasnost (open discussion) was a policy Gorbachev introduced once he
was in power (1985) that allowed people to say what they were thinking, removing the USSR's
censorship. Perestroika (restructuring) also introduced by Gorbachev, is the restructuring of the
political and economic control of the Soviet Union. This also led to more independent actions from
different ministries. The goal was to create a semi-free market system.
