Politics AOS1

• Sovereignty is the legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control over a territory within defined borders of a state. This is the primary organising principle of global politics, providing states with absolute autonomy over internal affairs as well as giving them legitimacy in the international community
• The concept of sovereign states has been challenged by globalisation, which refers to the increasing interconnectedness between countries as well as the growing influence of non-state actors.
• Nation refers to a group of people who claim to share common bonds such as language, culture, history
• Traditionally refers to the central actor in global politice. States possess a defined territory, permanent population and recognised sovereignty. They are not culturally homogeneous.
• Power relates to the ability of one global actors ability to influence the actions of another global actor. Power can be exercised in a range of types.
• Hard power refers to military might and economic resources
• Hegemony refers to when one state dominates other countries economically, politically and culturally
• Soft power refers to cultural attraction and persuasion
• Multilateralism refers to the system of coordinated relations between three or more global actors usually in pursuit of a specific objective
• Unipolarity is where there is only one superpower that has overwhelming control over all aspects of international politics
• Resolution 


  The action of solving a problem or contentious matter (multilateral resolution)
• Regional Relationships

  Positive regional relationships are an important national interest to a state as they ensure its neighbours will not behave in a hostile manner and thus threaten state sovereignty. Alliances with other likeminded neighbours may help the success of other national interests: However a state may consider other national interests more important than positive regional relationships if they better achieve the aims of a state
• IGO

  Refers to an organisation composed primarily of states. They are established by a treaty, founding charter for the organisation and thus subject to international law. Eg. UN, IMF, ICC,
• Border

  Represents the land or sea boundary between two or more states
• Impotent

  Unable to take effective action ;powerless
• What are the aims of states?

  • Maintain its sovereignty. They do this by protecting their borders from internal and external threats
  • States are also guided by their national interests
• Role of states

  Meet the needs of its citizens
• Failed State

  • A state that is wholly unable to provide for the basic needs of its citizens

  Eg. Haiti, Sudan, Yemen, Syria
• Diplomacy


  The process through which states conduct their foreign policy znd engage with one another
• How can states be challenged?

  State sovereignty can be challenged internally or externally.
• Non- State Actors


  Can be any organisation that ahs significant political influence without being associated with only one state. They are able to transcend state boundaries
• Trans-National Corporations


  Operations and investments that extend beyond the boundaries of the state in which it was registered thus can be considered multinational
• Global Governance


  Refers to institutions, rules, norms, and legal arrangements that seek to facilitate cooperation, and manage relations, between states
• Judicial Sovereignty 


  Ability to exercise effective control over the interpretation and application of laws within a state
• Legislative sovereignty 


  Ability to exercise effective control over the creation of laws within a state
• Territorial Soveriegnty 


  Ability to exercise effective control over the borders/defined territory of a state.
• Political Sovereignty


  Ability to exercise effective control over the political system of a state
• Globalisation refers to the acceleration and intensification of exchanges goods, services, labour and capital which promotes global interconnectedness
• Who are the key global actors?

  States, IGOs, Non-State Actors, TNCs
• United Nations, International Monetary Fund, International Criminal Court are all examples of Intergovernmental organisations
• Boko Haram and Amnesty International are examples of Non-state actors
• Meta is an example of a TNC