IB Global Politics HL key terms

The capacity of an actor to influence others' behaviour, decisions or outcomes, exercised through coercion, inducement, persuasion or attraction, and visible in who gets what, when and how in global politics.

Influence achieved through material pressure such as military force, economic sanctions, aid conditions or trade threats. It works by raising the costs of non-compliance rather than by changing what others want.

Influence gained when others voluntarily follow or admire an actor because of its culture, values, institutions or policies, so that persuasion replaces payment or coercion.

The ability to shape the rules, institutions and frameworks within which other actors operate, so that some options become normal or unthinkable before any bargaining begins.

The principle that a state holds supreme authority within its territory and is not legally subordinate to an outside power, including the right to control borders, laws and internal affairs.

The norm that states should not interfere in another state's domestic jurisdiction, including its internal politics, without consent, except in narrow circumstances such as self-defence or authorised collective action.

In international relations theory, the absence of a central authority above states. It does not mean chaos but describes a self-help system where no actor can enforce rules on everyone.

A distribution of capabilities in which no single state or alliance dominates, achieved through arms build-up, alliance formation or counterbalancing, and often claimed to preserve stability.

A system in which states agree that aggression against one member is treated as aggression against all, and commit to a joint response, usually through an international organisation such as the UN.

Dominance by one state or group over the international order, resting on superior material capabilities combined with accepted leadership, ideas and institutional arrangements that others broadly consent to.

A set of principles, norms, rules and decision-making procedures around which actors' expectations converge in a given issue area, such as trade, climate or nuclear non-proliferation.

Entitlements held by all people simply because they are human, covering civil, political, economic, social and cultural claims, and typically asserted against states that might violate them.

The 1948 UN General Assembly resolution setting out a catalogue of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It is non-binding in itself but underpins later treaties and customary law.

A 1966 UN treaty binding ratifying states to protect rights such as life, fair trial, expression and assembly, monitored by the Human Rights Committee through state reports and individual complaints.

Rights that require others, especially the state, to refrain from acting, such as freedom from torture, arbitrary detention or censorship. They are often contrasted with rights requiring provision.

Rights that require resources or active provision, such as education, healthcare, housing or a living wage. Their realisation depends on state capacity and is often seen as progressive and costly.

The claim that moral and rights standards are valid only within a particular culture, so external criticism of local practices is illegitimate. It is used to challenge universalist human rights claims.

The 2005 UN principle that each state protects its population from atrocity crimes, and that the international community should assist, and may act collectively, when a state manifestly fails.

Military or other coercive action by outside actors inside a state, without its consent, justified by stopping widespread suffering or atrocity crimes, and highly contested under sovereignty norms.

Sustained improvement in people's wellbeing and capabilities, encompassing income growth but also health, education, equality and freedom, and measured by indicators beyond GDP.

A composite UNDP measure combining life expectancy, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita, used to compare average human development across countries.

Development that meets present needs without undermining the ability of future generations to meet theirs, balancing economic growth, social inclusion and environmental limits.

The argument that poorer countries remain poor because their economies are structured to supply cheap raw materials and labour to richer core economies, reproducing unequal exchange rather than catching up.

Loan conditions imposed by the IMF and World Bank requiring privatisation, deregulation, trade liberalisation and public spending cuts, criticised for social costs and reduced policy space.

The growing interdependence of economies and societies through flows of trade, capital, people, information and ideas, which expands opportunity while eroding some state control.

A relationship in which actors depend on each other, so that actions in one place affect outcomes elsewhere. Asymmetric interdependence can itself become a source of leverage.

The view that international institutions reduce the risks of anarchy by providing information, monitoring agreements and lowering transaction costs, enabling cooperation even among self-interested states.

Deployment of multinational personnel, usually UN-authorised, to monitor ceasefires, protect civilians or support political transitions, normally with consent of the main parties and limited force.

Longer-term efforts after violence to rebuild institutions, reconcile communities, restore services and address root causes, aiming to prevent relapse into conflict.

A tradition setting moral conditions for resorting to war (just cause, legitimate authority, proportionality, last resort) and for conduct during it (discrimination, proportionality, humane treatment).

The UN organ with primary responsibility for international peace and security, with five permanent members holding vetoes and ten elected members serving two-year terms.

Coercive measures such as asset freezes, travel bans, arms embargoes or trade restrictions imposed by states or bodies to pressure an actor to change behaviour, often with humanitarian side effects.

The sphere of voluntary associations, NGOs, unions, faith groups and campaigns operating between the household and the state, which can organise participation, scrutiny and advocacy.

Actions through which people influence decisions and those who make them, ranging from voting, party membership and protest to boycotts, online campaigning and community organising.

A loosely organised network of individuals and groups pursuing a shared cause through sustained collective action, often outside formal institutions and using protest, framing and media attention.

The justified acceptance of an authority or institution by those subject to it, earned through consent, legality, tradition, performance or shared values rather than mere force.

The HL internal assessment in which students design and carry out a political engagement activity, then reflect on their participation, the issue involved and what they learned as global citizens.