Diplomatic History Glossary

A formal agreement between two or more states for mutual support, typically in the event of war or external threat.

The highest-ranking diplomatic representative sent by one state to another, responsible for conducting official relations.

A diplomatic strategy of making concessions to an aggressive power to avoid conflict, most associated with British policy toward Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

A formal agreement to cease hostilities, serving as a precursor to a permanent peace treaty.

A condition in which no single state dominates the international system, maintained through alliances, diplomacy, and military equilibrium.

Diplomatic negotiations or relations conducted between two states.

The strategy of pushing a confrontation to the edge of conflict to force the opponent to concede.

A Latin term meaning 'cause for war' — an act or event that provokes or justifies a declaration of war.

A system in which states agree to respond jointly to aggression against any member, deterring conflict through the promise of unified action.

The Cold War strategy of preventing the expansion of Soviet communist influence through diplomatic, economic, and military measures.

A relaxation of tensions between rival states, particularly the easing of U.S.-Soviet hostilities in the 1970s.

Legal protection granted to foreign diplomats, exempting them from the jurisdiction of the host country's courts.

An informal understanding or agreement between states, less binding than a formal alliance. Example: the Triple Entente of France, Russia, and Britain before WWI.

The policy of extending a state's power through colonization, military force, or economic domination over other territories and peoples.

A form of conflict resolution in which a neutral third party facilitates negotiations between disputing states.

The practice of coordinating diplomatic activity among three or more states, typically through international organizations or treaties.

A foreign policy stance of not formally aligning with any major power bloc, adopted by many developing nations during the Cold War.

A diplomat invested with full authority to represent their government and sign treaties on its behalf.

The re-establishment of cordial relations between states after a period of hostility or estrangement.

The formal approval process by which a state's legislature or executive confirms a treaty, making it legally binding.

Foreign policy guided by practical considerations of power and national interest rather than ideological or moral principles.

The supreme authority of a state over its territory and independence from external control.

A state with dominant global influence in military, economic, political, and cultural dimensions. During the Cold War, the U.S. and USSR were the two superpowers.

A formally concluded and ratified agreement between states, governed by international law.

The practice of a state acting independently in foreign affairs without seeking the agreement or cooperation of other states.