International Relations Glossary

The absence of a central governing authority above sovereign states in the international system, requiring states to rely on self-help for survival and security.

A condition in which power is distributed among states so that no single state can dominate, maintained through alliances, military buildups, and diplomacy.

An international system structure in which two superpowers dominate global politics, as exemplified by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

An arrangement in which states agree to respond collectively to aggression against any member, treating an attack on one as an attack on all.

An IR theory arguing that international politics is shaped by shared ideas, norms, identities, and social interactions rather than purely material factors.

A strategy of preventing adversary action by threatening severe retaliatory consequences, most commonly associated with nuclear weapons policy.

The practice of conducting negotiations and managing relationships between states and other international actors through dialogue, negotiation, and compromise.

A state that can no longer perform its basic functions of governance, security, and service delivery, often characterized by internal conflict, corruption, and loss of territorial control.

The set of strategies and actions a state pursues in its interactions with other states and international actors, shaped by national interests, domestic politics, and external pressures.

The increasing interconnectedness of economies, societies, and political systems through cross-border flows of goods, capital, information, and people.

The dominance of one state over others in the international system, often exercised through a combination of military, economic, and cultural power.

The use of military force by one or more states in another state's territory to prevent or stop widespread human rights abuses, often raising tensions between sovereignty and human rights.

A condition in which states and other actors are mutually dependent on each other, such that actions by one actor significantly affect others, often through economic and trade relationships.

The body of rules, norms, and treaties that govern the conduct of states and other actors in the international system, including areas such as human rights, trade, and the laws of war.

An IR theory emphasizing the potential for cooperation through international institutions, economic interdependence, and democratic governance to promote peace and prosperity.

The practice of coordinating policies and actions among three or more states, typically through international organizations or formal agreements, to address shared challenges.

The goals and priorities that a state pursues in its foreign policy, including survival, security, economic prosperity, and the promotion of values.

Any entity that participates in international relations but is not a sovereign state, including international organizations, NGOs, multinational corporations, terrorist groups, and transnational advocacy networks.

The spread of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon technology, or fissile material to states or non-state actors that do not currently possess them.

A dominant IR theory asserting that the international system is anarchic, states are the key actors, and power politics and national interest drive state behavior.

Economic or diplomatic penalties imposed by one or more states against a target state, group, or individual to compel a change in behavior, often used as an alternative to military force.

A situation in which one state's efforts to increase its security cause other states to feel threatened, prompting countermeasures that can lead to an arms race or conflict escalation.

The supreme authority of a state within its territorial boundaries, including the right to govern without external interference, forming the basis of the modern international system.

A state with dominant military, economic, and political influence on a global scale, capable of projecting power and exerting influence in every region of the world.

A formal, legally binding agreement between two or more sovereign states, governed by international law, that establishes rights and obligations for the parties involved.