Unit 2: The Behavior of Nations
Alliance: A formal agreement between two (bilateral) or more
(multilateral) states to protect each other in case of attack.
Ambassador: The highest ranking diplomat stationed in a foreign
country. Ambassadors facilitate formal communications between
governments and serve to promote bilateral relations between
the host country and their own.
Diplomatic relations: The formal contact established between
two governments. When states establish diplomatic relations,
they extend diplomatic recognition to each other’s governments.
Diplomatic recognition: The official acceptance by one
government of another government as the legitimate
representative of a sovereign state.
Embargo: A complete cutoff of all trade with another country.
Appeasement: A policy of buying off or giving into the demands
of an aggressor so as to avoid conflict.
Embassy: A permanent diplomatic mission which houses the
offices (and sometimes residences) of a country’s diplomatic
representatives (especially its ambassador) in the capital city of
another country.
Balance of power: A concept used in analyzing the distribution of
power between states. When there is a balance of power, a
number of major states enjoy relatively equal power and no one
state dominates.
Engagement: A policy of actively dealing with another
government. Engaging with another government may involve
using negotiations, dialogue, or trade in order to maintain or
improve relations.
Balance of power theory: The theory that states will form
alliances or adopt policies intended to maintain a balance of
power and prevent any one state from becoming too powerful.
Espionage: The practice of spying or using spies to obtain
information about the plans and activities of a foreign
government.
Bilateral: Means “two-sided.” In international relations, used to
describe anything involving two countries.
Foreign aid: Economic or military assistance given to a country by
another government or an international institution. Foreign aid
can be used as a reward to win the cooperation of other nations.
Border: An internationally recognized boundary line that is used
to separate one state from another. Borders mark the area
within the legal jurisdiction of a state.
Boycott: The refusal to buy certain goods from another country.
A boycott is an example of an economic sanction.
“Carrot and Stick” Approach: Describes an approach to foreign
policy using both the offering of rewards (carrots) and the threat
of punishments (sticks) to induce the cooperation of other
states.
Clandestine: Describes undercover or secret activities.
Coercion: The act of one state forcing or threatening another
state to do something. Coercion may involve the use of sanctions
and/or application of military force.
Covert operations: Undercover or secret operations.
Détente: The relaxation of tensions or a decrease in the level of
hostility between states.
Diplomacy: Conducting relations between states through
peaceful negotiations and dialogue.
Diplomat: A representative of a government who conducts
relations with governments of other countries.
Foreign policy: The actions taken by a government in pursuit of a
country’s interests and goals.
Geopolitics: The influence of geography on a country’s politics or
foreign policy. Geopolitics often involves the competition
between states for control of strategically important territory,
resources, and influence around the globe.
Idealism: An approach to international relations based on the
belief that a state’s foreign policy should be based on universal
moral values and legal principles rather than its own national
interests. Idealism stresses the need to consider what is good for
humanity or the world at large rather than what would benefit
one’s own country. The opposite of realism.
International law: A commonly accepted system of rules on the
rights and duties of states in their relations with each other.
International law is based on treaties, customs, and general
principles of law such as justice and equality.
Internationalism: A policy of active involvement in world affairs.
The opposite of isolationism.
Interventionism: A policy of using military force or the threat of
force to interfere in another nation’s internal affairs.
Isolationism: A policy of withdrawal and noninvolvement in
world affairs. The opposite of internationalism.
Multilateralism: Means “many-sided.” A policy of acting together
with other nations. Used to describe anything involving many
states. The opposite of unilateralism.
National interests: The goals or objectives viewed as beneficial to
a country and reflective of its security, economic, and ideological
concerns. National interests determine a country’s foreign
policy.
National resolve: Shared strong beliefs about a country’s
national interests and a strong determination to achieve them.
Strong national resolve on the part of a country’s people may
help overcome other disadvantages (such as small size and
population and scarce natural resources) and increase the
likelihood that its foreign policy goals are achieved.
(practical) considerations and stresses the need to deal with the
world as it exists. German for “the politics of reality,” realpolitik
is often applied to the policies of nations that consider only their
own interests in dealing with other countries. The opposite of
idealism.
Sanctions: Economic or diplomatic actions meant to punish
another state for bad behavior. Sanctions are designed to force
the targeted state to change its policies or behavior and may be
imposed unilaterally by another state or by the United Nations
Security Council.
Show of strength: The strategic positioning of a state’s military
forces intended to force a potential opponent to back down
before a conflict occurs.
Negotiations: Talks between the diplomatic representatives of
states that are meant to resolve a conflict peacefully.
Subversive: Describes activities, usually covert, that seek to
undermine or weaken a foreign government.
Neutrality: A policy of not taking sides in a dispute.
Summit: A meeting between two heads of state (bilateral) or
several heads of state (multilateral).
Normalization of relations: The establishment of full diplomatic
relations between two countries for the first time or the
reestablishment of relations that had been broken.
Power: A state’s ability to influence the behavior of other states.
States that possess power are more likely to achieve their
foreign policy goals. States may use “hard power” (economic
and/or military power) or “soft power” (using diplomacy or the
power of attraction) in the pursuit of these goals.
Economic power: Countries have economic power
when they possess products or resources that other
countries want to buy and have the wealth to buy what
other nations want to sell.
Military power: Countries have military power when
they are strong enough to deter outside attack and
when they have the ability to project military power
overseas.
“Soft power”: The power that comes from attraction to
a country’s culture, values, political ideals, or policies. A
country’s soft power causes others to follow and
emulate it out of admiration and respect. Soft power
may also refer to a country’s use of diplomacy or
humanitarian gestures such aid or disaster relief.
Rapprochement: The establishment or reestablishment of
friendly relations. Means to “come together” or approach and is
used to describe a reconciliation between states that have had
poor relations.
Realism (realpolitik): An approach to foreign policy that stresses
the importance of a country’s national interests rather than
universal values or ideals. Realism is based on hard, pragmatic
Treaty: A formal, written agreement between two states
(bilateral) or several states (multilateral). Treaties are typically
signed by a country’s executive and ratified by a country’s
legislature before they become binding under international law.
Peace treaties: Agreements to end wars.
Defense treaties: Agreements in which nations
establish alliances and promise to defend each other in
case of attack.
Commercial treaties: Agreements between nations to
trade with each other on favorable terms.
Unilateralism: A policy of acting alone in the conduct of foreign
affairs, characterized by minimal consultation and involvement
with other nations. The opposite of multilateralism.
War: An armed conflict between states.
Limited war: A war fought with limited objectives with
limited types of weapons or targets. Limited wars
usually end with some kind of negotiated agreement
between the warring parties.
Total war: A war fought without limitations on the
objectives, targets, or weapons used. The goal of total
war is usually the defeat and unconditional surrender
of an enemy.