International Relations and World Politics - Chapter 2

International order established in 1648, ending the Thirty Years' War.

A state's absolute authority over its territory and independence from outside control.

Respect for a state's defined borders and the right to govern itself.

A major European war that ended with the Westphalia System.

Supreme power of a state over its territory.

The rules and principles governing interactions between states.

French philosopher who discussed the concept of sovereignty.

A medieval European political system based on land ownership and obligations.

John Locke argued that political power belongs to the people, not rulers, and is used to protect their natural rights and self-interests.

Nationalism is the belief in a shared history, language, and culture that motivates people to actively participate in government as a united group.

The French Revolution's ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, along with Napoleon's ambitions to expand French territory, provoked European powers.

Napoleon's policy to exclude British goods from Europe, aimed at weakening their economy, caused widespread resentment and conflict.

Nationalism, a sense of shared identity, fueled revolutionary ideas and inspired resistance against French domination across Europe.

A military strategy where supplies are pre-positioned for troops to access them on the move, improving efficiency.

Russia's strategy of destroying food and shelter behind retreating armies, leaving enemies to starve and suffer.

The wars led to political changes (like the rise of nationalism), the spread of revolutionary ideas (like legal equality and meritocracy), and military innovations (like mass conscription).

Treaty that ended World War I, imposed harsh punishments on Germany including territorial losses, disarmament, and heavy reparations, contributing to resentment and instability that fueled the rise of Nazi Germany.

Aggressive policies by Germany, Italy, and Japan to expand their territories and resources.

A staged attack on a Japanese railway in Manchuria in 1931, used as a pretext by Japan to invade and occupy China.

A lightning-fast military tactic employed by Germany in World War II, involving coordinated attacks using tanks, aircraft, and infantry to overwhelm enemy defenses.

Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, marking the deadliest campaign of World War II with massive casualties on both sides.

A surprise attack by Japan on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941, which drew the United States into World War II.

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, marking a turning point in World War II with the establishment of a second front against Germany.

Weapons of mass destruction used by the United States against Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

The forceful annexation of distant territories and their inhabitants into an empire.

The settlement of people from a home country amongst Indigenous peoples whose territories have been annexed.

Economic interests, political competition, and cultural and religious factors drove European imperial expansion.

Europeans believed they were superior, Christian, civilized, and white, contrasting themselves with the rest of the world.

Industrialization provided European powers with the resources and military capacity to expand their territories.

European powers exploited colonies in Africa and Asia for cheap raw materials, leading to economic advantages.

A US policy that protected Latin America from European interference.

After losing the Opium War, China was forced to cede political and territorial rights to foreign powers.

The signing of the Geneva Peace Treaty in 1954 divided Indochina and Vietnam into two zones, reflecting the Cold War's political tensions.

The Korean War began in 1950 when North Korea, backed by the USSR, invaded South Korea, sparking a conflict fueled by Cold War ideologies.

The United States intervened in the Korean War to defend South Korea from communist North Korea, deploying troops and military resources.

US objectives in the Korean War were to contain communism in the region, protect South Korea's sovereignty, and establish a stable postwar environment.

The US got involved in the Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975, trying to limit the spread of communism, a move that was ultimately unsuccessful.

The Vietnam War had significant consequences: the Soviet Union and China clashed over communism, Canada opposed US policy, the Cold War order weakened, and the US's power was questioned.

The US's intervention in Vietnam was part of a broader strategy to prevent the spread of communist influence throughout Southeast Asia during the Cold War.

The US's attempts to contain communism in Vietnam failed, highlighting the challenges of applying the containment doctrine in complex geopolitical situations.

A conflict where opposing powers support different sides in a war without directly engaging each other.

A policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism by isolating and weakening communist states.

Rivalry between the US and USSR for influence in Africa, involving support for opposing sides in conflicts and proxy wars.

The Soviet Union placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, a threat to the US. It almost led to nuclear war, but the US managed to diplomatically resolve the crisis.

He came to power through a US-supported military coup in Chile, representing the US's support for anti-communist regimes in Latin America.

A conflict in Congo after Belgian independence, where the US and USSR backed different sides, leading to a protracted civil war.

The US supported Afghan fighters against the Soviet-backed government, impacting regional politics and indirectly contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

These were conflicts between Israel and its Arab neighbours, with the US supporting Israel and the USSR backing the Arabs.