Basics
International Studies
An interdisciplinary approach to studying global issues
World Bank
From 1945 – assisting in European recovery, From 1960s – loans for economic development
Bilateral Diplomacy
Diplomacy between two nations
Cold War
1947-1991 political and ideological struggle between USA and USSR; no direct war was ever fought between these two countries
Disciplines that are part of the ITS
History, Geography, Anthropology, Economics, Political Science
IMF
International Monetary Fund - Loans to restore confidence in currencies
Multilateral Diplomacy
Diplomacy between multiple nations
First, Second, Third world
Older and now biased terms to refer to most and least developed nations. The First World is US-aligned capitalist countries, the Second World is Soviet-aligned communist nations, and the Third World is non-aligned, often developing, nations.
Globalization
Growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures, and populations, created by cross-border trade and flows
GATT/WTO
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/ World Trade Organization
To lower tariffs and other barriers to trade - most-favored-nation status – increased trade through, lower tariffs
NGO's
Non-governmental organizations - Often non-profit, voluntary, and mission-driven groups operating independently from government control to address social, environmental, or political issues.
Bipolar World
Two main powers: USA and USSR
Trends of the post-World War II era
US leadership, Soviet challenge, end of colonialism, the world’s increasing interconnections
UN
United Nations - Deals with global threats to security, Two main bodies = General Assembly & Security Council
Developing vs. Developed countries
Differences in GDP, income, infrastructure, and living conditions
Nuclear Club
United States, Russia, China, France, United Kingdom. India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel
Nonaligned Movement
Group of 120 developing nations who were not aligned with the US or Soviet groups during the cold war