Unipolar Moment
After the Cold War, the U.S. became the world's sole superpower, a period known as the unipolar moment.
NATO Expansion
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) expanded to include former Warsaw Pact countries, reshaping European security.
Yugoslav Wars
The breakup of Yugoslavia led to a series of brutal ethnic conflicts in the Balkans throughout the 1990s.
Rise of the EU
The Maastricht Treaty in 1992 officially created the European Union, deepening economic and political integration in Europe.
Dot-Com Boom
The 1990s saw a massive speculative bubble in internet-related companies, which famously burst in 2000-2001.
War on Terror
Launched by the U.S. after the 9/11 attacks, this global campaign targeted terrorist groups, most notably al-Qaeda.
The Euro
The common currency of the Eurozone was introduced physically in 2002, a major step in European integration.
Rise of China
China's entry into the WTO in 2001 supercharged its economic growth, beginning its ascent as a global power.
2008 Financial Crisis
A crisis in the U.S. housing market triggered a global recession, the worst since the Great Depression.
Arab Spring
A wave of pro-democracy uprisings and protests that swept across the Middle East and North Africa starting in 2010.
Soft Power
A term coined by Joseph Nye, it refers to the ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion (hard power).
Clash of Civilizations?
Political scientist Samuel Huntington argued that future conflicts would be fought along cultural and civilizational lines, a controversial but influential theory.
End of Apartheid
South Africa dismantled its system of racial segregation, culminating in the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela.
Kyoto Protocol
An early international treaty to combat climate change by setting binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
BRICS
A grouping of emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) seeking to increase their global influence.
Populism's Return
The 21st century has seen a surge in populist leaders and movements, often challenging established political orders.
Color Revolutions
A series of nonviolent movements in post-Soviet states, like Georgia's Rose Revolution and Ukraine's Orange Revolution, aimed at promoting democracy.
Digital Divide
The gap in access to technology, like the internet, between different groups of people, creating new forms of inequality.
Brexit
The United Kingdom's 2016 vote to leave the European Union, a major event for the future of Europe.
The G20
The Group of Twenty, a forum for the world's largest economies, which gained prominence after the 2008 financial crisis.
What is Globalization?
The process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide, driven by technology and trade.
Economic Globalization
Characterized by the growth of transnational corporations, the integration of financial markets, and global supply chains.
Political Globalization
Marked by the growing influence of international organizations like the UN, the WTO, and the EU, and the importance of international law.
Cultural Globalization
The spread of ideas, meanings, and values across the world. Often critiqued for leading to cultural homogenization or "Americanization".
Drivers of Globalization
Key drivers include technological advancements (internet), cheaper transportation (containerization), and neoliberal policies promoting free trade.
The Global Village
A term popularized by Marshall McLuhan to describe how technology is shrinking the planet and making us more interconnected.
TNCs
Transnational Corporations (or MNCs) are powerful actors in globalization, with complex supply chains spanning the globe.
The Anti-Globalization Movement
A social movement critical of corporate globalization, advocating for values like environmental protection, labor rights, and social justice.
Glocalization
The adaptation of global products and services to suit local cultures and tastes. Think "glocal"!
Neoliberalism
The dominant economic ideology of globalization, favoring free markets, privatization, and minimal government intervention.
Brain Drain
The emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a particular country, often from developing to developed nations.
Race to the Bottom
A critique of globalization where countries lower standards and taxes to attract foreign investment, potentially harming workers and the environment.
Outsourcing & Offshoring
Businesses moving jobs and production to other countries to take advantage of lower costs, a key feature of economic globalization.
The "Flat" World
Thomas Friedman's idea that technology and globalization have created a level playing field for commerce, where all competitors have an equal opportunity.
Bretton Woods Institutions
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), created after WWII, are key pillars of the global economic order.
Sovereignty
A state's authority to govern itself. Some argue globalization erodes national sovereignty as power shifts to international bodies.
Protectionism vs. Free Trade
A central debate in globalization: Should nations protect their domestic industries with tariffs, or embrace open markets?
Davos Man
A term for the global elite who attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, seen as detached from their home countries.
Global Supply Chains
The complex, worldwide networks required to produce and distribute products, from raw materials to the final customer.
Cosmopolitanism
The philosophical idea that all of humanity belongs to a single community, reflecting the cultural side of globalization.
Refugee vs. IDP
A refugee has crossed an international border, while an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) has fled their home but remains in their own country.
R2P
The "Responsibility to Protect" is a global commitment to prevent mass atrocities. It has three pillars.
Pillar 1 of R2P
Every state has the Responsibility to Protect its populations from four mass atrocity crimes.
Pillar 2 of R2P
The wider international community has the responsibility to encourage and assist individual states in meeting that responsibility.
Pillar 3 of R2P
If a state is manifestly failing to protect its populations, the international community must be prepared to take collective action.
Humanitarian Intervention
The controversial idea that a state can use military force in another state to end human rights violations.
NGOs
Non-Governmental Organizations, like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam, are crucial actors in delivering aid during crises.
The Geneva Conventions
The core of international humanitarian law, they establish the standards for humane treatment during war.
Complex Emergency
A crisis with multiple causes, such as civil war, famine, and displacement, all happening at once.
Food Security
Means having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Its absence is a major humanitarian crisis.
UNHCR
The UN Refugee Agency. Its purpose is to protect and assist refugees worldwide.
Non-Refoulement
A fundamental principle of refugee law: you cannot send a refugee back to a country where they face persecution.
ICC vs. ICJ
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutes individuals for crimes like genocide. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) settles disputes between states.
Climate Change as a Threat
Climate change acts as a "threat multiplier," worsening existing crises by causing resource scarcity and displacement.
The SDGs
The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 global targets set by the UN to address issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change by 2030.
Srebrenica
The 1995 genocide of over 8,000 Bosniak Muslims, a key failure of UN peacekeeping and a driving force behind R2P.
Rwandan Genocide
The 1994 mass slaughter of Tutsi people by Hutu extremists. The international community's failure to act was a major catalyst for R2P.
Statelessness
The condition of an individual who is not considered a national by any state. It severely limits access to basic rights.
Humanitarian Principles
Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality, and Independence. These principles guide the work of aid organizations.
The CNN Effect
The idea that 24/7 news coverage of suffering can pressure governments to intervene where they otherwise wouldn't.
Communalism
An ideology promoting the interests of one religious group over others, a major threat to India's secular fabric.
Regionalism
Focusing on the interests of a specific region or state, which can lead to demands for greater autonomy or separate statehood.
Kashmir Issue
A long-standing territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, and a source of internal conflict and cross-border terrorism.
Naxalite Insurgency
A left-wing extremist movement, particularly in central and eastern India, that poses a significant internal security challenge.
Caste System
Though outlawed, the ancient social hierarchy of caste continues to influence society and politics, presenting a challenge to social integration.
National Integration
The challenge of building a unified national identity in a country with immense linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity.
Article 370
A now-abrogated constitutional article that granted special autonomous status to Jammu & Kashmir for over 70 years.
Linguistic States
The reorganization of states on a linguistic basis in 1956 was a key step in managing India's diversity, but also fuels regionalism.
Coalition Politics
Since the 1990s, coalition governments have become common, requiring negotiation and compromise between multiple regional and national parties.
Vote Bank Politics
The practice of politicians appealing to specific castes or religious groups to create a loyal block of voters, often fragmenting society.
Hindutva
A form of Hindu nationalism which seeks to define Indian culture in terms of Hindu values. It is a major political ideology.
Indian Secularism
Unlike Western secularism, it does not mean strict separation of state and religion, but rather that the state treats all religions equally.
Reservations (Affirmative Action)
A system of quotas in government jobs, education, and legislatures for historically disadvantaged groups like Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
The "Red Corridor"
An area in eastern, central, and southern India that experiences considerable Naxalite-Maoist insurgency.
AFSPA
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act grants the military extensive powers in "disturbed areas." It is highly controversial and criticized by human rights groups.
Babri Masjid Demolition
The 1992 event that sparked widespread communal riots and remains a deeply polarizing issue in Indian politics.
Panchayati Raj
A system of local self-governance in rural India, designed to promote grassroots democracy and decentralization.
Uniform Civil Code
A proposed code that would replace personal laws based on scripture and tradition with a common set of rules for all citizens. It is a controversial topic.
"Sons of the Soil" Politics
A form of nativism where local residents demand preferential treatment over migrants from other states.
Demographic Dividend
India's large youth population offers huge potential for economic growth, but only if they are educated and employed.
8 Pillars of Good Governance
Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Oriented, Equity & Inclusiveness, Effectiveness & Efficiency, and Accountability.
Right to Information (RTI)
Passed in 2005, this landmark act allows any citizen to request information from a public authority, promoting transparency.
E-Governance
Using technology (ICT) to deliver government services more efficiently. Think online tax filing and passport applications.
Lokpal & Lokayuktas
Anti-corruption ombudsman bodies. The Lokpal investigates corruption at the national level, and Lokayuktas at the state level.
Digital India
A campaign to ensure government services are available electronically and to build the nation's digital infrastructure.
NITI Aayog
The "National Institution for Transforming India." It's a government think tank that replaced the Planning Commission.
Corruption
A major challenge to good governance. It undermines trust in public institutions and diverts resources from development.
Civil Society
Organizations outside the government and business (NGOs, community groups) that act as watchdogs and advocate for public interest.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
Allows any person to file a lawsuit in court on behalf of a group or the public at large, a tool for judicial activism.
Social Audit
A way for citizens to check and verify if government money for social programs has been spent correctly.
Goods & Services Tax (GST)
A major tax reform that created a single, unified indirect tax system for the entire country.
Jan Dhan Yojana
A massive financial inclusion program to ensure that every Indian has access to a bank account.
Ease of Doing Business
A government focus on simplifying regulations and cutting red tape to make it easier to start and run a business.
Red Tape
A common term for excessive bureaucracy, complex rules, and delays that hinder governance and economic activity.
Cooperative Federalism
The idea that the central and state governments should work together as partners for national development.
Citizen's Charters
Documents that outline the service standards citizens can expect from government departments, a step towards accountability.
Make in India
An initiative to encourage companies to manufacture their products in India, boosting the economy and creating jobs.
Smart Cities Mission
An urban renewal program to develop cities by providing core infrastructure and a decent quality of life using "smart" solutions.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
A nationwide cleanliness campaign to improve sanitation and eliminate open defecation.
Accountability
A core principle of good governance where public officials are answerable for their actions and decisions.
Non-Alignment
During the Cold War, India co-founded the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), refusing to side with either the USA or the USSR.
Look East / Act East
A major policy shift to deepen engagement with Southeast and East Asian nations, focused on trade, connectivity, and security.
Neighborhood First
A policy prioritizing friendly and mutually-beneficial ties with India's immediate South Asian neighbors.
India-US Relations
From "estranged democracies" to "strategic partners," the relationship has transformed, especially after the Civil Nuclear Deal.
India-China Relations
A complex mix of competition and cooperation, defined by border disputes, a trade imbalance, and regional rivalry.
The Quad
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (India, US, Japan, Australia) is a strategic group focused on ensuring a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
BRICS
India is a key member of this grouping of emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) that aims to reform global governance.
SCO Membership
India joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a Eurasian security bloc, to engage with Central Asian countries.
UNSC Ambitions
India is a leading candidate for a permanent seat on a reformed UN Security Council, arguing it deserves a place at the high table.
Nuclear Power
India is a nuclear weapons state but is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), advocating for universal disarmament instead.
Soft Power
India leverages its culture—like Bollywood, yoga, and cuisine—as a form of "soft power" to enhance its global influence.
Diaspora Diplomacy
India actively engages with its large and influential diaspora (people of Indian origin living abroad) to advance its national interests.
SAARC vs. BIMSTEC
With SAARC stalled by India-Pakistan tensions, India has increasingly focused on BIMSTEC to promote regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal.
String of Pearls
A theory that China is building a network of ports and naval bases in the Indian Ocean, encircling India. A major security concern for New Delhi.
Panchsheel
The "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," first signed with China in 1954, which were intended to govern their relationship.
Gujral Doctrine
A policy of extending goodwill to smaller neighbors without expecting reciprocity. A key principle in India's regional diplomacy.
UN Peacekeeping
India has a long and proud history of being one of the largest contributors of troops to UN peacekeeping missions around the world.
Vaccine Maitri
Meaning "Vaccine Friendship," this was India's diplomatic initiative to supply millions of COVID-19 vaccines to countries worldwide.
International Solar Alliance
A major Indian diplomatic initiative to promote solar energy and combat climate change, headquartered in Gurugram, India.
Two-Front Challenge
A strategic nightmare for India's military planners: the possibility of a coordinated conflict with both Pakistan and China simultaneously.