Teacher Resource 2: Power and Borders

Key Terminology

Version 11© OCR 2016

Global Governance: Power and Borders

Corporate Social Responsibility – the commitment by businesses to improve the social and economic wellbeing of people connected to their business together with a commitment to respect and care for the environment
cyber conflict – aggressive actions regarding technology, such as disabling or damaging computer equipment, stealing classified or confidential material
failed state – when the state can no longer provide its basic functions (e.g. to protect and provide for citizens) and the government is losing its authority
flows – movement of people, products, capital or ideas across space
geopolitics –the influence of human and physical geography on government activities, law making and decision making
global commons –natural resources that are not owned or controlled by any group or state e.g. oceans, atmosphere
independence – when a country is free to govern itself without political control from outside its borders, (e.g. Eritrea gained independence in 1993)
international border – a frontier area or dividing line separating states, these are socially and politically constructed, can change over time and can be disputed, (e.g. there is a disputed international border in the Jammu and Kashmir area of the Himalayas)
international community – the people and governments of the world
international law –legal obligations controlling the relations between nations / states, e.g. treatment of refugees, trade, regulation of global commons / intervention –involvement in the affairs of another state, e.g. humanitarian support, peacekeeping, mediation
militarisation – a process where a society actively builds up its capacity for fighting or conflict
nation – a group of people who share strong cultural bonds and historical connections
nation-building –actions that build a sense of nationality or national identity, the media and education systems are often actively involved in nation-building
nation-state– a state whose boundaries and sovereignty match with the geographical area of a nation, (e.g. France)
NATO – Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation, an intergovernmental supranational military alliance
natural resources – materials such as water, forests, minerals that are found in nature and needed by people
NGO – non-governmental organisations, e.g. not a part of the government or run for profit e.g. Oxfam
norms – these are accepted standards and expectations that have developed over time and shape the way people, states, institutions behave and operate, some norms of behaviour are international and fixed in international law
power – the ability to direct or influence other people or events
Responsibility to Protect –international commitment to intervene to protect populations from crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide
secession– when a group formally breaks away from a group or state, this can be a peaceful or a violent process / security – protection from threats, risk and danger
self-determination – the actions by which a country decides its own forms of statehood and government
separatism –when a group seeks a degree of autonomy or self-determination from another group
sovereignty – the authority / right of a state to govern itself and have full control over its own affairs
state – an independent country with clear boundaries and organised by a single government
state apparatus – the organisations and institutions which allow a state to exercise and maintain its authority
supranational organisation – a union or alliance of different countries, e.g. EU, OPEC, NATO
territorial integrity – states exercise their sovereignty within a specific area or territory that is recognised by international law,
territory – an area of land controlled and governed by specific group
TNC – transnational company, e.g. a company with operations in more than one country, e.g. Ford
treaty – a formal, legally binding agreement or contract between two or more states e.g. Treaty of Versailles, Law of the Sea.
UN – United Nations, an international organisation to promote peace, international cooperation and security
UN Global Compact – a voluntary framework for businesses setting out principles relating to human rights, the environment and sustainability
Westphalian Model – the norm whereby equality and territorial integrity for all states in Europe was established, named after the Peace of Westphalia doctrine (1648)

Version 11© OCR 2016

Global Governance: Power and Borders