Unit 1 and 2 - Glossary
Unit 1
24-hour news cycle
The understanding that news is now reported on, investigated and analysed quickly and continuously over a 24 hour period in all forms of the media.
Authoritarianism
A system of government characterised by a strong central government and limited democratic rights and freedoms.
Authority
The basis or source for legitimate political power.
Constitutional monarchy
A political system with a hereditary monarch, whose powers are defined by a constitution.
Fascism
A right wing political ideology based on extreme views of nationalism, authoritarianism and anti-democratic beliefs.
Federalism (Australia and US)
A system of government in which law making powers and responsibilities are constitutionally divided between a central, national government and a series of state or regional governments. Both Australia and the USA operate a federal system of government.
Ideology
A set of views, values and beliefs held in common by a group of people about how the world ideally should be politically organised.
Interest group
A group of like-minded people who work to influence government policy and decision making, either for the benefit of those they represent or society more broadly, but do not seek election themselves.
Legitimacy
Political power that is broadly accepted by the population, usually based on its granting through democratic or transparent means.
Liberal democracy
A political system that combines two principles of political theory: that individuals have rights (liberalism) and that political rule should be by the people (democracy). Liberal democracies usually pursue policies that encourage capitalism and private sector involvement in the economy.
New media
A broad and evolving term including digital and web based forms of sharing information such as blogs, online news sites, which are easily accessible on demand via personal devices.
Political parties
Organised groups of people who hold similar views and ideas on a range of public policy issues and who seek to be elected to parliament.
Political power
Refers to the use of a state's internal political machinery to exert influence over the actions of others. For example, legislation, executive orders, white papers.
Representative democracy
A political system where people vote for other citizens in free and fair elections, to act on their behalf in the legislative branch.
Representative government
A political system where the legislative and executive functions are carried out by citizens who have been elected to make decisions on behalf of the people.
Separation of powers (Australia and US)
The principle that the three branches of government, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, should be kept independent and act without interference from each other as means of decentralising and preventing abuse of power. In Australia, the separation of powers is blurred as the executive and legislative branches are combined; in the USA, the separation of powers is very clear.
Socialism
A left wing political ideology based on the belief that the means of production, distribution and wealth in a society should be owned by the government, on behalf of the people.
Social media
Web based communication tools that enable people to interact, respond and communicate by sharing and consuming information.
Theocracy
A system of government organised around the beliefs of a religious faith.
Traditional media
Commonly or 'older' accepted means of communication and expression, such as print newspapers, radio and television news.
Unit 2 Glossary
Citizenship
Membership of a community that requires certain rights, privileges and responsibilities. Most commonly referred to as the membership of a state, such as an Australian citizen.
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism reflects a desire among global actors to cooperate to reach common goals and outcomes to meet challenges that are presented to the global community.
Crisis diplomacy
Refers to negotiations between actors in the global political arena in response to an immediate crisis. This most commonly concerns conflicts and natural disasters, but also economic and health crises.
Environmentalism
Concern about and action aimed at protecting the environment.
Global actors
A global actor is a state, intergovernmental organisation, non-state actor or transnational corporation that is involved in global politics.​
Global citizenship
Membership of the global community that enjoys certain rights, privileges and responsibilities. A global citizen may refer to a state, non-state actor or an individual.
Global community
People, states and non-state actors closely connected by technology who are economically, socially, and politically interdependent. It is often linked to cosmopolitanism and to whom global citizens owe a duty.
Global cooperation
Refers to occasions when global actors work together to achieve common ideals and goals.
Globalisation
Refers to acceleration and intensification of exchanges of goods, services, labour and capital, which promote global interdependence. These have been facilitated by rapid changes in communication and technology.
Instability
Refers to a lack of order regarding a global issue or region.
Multilateralism
Refers to a system of coordinating relations between three or more states, usually in pursuit of objectives in particular areas.
National interests
The national interests of a state are pursued to ensure the survival and potential growth of that state. States implement policies and types of power to achieve their national interests and maintain state sovereignty.
Non-state actors
A non-state actor is any global actor that is not a state. It often refers to global actors not essential to global governance, such as non-profit organisations or terrorist groups.
Power
Refers to the ability of one global actor to influence the actions of another global actor. Power can be exercised in a range of types and forms.
Realism
Realism involves states (and other global actors) prioritizing their specific interest and needs over those of the global community.
State
Traditionally this term refers to the central actor in global politics. States possess a permanent population, defined territory and recognised sovereignty. States are not necessarily culturally homogenous, for example Australia.
Unilateralism
Refers to the policy of a state acting alone, with little regard for the views or interests of other global actors, in pursuit of foreign policy objectives.