ANARCHISM

A stateless society that allows total individual freedom.

BINATIONAL STATE

Two nations co-existing within one state.

BOURGEOISIE

A Marxist term referring to those who own the means of production.

CLASSICAL LIBERALISM

A liberal ideology entailing a minimal role for government in order to maximize individual freedom.

COMMUNISM

A political ideology characterized by a belief in eliminating exploitation through public ownership and central planning of the economy.

CONSERVATISM

A political ideology generally characterized by a belief in individualism and minimal government intervention in the economy and society; also a belief in the virtue of the status quo and general acceptance of traditional morality.

DESPOTISM

An individual ruling through fear without regard to law and not answerable to the people.

DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT

A revolutionary seizure of power by the "vanguard" of society, the communist party, which then rules in the name of the working class.

DIPLOMACY

A system of formal, regularized communication that allows states to peacefully conduct their business with each other.

FASCISM

An extreme form of nationalism that played on fears of communism and rejected individual freedom, liberal individualism, democracy, and limitations on the state.

IDEOLOGY

A system of beliefs and values that explains society and prescribes the role of government

INTERNATIONAL LAW

The body of rules governing the relationships of states with each other

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

An international organization created to prevent another collapse in the world monetary system through the stabilization of national currencies throughout the world

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

An area of political study concerned with the interaction of independent states

LAISSEZ-FAIRE

The non-intervention of the state in the economy.

LIBERAL DEMOCRACY

A system of government characterized by universal adult suffrage, political equality, majority rule and constitutionalism.

MULTINATIONAL STATE

Three or more nations co-existing under one sovereign government.

NATIONAL INTEREST

Interests specific to a nation-state, including especially survival and maintenance of power.

NATIONALISM

The feeling of loyalty and attachment to one's nation or nation-state, and strong support for its interests.

NATION-STATE

A state with a single predominant national identity.

PROLETARIAT

A Marxist term referring to those who sell their labor to the bourgeoisie; the working class.

SCIENTIFIC SOCIALISM

The term Marx and Engles used to stress that their ideology was based on analysis of class conflict.

SOCIALISM

A leftist political ideology that emphasizes the principle of equality and usually prescribes a large role for government to intervene in society and the economy via taxation, regulation, redistribution, and public ownership.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

The partial equalization of wealth and income to reach a more desirable outcome.

UTOPIAN SOCIALISM

Early-nineteenth century socialism based on a universal appeal to reason.

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

An international organization created to provide the ground rules for international trade and commerce.