International politics
International politics is the study and practice of political relations, power, and conflict among states and other actors across national borders.
Sovereignty: The principle that a political authority has supreme power within a territory and independence from external control. Sovereignty defines the independence and territorial authority that international politics negotiates and contests.
Diplomacy: The management of relations between political actors through negotiation, representation, and communication. Diplomacy converts competing interests into agreements, signals, or managed disputes.
Realism (international relations): A family of theories emphasizing power, security, and competition among states in an anarchic system. Realism foregrounds strategic rivalry and state security as drivers of international politics.
International security: The study and practice of protecting states and people from threats that cross national borders. Security is a major arena where political actors assess threats and organize protection.
United Nations: An intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, cooperation, and human rights. The UN is the broadest institutional forum for states to address shared political problems.
State: A political organization that governs a population within a territory and claims sovereignty. States remain central actors, even as international politics also includes organizations and networks.
Deterrence theory: The theory that threats of unacceptable costs can prevent an adversary from taking an action. Deterrence is a central strategy for influencing rivals without initiating armed conflict.
Liberalism (international relations): A family of theories emphasizing cooperation, institutions, domestic politics, and interdependence. Liberal approaches explain how cooperation can persist despite strategic competition.
War: Organized armed conflict between political communities or organized groups. War is an extreme form of political conflict shaped by international relationships and strategy.
Collective security: A system in which states pledge to respond collectively to aggression against any member. It offers an institutional alternative to relying solely on individual states for security.