Category: EPIS Basics
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European Union
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 nations that are primarily located in Europe. Starting off as the European Coal and Steel community, it has evolved into a broader union with shared citizenship beginning with the signing in Maastricht Treaty in 1992. The EU’s key objectives include creating a single…
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Five Eyes
FIVE EYES is an intelligence alliance comprising the English-speaking countries: the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These nations collaborate on signals intelligence gathering and sharing. The alliance aims to enhance security and intelligence capabilities through information exchange. FIVE EYES members commit to joint efforts in monitoring global communications and sharing valuable intelligence,…
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Geopolitics
Contrary to popular belief, geopolitics is not a synonym for foreign policy. Geopolitics comes in two strands. First, critical geopolitics scrutinises how rulers portray geographical space to mobilise support and achieve ends. Second, classical geopolitics investigates how geography and technology interact and influence international relations. The interaction between technology and geography distinguishes classical geopolitics from…
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Hans Morgenthau
Hans Morgenthau was a prominent 20th-century political theorist. His work, particularly the book “Politics Among Nations,” laid the foundation for realism in international relations theory. Morgenthau emphasized the importance of power, national interests, and state behavior in global politics. He contended that states pursued their interests in a competitive world, and his ideas continue to…
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Hegemonic Stability Theory
The Hegemonic Stability Theory suggests that the international system is more likely to be stable in unipolar system where there is single dominant power, or hegemon. As this hegemon provides public goods such as a stable currency and security guarantees, it reduces uncertainty among states and maintains the international order. This theory also indicates that…
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Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger, prominent diplomat and political thinker, played a key role in shaping US foreign policy. He employed realpolitik strategies, as known as pursuing pragmatic policies, to ease tensions during the Cold War. Kissinger’s diplomacy re-established US-China relations and negotiated the end of the Vietnam War. However, he remains controversial figure in U.S. politics for…
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International Court of Justice
In The Hague, the Netherlands, the International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals based on the 2002 Rome Statute. The Rome Statute allows for the prosecution of individuals who committed genocide, crimes of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. In contrast to the International Court of Justice, the ICC is not a UN organ and does…
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NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance consisting of European and North American nations and it strives to ensure security and collective defence. 31 member states have committed to mutual defence in response to an armed attack by external parties. NATO’s primary objective is to promote stability and deter aggression by coordinating…
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Neorealism
Neorealism, also known as structural realism, argues that the structure of the international system impacts state behavior. Neorealism contends that the anarchic nature of the international system, where there is no central authority, drives states to prioritise their own security and survival. Unlike classical realism, neorealism puts more emphasis more on systemic factors and downplays…
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Nuclear Sharing
Turkey, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Germany participate in NATO’s nuclear sharing. The participating countries have US nuclear weapons stationed on their territory. In case of war, planes from the respective allied air forces will deliver the US bombs to their targets. Critics claim NATO’s nuclear sharing program may violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.