Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Baccalaureate

Largest EU Enlargement: The 2004 Expansion

The largest enlargement of the European Union was the 2004 expansion. The countries that joined the organization were:

• Malta
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Czech Republic
• Hungary
• Slovenia
• Slovakia

China's Role in Global Politics: The 1971 Shift

The year 1971 represented a new beginning for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in global politics because the PRC took the permanent seat of Taiwan (Republic of China) in the UN Security Council (UNSC), thereby acquiring Veto power.

Defining the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is an important forum for security dialogue in Asia. ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The ARF draws together 27 members that have a... Continue reading "Key Concepts in International Relations and Global Governance" »

International Organizations and European Integration: Essential Facts

Most Important Treaties for European Integration

The following treaties allowed for the gradual deepening of the European integration process:

• Treaty of Paris (1952): Established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
• Treaties of Rome (1957): Established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).
• Single European Act (1986): Launched the Single Market.
• Maastricht Treaty on European Union (1992): Established the European Union (based on three pillars).
• Treaty of Amsterdam (1997): Authorized further enlargement.
• Treaty of Lisbon (2009): Authorized constitutional changes.

Composition of the European Council and its President

The European... Continue reading "Key Concepts in International Organizations and European Integration" »

Foundational Concepts in Political Theory and Global Affairs

Inspirations for 20th-Century Liberalism

Which authors served as an inspiration for 20th-century liberalism? The key figures include:

• John Locke
• Adam Smith
• Jeremy Bentham

Goals of the Our Global Neighborhood Report (1995)

The 1995 Our Global Neighborhood report outlines several critical areas where global citizens must cooperate:

• To maintain peace and order.
• To expand economic activity.
• To tackle pollution and halt or minimize climate change.
• To combat pandemic diseases.
• To curb the spread of weapons.
• To prevent desertification and preserve genetic and species diversity.
• To deter terrorism and ward off famine.
• To defeat economic recession.
• To share scarce resources.
• To arrest drug traffickers.

The

When was the UN Charter Adopted?

The charter of the United Nations was signed on June 26th, 1945, and came into force on October 24th, 1945.

Which Organ of the UN is an Impartial Legal Body?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) serves as an impartial body for settling legal disputes among states in accordance with international law.

Which UN Organ Provides Leadership and Prepares the Budget?

The Secretary-General provides leadership, prepares the budget, submits an annual report to the General Assembly, and presents issues to the Security Council.

Which Two Institutions Were Created at Bretton Woods in 1944?

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were created at Bretton Woods in 1944.

What Does the Acronym GATT Stand For?

GATT... Continue reading "Key Facts on International Organizations and Treaties" »

Main Characters

1. Mary Lennox

Mary Lennox is a young, orphaned girl with blonde hair who is described as initially unpleasant. After her parents die of cholera in India, she is sent to live with her uncle, Mr. Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire. Over time, her temper improves, and she becomes happier.

2. Martha

Martha is a kind servant at Misselthwaite Manor who befriends Mary. She is Dickon's sister and plays a significant role in helping Mary adjust to her new life.

3. Mr. Craven

Mr. Craven is Mary's uncle and Colin's father. He is a recluse who hates the locked garden because his wife died there. He has a crooked back and is often gloomy.

4. Mrs. Craven

Mrs. Craven is Mr. Craven's deceased wife who loved the garden. She taught Ben Weatherstaff... Continue reading "The Secret Garden: Character Guide" »

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and central figure of the Indian National Congress party, and to date the only female Prime Minister of India. Indira Gandhi was the daughter of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Despite her surname Gandhi, she is not related to the family of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. She served as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and then again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984, making her the second-longest-serving Prime Minister of India after her father. Indira Gandhi was the first woman prime minister of India.

Early Political Career

Gandhi served as her father's personal assistant and hostess during his tenure... Continue reading "Indira Gandhi: India's First Female Prime Minister" »

Rydgren: Uncivicness and Populist Voting

Neither mass society nor social capital theories explain support for radical right-wing populism in Eastern Europe (EE). Despite EE's historically weaker social capital compared to Western Europe, empirical results don't link rising populism to weak civil society.

Factors Fostering Extreme Right Movements

1. Diminished roles of family, community, and traditional organizations lead to detachment.
2. Decline of the pluralist society.
3. Social isolation leads to joining authoritarian movements offering 'quasi-communities'.

Social isolation, more common in urban settings, explains support for the radical right.

Varga: Hungary's Far-Right Jobbik

This reading examines post-communist far-right parties, focusing on Jobbik's... Continue reading "Right-Wing Populism in Eastern Europe: Social Capital & Jobbik" »

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Cost-effectiveness analysis ranks policies based on their costs for achieving a defined objective. This analysis is implemented when there is no reasonable consensus on how the relevant costs and benefits can be evaluated. Cost-effectiveness doesn’t evaluate the worthiness of a project based on its benefits relative to costs; instead, it takes some outcome or goal as given and evaluates the efficiency of the various options for achieving it. For example, if policymakers decide to reduce CO2 emissions by 10%, there would be many ways of achieving this goal.

Institutions in Public Policy

Institutions are the laws, organizations, and unwritten rules that make public policy possible. Groups ranging from a handful of homeowners... Continue reading "Public Policy: Cost-Effectiveness, Institutions, and Entities" »

Break down

If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working. E.g. My car broke down on the way to Motril.

Catch sb out

To surprise someone and put them in a difficult position. E.g. The exam is designed to catch you out.

Come across

To find by accident. E.g. I came across my old school reports when I was clearing out my desk.

Count on / Rely on

To trust someone.

Cover up

To hide, try to stop people knowing. E.g. It was a real scandal, but the school tried to cover the whole thing up.

Find something out

To discover a fact or piece of information. E.g. We may never find out the truth about what happened.

Get back

To return to a place after you have been somewhere else. E.g. If you get back in time, you can come with us.

Get on / off

To enter (get on) or... Continue reading "Common English Phrasal Verbs: Definitions and Examples" »