You are responsible for Riemer text “The Challenge of Politics,” Introduction and chapters 1 & 2 plus Kelleher and Klein text “Global Perspectives,” Preface and chapter 1 plus class notes.
Politics: A social relationship characterized by activity involving conflict and cooperation in the exercise of power.
Power: a type of causal relationship in which the power wielder affects the behavior, attitudes, beliefs of another actor. Any social situation involving collective action.
Transnational Relations: Are regular interactions across state (country) boundaries when at least one actor is a non-state or private actor or does not operate on behalf of a state government.
Political Culture: Attitudes and values held by individuals about their political system.
Treaty of Westphalia 1648: Officially created the modern state system. Created the system of decentralized sovereign and equal units (important here is that these units are secular or non-religious, responsible to no higher authority. The treaty is where the key characteristics of the modern state system were formalized.
Types of states (Unitary, Federal, confederation)