Glossary A–Z.

A

AsylumProtection given by a country to someone fleeing persecution in their own.

B

BilateralBetween two countries, as in a bilateral treaty or a bilateral meeting.BrexitThe United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, which took effect on 31 January 2020.BRICSA group of major emerging economies founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa admitted at the end of 2010. It began admitting more members in 2024.

C

CeasefireAn agreement to stop fighting, which may be temporary, local or a step towards a wider peace deal.

D

Diplomatic immunityProtection for diplomats from arrest and most lawsuits in the country where they serve, set out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

E

EurozoneThe European Union countries that use the euro, whose interest rates are set by the European Central Bank.Exclusive economic zoneThe sea up to 200 nautical miles from a country’s coast, where it has the rights to fish and to extract oil, gas and minerals, under the UN Convention on the Law of the…

F

Free trade agreementA treaty in which countries cut or remove tariffs and other barriers on trade with each other.

G

G20The Group of Twenty: 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, which joined in 2023. Its members account for most of the world’s economic output.G7The Group of Seven large democratic economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union also takes part.Geneva ConventionsFour treaties agreed in 1949, with later additional protocols, that set the basic rules of war — protecting civilians, the wounded, medical workers and prisoners of war.GenocideActs committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as defined in the UN Genocide Convention of 1948.Global SouthA loose term for the developing and emerging countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific.

H

High CommissionWhat an embassy is called when one Commonwealth country is represented in another; it is headed by a high commissioner.

I

IAEAThe International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN-linked nuclear watchdog based in Vienna. It promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and inspects countries’ nuclear…

K

KnessetIsrael’s single-chamber parliament, with 120 members elected by nationwide proportional representation. A party needs 3.25% of the vote to win seats.

M

Most favoured nationThe WTO principle that a country must offer all members the same trade terms it gives its best trading partner, with exceptions such as free trade agreements.MultilateralismCountries working together through international organisations and agreements, rather than alone or two at a time.

N

NATOThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance of North American and European countries founded in 1949. Under Article 5, an armed attack on one member is…Non-Aligned MovementA group of countries, founded in Belgrade in 1961 with India among its leaders, that chose not to join either bloc in the Cold War.

P

PeacekeepingDeploying troops and police under the UN flag, with the consent of the parties, to keep a ceasefire and protect civilians. India has long been one of the largest…Persona non grataA diplomat a host country declares unwelcome, who must then leave.

Q

QuadThe Quadrilateral Security Dialogue of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

R

RatificationThe formal step by which a country agrees to be bound by a treaty it has signed.RefugeeA person forced to flee their country because of persecution, war or violence, as defined by the 1951 Refugee Convention. India is not a party to that convention.

S

SanctionsPenalties — such as trade bans, asset freezes and travel bans — that countries or international bodies impose on another country, a company or a person to change their…Schengen AreaA group of European countries that have abolished passport checks at their shared borders.Soft powerA country’s ability to win influence through attraction — its culture, values and ideas — rather than force or money.SovereigntyA state’s supreme authority over its territory and affairs, free from outside control.Strait of HormuzThe narrow sea passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula — about 33 km wide at its narrowest — and the only sea route out of the Gulf. About a fifth of the world’s…Straw pollIn choosing the UN Secretary-General, an informal secret ballot in which each Security Council member marks every candidate “encourage”, “discourage” or “no opinion”…

T

TreatyA written agreement between states that is binding under international law once it is in force.Two-state solutionThe proposal for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel as the way to end their conflict.

U

UN General AssemblyThe main body of the United Nations, where every member state has one vote. It meets every year from September in New York.UN Secretary-GeneralThe head of the United Nations’ staff and its chief diplomat, appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council, normally for a five-year…UN Security CouncilThe UN body responsible for international peace and security. It has 15 members: five permanent members with a veto — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the…

V

VetoIn the UN Security Council, the power of each permanent member to block a substantive decision by voting against it.

W

War crimeA serious breach of the laws of war, such as deliberately attacking civilians or mistreating prisoners.