International relations is the study of how world politics operates and influences the choices made by actors on the world stage. It is a multidiscipline field that draws on international law, economics, geography, history, philosophy, politics and political theory. International relations experts also consider the impact of nonstate entities, such as multinational corporations, nongovernmental organizations and terrorist networks.
An international system presuming that sovereign states are equal and independent, with the right to choose their own internal political structure and foreign policy, but with a shared responsibility to respect the rights of all other states. It was established in the aftermath of World War I through the League of Nations and its successor, the United Nations.
A state that does not accept the status quo but is dissatisfied with current international rules and practices, often feeling disadvantaged by the distribution of power among other states. Russia and China are examples of revisionist states.
The idea that outsiders, including the United Nations, have a right to intervene in another state when it is manifestly failing to protect its citizens from persecution, war crimes, genocide or ethnic cleansing. This is controversial since it conflicts with the principle of sovereignty.
A group of three or more countries that the United States singles out for countering terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction. George W. Bush used the term to describe Iran, Iraq and North Korea in 2002. It is sometimes extended to include Libya and Syria.
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