Descriptionary

Hamas literally, Islamic Resistance Movement, a Palestinian militant organization whose goal has been to establish an Islamic state in Palestine and has been involved in suicide bombings and rocket attacks to that end.

Hezbollah a Shiite Muslim political group with a militant wing that the United States defines as terror­ist. Active in Lebanon, it is a major provider of social services.

immigrant one who takes up residence in another nation, leaving behind his homeland.

immigration the entry of foreigners who have left their homeland to take up residence in another country.

imperialism the practice of government expansion into other territories or countries, by force or through economic or political domination.

insurgents terrorist forces who travel from their home countries or bases to fight in a war in another country, to further their cause.

International Court of Justice the world court of the United Nations that judiciates international dis­putes.

International Monetary Fund a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes international trade and currency stabilization.

Iron Curtain metaphor for the political and ideo­logical divide between the Soviet Union and the West from 1945 to 1990.

isolationism a philosophy or practice of noninter­action with other nations, either politically or eco­nomically.

jihad an Islamic term with varied meanings, includ­ing "struggle," but also, broadly, holy war.

League of Nations an international peacekeeping organization formed after World War I; it dissolved in 1946, following World War II.

legate an emissary of the pope.

minister a diplomatic representative ranking second to an ambassador.

Monroe Doctrine U.S. militarily enforced policy of closing off the unsettled portions of North and South America in 1823 to any colonization attempts by Europe.

most favored nation a country granted normal sta­tus by the United States, thereby allowing the same advantageous trade rights and privileges in trading with the U.S. as granted to other preferred countries. Also, most-favored-nation, as an adjective; of or relat­ing to this status.

NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement; agreement signed in 1994 to relax trade restrictions and eliminate tariffs between the United States, Can­ada, and Mexico.

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a mil­itary alliance formed in 1949 with the United States and several European nations to provide mutual protection against outside aggression, particu­larly from the Soviet Union, now having 19 mem­ber nations working together in peacekeeping and defense missions.

naturalization the process or certification of becom­ing a legal citizen of a foreign country.

nonaligned nation any nation that is not an ally of any superpower nation.

OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Coun­tries; an alliance of oil-producing nations that works to set production limits, prices, etc., of petroleum.

plenipotentiary any diplomat who may rank below ambassador but may be, nevertheless, vested with complete authority.

protocol diplomatic rules of etiquette, ceremony, and procedure.

al-Qaeda a worldwide ring of militant Islamic orga­nizations working together to undermine Western influence in the Middle East, best known for its attack of the United States on September 11, 2001, when jet aircraft were hijacked and rammed into the twin tow­ers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C.

refugee one fleeing from his homeland to another country, due to economic or political strife, or war.

rogue nation any country that sponsors terrorism and has weapons of mass destruction.

saber rattling the subtle threatening of one nation toward another nation through a show of force or demonstration of power.

sanction a penalty levied on a nation that has vio­lated international law.

secretary-general an executive officer of the United Nations.

secretary of state the head of U.S. foreign affairs.

Security Council peacekeeping council of the United Nations, with members who are frequently rotated.

shuttle diplomacy diplomacy conducted by an offi­cial traveling back and forth between nations.

sovereignty self-government; independence from the rule of another nation.

State Department the U.S. office of foreign affairs.

statesman a politician with broad, international appeal and respect who is called on to handle delicate foreign affairs.

state terrorism any terrorist acts conducted or sponsored by a government.