Contemporary World Glossary

Absolute poverty is when a person does not have enough money to meet their basic needs, such as food and shelter. This type of poverty is more common in developing countries. It is also called extreme poverty.

The active population, also called labour force, is the total number of people of working age (15 to 64) who have a job or are looking for a job.

The term activity refers to all human actions and operations carried out by a company or state to achieve a goal.

Affirmative action refers to all policies and measures that favour certain groups that are usually discriminated against based on their social or ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, disability, etc.

Allegiance is when an individual or group swears loyalty and obedience to a nation or leader.

In the context of the environment, an allowance (quota) is a defined quantity that must not be exceeded. For example, a carbon allowance is the maximum amount of carbon an industry can emit.

Anti-globalization, also called alterglobalization, is a movement that proposes alternatives to globalization. Anti-globalization activists want to reform globalization so that it respects the principles of human rights, economic justice and environmental protection.

Antisemitism is a form of systematic racism and hostility against Jewish people.

An armed group, or a non-state armed group, is independent from a state, which means that it takes action on its own terms. Its members are recruited among the population and sometimes include child soldiers.

An asylum seeker is a person seeking protection outside the borders of their country, but whose claim for asylum is still under review.

Austerity refers to all measures taken by a state to reduce its spending and balance its budget, particularly to reduce its debt.

A belligerent is a person or state at war.

A benefit is an allowance, which is  an amount of money paid to a person.

Biodiversity refers to all living species (animals and plants) that inhabit the planet.

The birth rate is the number of births per 1000 inhabitants in a given population in one year.

Bonds are negotiable debt instruments issued by companies or governments in order to  borrow money.

A boycott (or boycotting) is the act of refusing to buy or consume a product or service from a company or a country to express dissatisfaction with a particular situation.

Capital is the assets or money owned by a person, company or state. Capital can be used to make investments.

Capitalism is an economic and social system based on private ownership of the means of production.Great importance is attributed to the pursuit of profit as well as those who hold capital (money). Capitalism encourages individual initiative and competition between companies.

The carbon footprint measures greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by human activities. It is usually calculated in kilograms (kg).

A ceasefire is a temporary halt to the fighting and hostilities between adversaries in times of war. In order to be truly effective and respected by the groups involved in a conflict, a ceasefire must go through a negotiations process that is made official in the form of an agreement.

Censorship is the act of partially or completely restricting freedom of expression. It can be self-imposed (self-censorship) or imposed by others (like authorities censoring communication, artwork, the media, etc.)

Civil society refers to the activity of citizens and non-profit organizations defending principle and values, in free association, without the authority of the state or the motive of profit.

A civil war is an armed conflict between civilians or military groups from the same state.

Colonialism is a policy based on the occupation and economic, political or social exploitation of a territory by a foreign state.

Colonization is the act of taking possession of a foreign territory in order to exploit its resources.

A colony is a territory governed and exploited by a foreign state.

Compensation is an amount of money paid to workers under certain circumstances. For example, when workers lose a job through no fault of their own, they receive severance pay as compensation.

A confederation is an association of states that delegate some of their powers to a central authority, but still maintain their sovereignty.

Consumption is the act of acquiring (buying) goods and services.

A contribution is a financial payment (mandatory or optional) made by an employee to finance a program or service, such as a pension plan or group insurance. All employees can benefit, based on each program's rules.

A coup d’état is the illegal overthrow of a government in order to seize power. It can be done using armed force. 

A crime of aggression is an armed attack by one state against another. This attack by land, air or sea violates the sovereignty, integrity or independence of the country under attack, whether or not there is a declaration of war.

A crime against humanity is a deliberate violation of the fundamental rights of an individual or a group of individuals for political, philosophical, racial or religious reasons. 
Acts such as murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation and torture are examples of crimes against humanity.

A currency is a monetary system used by a specific country or group of countries. 
For example, the Canadian dollar in Canada, the Danish krone in Denmark or the euro for the European Union.

Cyberterrorism is the use of computer systems by an individual or organized group as a weapon to pressure and intimidate an adversary.

Decolonization is the political process by which a colony gains independence and sovereignty from its mother country.

Deforestation is the human action of permanently eliminating an area of forest.

A demand is a requirement or request by a group for something it considers to be theirs or considers itself entitled to.  

A developed country is an industrialized country whose economy includes many high-tech industries and where the people enjoy a generally high standard of living.

A developing country is less industrialized and the standard of living for people is often low.

A diaspora is the dispersion of part of a people or ethnic group around the world. For example, the Haitian diaspora or the Jewish diaspora.

Diplomacy is the practice of a country in managing its international relations. The purpose is to conduct negotiations between nations to resolve conflicts without using violence.

Discrimination is the unequal or unfavourable treatment of people based on their ethnicity, name, gender, physical appearance, religion or membership in a group. They are then said to be a victim of discrimination.

Disparity is inequality between two things.

The ecological footprint is an estimate of the surface area of land or water required for an individual, company or country to support their way of life or activities. It includes all the resources needed to meet their needs and to ensure the disposal of the waste they produce.

Ecology is a science that studies living things, their environment and the relationship between the two.

An economic crisis occurs when the economic situation of an activity sector or the entire global economy rapidly deteriorates. An economic crisis may have limited consequences, but it can also affect many sectors of economic activity and last for several months or even years. This is known as a recession or economic depression, depending on the case.

An economic depression is a severe economic crisis that lasts for several years, as opposed to an economic recession which is shorter.

Economic growth occurs when the quantity of goods and services produced in a country increases over a certain period of time. A country’s economic growth is usually measured annually.

Economic integration refers to common economic policies adopted by all member states, such as customs tariffs, the free movement of workers, goods, services and capital and the adoption of a common currency. The level of economic integration is determined by the number of common policies adopted as well as their scope.

Economic recovery occurs when the economy experiences a new period of growth after a period of crisis, recession or depression.

An economic shortage of drinking water is when water is physically available, but is poorly managed due to lack of money or resources. This still results in people having no access to drinking water.

An economic system is a way of organizing the economic activities of a state. It determines how a state’s production is managed and how the labour market functions.

The economy is the management of a region or country’s resources. The economy generally involves the exploitation of resources and the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.

An ecosystem refers to the interactions between all the living species (animals and plants) in a natural environment. For example, a lake’s ecosystem contains water, mud, algae and fish. Other factors influence a lake’s environment, such as climate and pollution.

An embargo is a political and diplomatic measure that puts an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country.

An emerging country is a country experiencing rapid economic growth with an unequal increase in the standard of living. Its GDP per capita is lower than the GDP of developed countries and its economy has not reached the same level of development.

An emigrant is a person who leaves their country (country of departure) to settle in another country (host country).

Emigration is when a person leaves their country (country of departure) to settle in another country (host country) for a fixed period of time or permanently. 

An emission right represents the permission to emit 1 tonne of CO2. Two terms are used to represent an emission right: an emission unit or a carbon credit.

Equity means acting with impartiality and justice to ensure everyone is treated fairly. This translates into favouring certain people (for example in employment) to reduce the effects of discrimination or to provide additional help for those facing significant difficulties.

An ethnic group is a group of people who share a common history, language, culture and/or way of life.

A financial market is a physical or virtual place where people buy and sell financial products, such as company stocks or bonds.

A financial security (share, bond, etc.) is a property right issued by a company or a state.

Fiscal policy is used to determine the ways of financing public spending (state spending), whether through taxes or duties. It ensures that the state has stable and sufficient income to support its spending while not placing too heavy a burden on businesses and taxpayers. It also determines the tax rate.

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources that come mainly from hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas, coal, etc.).

Free trade is an economic policy that seeks to eliminate all trade barriers between states that have signed an agreement.

Full employment refers to the labour market situation of a country when everyone in the labour force has a job.

A fund is money dedicated to the implementation of the policies and projects of a state, group or organization.

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a living organism whose genes have been modified by humans. An example of a GMO is corn with modified genes to make it tastier or more resistant to the cold.

The Geneva Conventions were adopted in 1949 and set out the rules of international humanitarian law. These treaties protect, among other things, the rights of civilians, wounded soldiers and prisoners of war.

A genocide is the deliberate and organized extermination of an ethnic, religious or social group. It is a crime against humanity under international law.

The Gini index, or Gini coefficient, measures income inequality among a country’s population. It is calculated on a scale of 0 to 100. At 0, all incomes within the country are equal. The closer the index is to 100, the greater the income inequality.

Globalization is a phenomenon that pushes states to open their national economy to the world market in order to increase trade between countries, making them interdependent. Trade can include services, goods, capital (money) or the movement of workers.

Governance is the process of setting measures and rules that allow a state, an organization or a company to operate. It is the action of governing.

Granting of concessions is when a state transfers the exploitation of a resource to a private company. In exchange for a concession, companies sometimes have certain conditions imposed by the government.

Gross domestic product (GDP) is used to calculate a country’s wealth by measuring the total value of all goods and services produced within that country over a given period (usually 1 year).

Guerrilla warfare, also known as small-scale warfare, is based on combat strategies such as ambushes, harassment, surprise attacks and blitzes.

Hegemony is the political or military dominance of one group or state over others.

High-tech industry refers to industries that invest heavily in research and development and produce high-tech products. This includes industries like IT, pharmaceuticals and aerospace.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a socioeconomic indicator that determines the average quality of life of a country’s population by measuring life expectancy, level of education (access to education) and economic output (GDP per capita). The HDI ranges from 0 to 1. The closer the index is to 1, the higher the quality of life. 
For example, Canada’s HDI in 2014 was 0.91, while Ghana’s was 0.58.

A humanitarian emergency is one or more events occurring over a large area that threatens the health, safety or well-being of a group of people.

A hydrocarbon (HC) is an organic compound made up of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are hydrocarbons.

Un groupe ethnique est un groupe de personnes qui ont en commun une histoire, une langue, une culture et/ou un mode de vie.

An ideology is a set of ideas and beliefs that influence the actions of the people who subscribe to them.

An immigrant is a person who settles in a foreign country (host country), temporarily or permanently, after leaving their country of origin (home country).

Immigration is when a person settles in a foreign country (host country) temporarily or permanently.

Impartiality is the act of not taking sides and treating all parties equally in a given situation.

Industrialization​​ is the widespread mechanization and massive increase in factory work. Industrialization is also explained by the transition from an artisanal mode of production, where goods are made by hand, to an industrial mode of production, where goods are made in factories.

Inflation is the general and continuous increase in the price of goods.

Infrastructure includes all facilities that allow a company, a region or a state to function. Roads, bridges and buildings are examples of infrastructure.

Integration refers to common political, economic, diplomatic or social policies adopted by all member states. The level of integration is determined by the number of common policies adopted as well as their scope.

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs as well as symbols and commercial names and images. Examples: a soft drink recipe, a logo or the lyrics to a famous song. 

Interdependence refers to the mutual dependence between people, companies or governments.

The interest rate refers to the amount a person or institution has to pay to access a loan. This amount is calculated as a percentage.

The term international refers to anything that affects more than one state. For example, an international agreement involves several states.

International community refers to all the players who participate in international discussions, such as states, international organizations (IOs) or non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

An international convention is an agreement negotiated between several states or international organizations.

International humanitarian law (IHL), also referred to as the laws of armed conflict or the law of war, determines the basic rules to be respected during war, including the treatment of wounded soldiers and prisoners of war, the prohibition of deliberate attacks on civilians and the prohibition of certain types of weapons. It aims to protect people who are not or are no longer participating in the war. 

International law combines the rules and norms that govern relations between states, individuals and organizations on the international level. These laws cover a wide range of issues such as the environment, trade, transport of goods and services, human rights, etc.

An international organization (IO) is an organization that brings together representatives of different states to achieve common objectives on global issues.

Interventionism refers to a policy where the state intervenes in a country’s economic affairs.

Life expectancy is the average period that a person may expect to live in a given country.

A lobby group is a pressure group whose members share common interests. To promote their own interests, it tries to convince the government to adopt certain laws and regulations.

The market is a place of exchange where commercial activities take place. This is a meeting place for sellers (supply) who have a good or a service to sell and buyers (demand) who want to pay money for a product. 

There are regional (Quebec), national (Canada), continental (North America) and international (global) markets.

Mass communication refers to all the technical means of communication (mass media, like television, newspapers, social media) that allow a company, organization or state to reach a vast audience anywhere in the world in a short period of time.

Mass consumption refers to the consumption of goods and services in large quantities and on a large scale, usually in industrialized societies.

A mediator is a person or organization acting as an intermediary to help resolve a conflict. A mediator is a neutral and impartial party that should not be directly involved in the conflict.

Migration flows refer to the displacements of populations. These displacements can occur within the same country or from a country of departure to a host country.

Une milice est un groupe de combattants civils indépendants du gouvernement de leur pays. 

A militia is a group of civilian fighters who are independent of their country’s government.

The mortality rate is the number of deaths per 1000 inhabitants in a given population in one year.

A mother country is a state that owns and administers its colonies, which involves exploiting territories outside its own country.

The term multilateral is used when something involves three or more states. For example, a multilateral agreement is an agreement made between at least three states.

A multinational corporation is a company that carries out activities in countries other than its country of origin (exploitation of resources, production of goods or services, research and development, etc.).

Nationalization occurs when a state takes ownership or control of certain goods, resources or private companies. A good example of this phenomenon is Hydro-Québec, a company that was created after the nationalization of electricity. It became a public company owned by the Quebec government.

Natural increase is the growth in population caused by the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths. Natural growth is positive when there are more births than deaths and negative when there are more deaths than births.

Neocolonialism refers to a situation where a state is dependent on another state. This dependence is not official and can be economic, cultural or scientific.

Net migration is the difference between the number of immigrants and the number of emigrants within a country.

Immigrants - Emigrants = net migration

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a non-profit organization made up of citizens who defend a cause and act independently from the government.

Outsourcing refers to the relocation of part or all of a company’s activities to another country in order to reduce production costs. Relocation generally occurs from developed countries towards developing or emerging countries.

Overconsumption refers to the act of consuming more than is necessary to meet reasonable needs.

A paramilitary coalition is a military force that is not part of a state’s armed forces.

The term party refers to a person, organization or state involved in a negotiation, or who takes part in a contract or agreement. It is used in particular when referring to a state that agrees to a treaty. This means that the state becomes a party to the treaty and must respect it.

A permanent resident is someone who has immigrated to a foreign country and who, without having citizenship of that country, is granted the right to reside and work in that country indefinitely.

A physical shortage of drinking water is when there is not enough water to meet the needs of a population.

Political ideology is a set of ideas about the operation and structure of society.

A political regime is the set of rules and institutions that determines how a state exercises its powers. It defines who governs and how.

Population density measures the average number of people living in a given area. It is calculated based on the number of inhabitants per square kilometre (inhabitants/km²).

Population growth is the increase in the number of people in a region, country or continent over a given period of time.

Poverty refers to the state of people who do not have enough money to live in adequate conditions.

Power of influence is the ability to persuade a person, organization or state through negotiation.

Pricing is the act of applying a tariff, meaning an amount of money, to something. Applying a cost to pollution, more specifically to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is an example of pricing.

A program is what a group, organization or political party plans to do in relation to a specific subject. It is the group's set of projects.

Propaganda is a way of persuading people to adopt a certain idea, opinion or ideology.

Prosperity refers to when a state enjoys strong economic development and a favourable financial situation.

Protectionism is an economic policy that opposes free trade and seeks to  protect a state’s economy from competition with other countries. This protection is implemented through measures that reduce imports, such as taxes or tariffs (customs duties).

A protocol is a slightly less formal agreement that complements and sometimes modifies an international convention.

Public debt refers to all money borrowed by a state.

Purchasing power parity (PPP) is a way of converting the different currencies around the world into a common currency to compare the purchasing power of each currency.

Ratification is when a state approves and confirms its participation in an agreement or convention.

A recession occurs when economic growth slows down or declines significantly and last more than a few months.

A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their home country to escape a natural disaster, war or persecution that threatens their life and safety.

A refugee camp is a temporary facility used to house displaced people (refugees) and provide them with basic supplies and care, such as shelter, food, health care and education.

Relative poverty is calculated in comparison to a country’s average income. The proportion of people living below this income is the relative poverty rate. This type of poverty is used to measure social and economic inequalities in developed countries.

Repression is intended to end movements of revolt or protest by using force and violence. These actions do not respect human rights.

A resolution is a decision made by an assembly based on a vote.

The right of veto is the power to block the enforcement of a decision, resolution or law.

The right to asylum provides protection in a host country to a person whose life is threatened in their own country. This person must request this protection.

Royalties are amounts of money that a company or state must pay to another state in exchange for the right to exploit a resource.

The rule of law refers to the idea that all individuals, even those with political or military power (governments, leaders, etc.) are accountable under the same laws. In other words, no one is above the law. Laws and their application must be independent of any other authority so as not to be influenced or corrupted. The laws must also be compatible with international human rights.

A rural exodus is a demographic phenomenon that occurs when people move from rural areas (the countryside) to cities. 

The Sahel is a region in Africa that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east. It extends through several countries. It is a semi-arid area with a Saharan desert climate in the north and a humid tropical climate in the south.

Self-determination is the process by which a population freely controls their own political, economic and international status.
One example of this is a colony declaring independence. It then becomes a sovereign state.

The term shadow economy refers to all economic activities that take place outside of a country’s official economy. These are often illegal activities, which can take place on the black market, or legal activities carried out illegally, such as working under the table.

Shoah is a Hebrew word meaning annihilation. This is the word used to refer to the persecution and systematic extermination of 6 million Jewish people by Nazi Germany. This genocide is also called the “Holocaust.”

A signatory country is a country that has signed an official document such as an agreement, convention or treaty.

A slum is an area with precarious and unsanitary housing, often located on the outskirts of large cities, where the poorest people live. The inhabitants rarely have access to basic sanitary infrastructures such as sewer systems, waterworks and electricity.

Smuggling is the act of illegally transporting goods or people from one country to another.

Social solidarity refers to the bond of mutual support and cooperation that exists between members of the same society.

Speculation is the act of making financial transactions by trying to predict prices in order to profit from market fluctuations. This can involve buying stocks when prices are low and selling them when prices are high to make a large profit.

The stock exchange is where securities (stocks and bonds) are bought and sold by investors.

Each stock exchange has a stock market index that provides its return on investment (performance) in relation to other stock exchanges.

Stocks are ownership titles that represent a portion of a company’s capital.

The term supranational refers to an organization that is positioned above the governments of each state.The European Parliament is an example of a supranational institution, since it has greater authority than the political institutions of each European Union member state.

Sustainable development is a concept that seeks development that respects the environment, the population and the economy so as not to compromise the needs of future generations.

Termination of employment is when an employer fires an employee. This can be for a number of reasons.

Terrorism refers to all acts of violence and intimidation committed by a political or religious group. The purpose is often to create a sense of insecurity or terror to put pressure on a state, make demands or draw public attention to a situation.

Third-world is a term used to refer to developing countries.

Undocumented migrants are people living illegally in a foreign country without identity documents (ID) or residence permits.

Unemployment refers to a period of time when a person is without work, but is able to work and is actively seeking employment.

The unemployment rate is the percentage of the population that is not working and is actively seeking work.

Urban planning is the development and organization of all or part of a city by the public authorities. It includes laws, projects and long-term planning.

Urbanization is when a greater number of people live in cities, creating a larger urban area. This process is directly linked to industrialization. Cities offer more jobs and other attractions such as cinemas, shops and theatres.

The urbanization rate is represented by the number of people living in cities compared to the total population.

For example: An urbanization rate of 45% in a country would mean that 45% of people live in cities.

A war crime is a violation of the laws of war committed against civilians or adversaries. 
Looting, destruction, rape, execution of civilians or hostages and forced labour are examples of war crimes and are considered serious breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

A welfare state refers to a state that actively intervenes in the economic and social sectors to promote the development of society and the equitable redistribution of collective wealth.

Working life refers to the time in a person’s life when they are on the job market and part of the labour force.