Key Terms: Global Governance (AQA A Level Geography): Revision Note

Introduction to global governance - key terms

Global governance – The collective management of global issues (e.g. climate change, terrorism, conflict) through cooperation between nations and institutions.

Institution – A formal organisation (e.g. UN, World Bank, WTO) that facilitates discussion, decision-making, and enforcement of international rules.

International agreement – A legally binding treaty between countries to tackle global issues, such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Law – Formal, legally enforceable rules that govern international behaviour and relationships between states.

Norm – A shared value or expectation of behaviour (e.g. human rights), not legally binding but influential in international relations.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – An agreement defining nations’ rights and responsibilities in the use of oceans and marine resources.

Values – Principles and standards considered important by societies, often guiding norms and behaviour on the global stage.

World Bank – An international institution that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries.

World Trade Organization (WTO) – An international body that regulates trade and aims to promote free and fair global commerce.

Issues of global governance - key terms

Agencies of governance – Organisations like the UN, WHO, IMF, and WTO that shape rules, implement policies, and monitor global cooperation.

Conditional loans – Financial assistance provided by institutions like the IMF or World Bank that requires recipient countries to follow specific economic reforms.

Development goals (SDGs) – The 17 Sustainable Development Goals introduced by the UN in 2015 to tackle poverty, inequality, and environmental issues.

G7 – A group of seven of the world’s wealthiest democracies that meet to discuss and influence global economic policies.

IMF (International Monetary Fund) – An institution that monitors the global economy and provides financial support to countries in crisis, often with conditions.

Inequality – A challenge in global governance, where benefits and decision-making are often skewed in favour of wealthier nations.

Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) – An organisation formed by multiple sovereign states to work together on international issues (e.g. UN, EU, WTO).

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – Eight goals set by the UN in 2000 to improve living standards, later replaced by the SDGs in 2015.

Paris Agreement – A global treaty adopted under the UN to limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Pooling sovereignty – When countries agree to share decision-making powers with international institutions for the benefit of all (e.g. within the EU).

Sovereignty – The authority of a country to govern itself, make its own laws, and control its own borders.

United Nations (UN) – A global IGO founded in 1945 with 193 member states, aiming to promote peace, cooperation, and development.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) – The UN’s agency working in over 170 countries to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development.

Veto power – The ability of permanent UN Security Council members (e.g. Russia, China, USA) to block any resolution, limiting the effectiveness of global decisions.

WHO (World Health Organization) – A UN agency responsible for global health, disease monitoring, and emergency responses (e.g. during the Zika virus outbreak).