Terms and Concepts in Diplomacy Quiz

Answer: Something owned in common

Res Communis refers to something owned in common, like the High Seas. Bellum Justum refers to a "just war" which is a concept in international relations actually support by Thomas Aquinas. A Congressional Committee or military strategy have nothing to do with the answer.

Answer: accession

Accession allows states to join already existing treaty regimes such as NATO or the EU. Posse Comitatus greatly limits the military from playing a law enforcement role in the United States. This was passed in 1878 in the wake of the reconstruction of the southern states following the Civil war. Abrogation is to unilaterally terminate the terms of an agreement.

The Tobar Doctrine states that illegal regimes such as those gaining power through a coup d'etat and not based upon freely elected representatives should not gain recognition in the international community.

Answer: Thalweg

Thalweg means literally valley way. An example would be the Rio Grande separating the U.S. and Mexican border. Water line and ship border have no particular significance. Kokyo is the Japanese word for border.

Answer: Providing good offices

"Good offices" are regarded as an extra-legal technique. Sanctuary suggests safety for an endangered party. Government recognition means extending diplomatic ties. State relief means any kind of aid from the government.

Answer: False

They are known as buffer states and exist in common international diplomacy. Belgium, for example, was created in 1831 was the classic buffer for European continental powers that could challenge the United Kingdom.

Answer: A Littoral power

The Rimland refers to a belt of states that surround the heartland. It is a theory put forth by Nicholas Sprykman "who controls the rimland, controls Eurasia, who controls Eurasia controls the destiny of the world." Heartland is a theory by Sir Halford MacKinder and is supposed to be made up of Russia and part of China. Peninsula is simply a land area with water on three sides.

Answer: Retorsion

Examples of retorsion would be like erecting trade barriers or sudden changes in immigration law that might affect other states. Detente means understanding such as the Soviet-American detente that was initiated during the Nixon Administration. Vertrag is the German word for treaty. Sponsion refers to when a local military commander exceeds his authority with respect to surrendering. All agreements concerning capitulation must have approval at the highest levels in order to have standing in international law.

Answer: Treaties are by their very nature binding.

Pacta Sunt Servanda is assumed to be a basis of international law. It is clearly not a declaration of war and has nothing to do with creating international organizations although conceivably it could although Pacta Servanda normally is viewed in a bilateral context.

The Calvo Clause in a contract signed by non-nationals in a country requiring them to use local courts in disputes as opposed to seeking protection from their home government.

Answer: Letters Rogatory

These requests are normally honored. Letters of Marque allows a private vessel to act in the service of a belligerent state in time of war as a privateer. The Drago Doctrine says that a state cannot legally use force to collect debt from another state. Letters of Credence authorizes a diplomatic representative to act on behalf of his/her country.

Answer: Sphere of Influence

An example of a sphere of influence would be the Soviet Union and the eastern bloc between 1945 and the fall of the USSR. Also during that time period western Europe and Japan can be seen as under a U.S. sphere of influence. Accretion is when territory is altered due to the action of water such as building up of land areas from sea or river deposits. Conquering refers to the outright military subjugation of one state over another.

A sanction is applied to a state that violates international law.

But the term has also come to mean when one state takes action against another state short of violent confrontation.