Rights and Freedoms: An Overview - Key Terminology

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United Nations (UN) An international organisation founded in 1945 to promote peace and to prevent the future outbreak of armed conflict around the world. Human Rights A set of basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. An international document that outlines basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled; the Declaration was adopted by the UN in 1948. Stolen Generations A term used to describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families by government officials and church missions in Australia and raised by white Australians; this practice was part of official government policy from around1909 to 1969. Colony A country or area under the full or partial political control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country. Capitalism An economic and political system under which investment in, and ownership of, the means of production (e.g. factories, farms and machinery) are privately owned by individuals or corporations and run to generate profits; as opposed to state-owned and controlled systems such as socialism and communism. Communism An economic and political system under which the means of production (e.g. factories, farms and machinery) are publicly owned (by the state) and goods are supposed to be distributed equally according to need; as opposed to privately owned and controlled systems such as capitalism. Cold War A state of political conflict and hostility that existed between the USSR (and its allies) and the USA (and its allies) from 1945 to 1990; characterised by threats, propaganda and public competition, but not resulting in direct fighting or military conflict. Propaganda Information or material that attempts to influence the behaviour or opinions of people within a society; propaganda can take many forms (e.g. posters, flyers, advertising campaigns, films) and is designed to promote a particular cause or course of action and/or damage the cause of an enemy. Space Race A situation in which rival countries compete to develop the most superior space flight capabilities; commonly used during the Cold War to refer to the competition between the USA and the USSR to be the first nation to send a mission to the moon. Domino Theory A theory put forward by US President Eisenhower that if one nation in South-East Asia adopted communism, others would follow, just like a row of dominoes topple once the first one is pushed over. Guerilla War A form of warfare in which small (and often independent) groups of fighters (known as guerrillas) take part in non-traditional fighting such as ambushes, sabotages and surprise raids, rather than large-scale battles on the open battlefield. Industrialisation The process of social and economic change by which a society is transformed from a pre-industrial state (i.e. rural communities based on farming and agriculture) to an industrial state. (i.e. urban communities based on manufacturing and industry) Mass Media A term used to describe a method of communication that reaches large numbers of people in a short time (e.g. television, newspapers, magazines, and radio). Newsreel A short documentary film commonly shown in the first half of the twentieth century; regularly shown at cinemas before feature films, newsreels contained filmed news stories and items of public interest Green Revolution A period of research and development of agricultural techniques that took place between the 1940s and 1960s, most markedly in the developing world, which saw global increases in agricultural production. Globalisation The increasing interconnection between countries, including economic, political and cultural exchange between countries all over the world.