Diplomacy & Politics Glossary
Every term you need — from Model UN procedure to international law, economics, and political theory. Clear definitions, real examples, and cross-linked concepts.
2302 terms across 11 categories
Showing 74 terms matching your filters
A
5 termsAd Hominem
An ad hominem attack targets a person’s character instead of addressing their argument.
Ad Populum Fallacy
A logical fallacy that argues a claim is true because many people believe it.
Affirmative Case
The structured set of arguments presented by the affirmative team to support the resolution in policy debate.
Alternative Disadvantage
An argument that presents a different disadvantage to the same plan or counterplan, offering a separate negative impact.
Authority Fallacy
Accepting a claim as true solely because an authority figure endorses it, without evaluating the evidence.
B
5 termsBlock Argument
A comprehensive argument that covers multiple points, often used to preemptively respond to opponent claims.
Bridging
A technique to connect an argument from one context or framework to another, maintaining its relevance across different debates.
Bridging Argument
A claim that connects two seemingly opposing arguments to show compatibility or to mitigate conflict.
Burden of Proof
The obligation a debater has to provide sufficient evidence to support their claim or argument in the debate round.
Burden of Rejoinder
The obligation of a team to respond and refute opposing arguments to maintain their position in the debate.
C
9 termsCard Shell
The structured format of a piece of evidence including the tag, citation, and body in debate speeches.
Case Turn
An argument that directly reverses the opponent’s case by showing their claims actually support your position.
Causal Fallacy
A causal fallacy wrongly assumes one event causes another without sufficient evidence.
Cherry Picking
Selecting only evidence that supports a particular conclusion while ignoring evidence that contradicts it.
Circular Reasoning
An argument where the conclusion is included in the premise, offering no actual evidence.
Claim
A claim is a statement that asserts a debater's position or argument in a round.
Clash
Direct engagement between opposing arguments where debaters confront and respond to each other’s points.
Constructive Speech
The initial speeches in a debate round where teams build their case and present their main arguments for the first time.
Contention
A main point or argument presented by a debater to support their overall case or position.
D
7 termsDisadvantage
An argument that a proposed plan will cause negative consequences or harms that outweigh its benefits.
Disadvantage Link
The disadvantage link explains how the affirmative plan causes the negative’s disadvantage scenario to occur.
Double Extension
A strategy where a debater extends two arguments from previous speeches to maintain their relevance and challenge the opponent’s case.
Double Negative
A negative team strategy where both speakers present separate blocks of arguments instead of splitting the negative block.
Double Turn
A strategic argument where a debater turns an opponent's claim and its impact to support their own case simultaneously.
Drop
An argument or contention that is not addressed by the opposing team, often considered conceded or uncontested.
Drop Argument
An argument that is not responded to by the opposing team, effectively conceding it for the round.
E
2 termsF
5 termsFallacy
A fallacy is a flaw in reasoning that weakens an argument's validity or reliability.
Fallacy of Relevance
An error in reasoning where an argument relies on irrelevant information to support a conclusion.
False Cause Fallacy
Assuming that because one event follows another, the first caused the second without sufficient evidence.
False Dichotomy
A logical fallacy that presents two options as the only possibilities when others exist.
Fiat Power
The assumed authority to implement a plan or policy for the sake of argument without concern for political feasibility.
H
1 termI
5 termsImpact
An impact explains the significance or consequence of an argument within the context of the debate round.
Impact Calculus
A method of comparing impacts by weighing their magnitude, probability, and timeframe to prioritize arguments.
Impact Calculus Weighing
The process of comparing magnitude, probability, and timeframe to evaluate which impact is more significant.
Impacts Analysis
The process of evaluating and explaining the significance and magnitude of an argument's consequences.
Implication
A logical consequence or effect that follows from an argument or claim, demonstrating its significance in the debate context.
K
6 termsKritik
A kritik critiques underlying assumptions or ideologies in the opponent's arguments rather than their explicit claims.
Kritik Alternative
A plan or theory proposed by the negative team to replace or avoid the problematic assumptions criticized in a kritik.
Kritik Link
The connection or assumption that the affirmative team’s arguments have that the kritik challenges or critiques.
Kritik Link Argument
A kritik link argument demonstrates the connection between the opponent’s argument and a problematic assumption targeted by the kritik.
Kritikal Link
The connection between the opposing argument and the kritik’s philosophical critique demonstrating how the argument perpetuates harm.
Kritikal Link Argument
A specific claim within a kritik that connects the opponent's argument to a harmful assumption or ideology.
L
2 termsN
2 termsNegative Constructive
The speech where the negative team presents their initial arguments, including disadvantages, counterplans, or kritiks.
Non-Unique Argument
An argument claiming that the negative impact or disadvantage is already occurring or inevitable regardless of the affirmative plan.
O
3 termsOff-Case
Arguments that do not directly respond to the opponent's case but attack other parts of their position like disadvantages or theory.
Off-Case Argument
An argument introduced by the negative that does not directly respond to the affirmative case but attacks the resolution or presents alternative perspectives.
Overgeneralization
Drawing a broad conclusion from limited or insufficient evidence.
P
5 termsPermutation Theory
A theory argument that tests whether the affirmative and counterplan can coexist without contradiction.
Preemption
Arguing against an opponent's potential arguments before they are presented to reduce their impact.
Preemptive Argument
An argument introduced early in the round to anticipate and neutralize potential attacks from the opposing team.
Preemptive Argumentation
Arguments made early in the debate round to anticipate and counter the opponent’s expected points.
Procedural Argument
An argument that challenges the legitimacy of an opponent’s argument or action based on debate rules and norms.
R
3 termsRebuttal
A rebuttal is a speech or argument that directly challenges and refutes the opponent's claims.
Rebuttal Speech
A speech focused on refuting opponent arguments and reinforcing one’s own case, typically shorter and more concise.
Red Herring
Introducing irrelevant information to distract from the main issue in an argument or discussion.
S
2 termsT
6 termsTheory Debate
A debate focused on procedural arguments about rules, fairness, or judge standards rather than substantive issues.
Theory Shell
A structured argument that outlines a procedural or theoretical claim with standards and voting issues.
Tone Policing
Criticizing the emotion or delivery of a message rather than its content to undermine the speaker’s argument.
Turn
An argument that reverses the meaning or impact of an opponent’s claim, showing it actually supports your position.
Turnaround
An argument that reverses an opponent's claim or impact to become an advantage for your side.
Turnaround Argument
An argument that reverses the opponent's claim to benefit one’s own side instead of merely negating it.