Federalism: A form of government whereby political power is divided between a central or national authority and smaller, locally autonomous units such as provinces or states. (Microsoft Corporation 1997-1999: http://encarta.msn.com/)
Federation: A state made up of a number of subdivisions that share power with the central government. Each of the smaller units retains control of many aspects of its own affairs but grants to the larger political unit the power to conduct foreign policy. The relationship between the states and the central, or federal government, is laid down in a constitution, which cannot be changed without the consent of a specified number of states (in the US, two-thirds). (Fast Times 1999: http://www.fast-times.com/political.html)
Feud: Long-continued state of hostility between two social groups, such as tribes, clans, or families, and usually characterized by acts of violence. A feud is generally motivated by an initial episode involving an insult or injury that must be avenged. The long-standing and bloody feud that broke out in the late nineteenth century between the Hatfield and McCoy families of Kentucky and West Virginia is famous in American history and folklore. (Microsoft Corporation 1997-1999: http://encarta.msn.com/)
· Extremely food insecure: Populations that have depleted their asset base to such a degree that without immediate outside assistance they will face famine. This requires immediate food and other humanitarian assistance and long-term rehabilitation efforts designed to replenish depleted assets: livestock, tools, seeds, and basic necessities of life as well as some income.
· Highly food insecure: Populations that cannot meet their food needs during the current year without reducing consumption or drawing down assets to such a degree that they compromise their future food security. This requires immediate nutritional supplementation for vulnerable groups (usually infants, small children, and pregnant or lactating mothers), including targeted food programs, other forms of income supplementation, or in some cases targeted transfer “safety net” programs.
· Moderately food insecure: Populations that can meet their food needs for the current year, but only by drawing down savings or relying heavily on secondary income activities, or transfers from external family members. Should market access or income/transfers from secondary sources become compromised, these populations might become highly food insecure in the coming year. No interventions are required but vigilant monitoring of such situations is necessary. Even modest downturns in the fortunes of populations in this category can quickly deplete meager resources and stocks and cause them to descend into the highly food insecure category.
· Relatively food secure: Populations that can meet their food needs in the current year without altering normal income activities or depleting savings. Even here, however, monitoring is important. Insect infestations, washouts of transportation links, ethnic conflicts and a host of other factors can quickly turn seemingly food secure situations into food insecure situations. (Checchi and Company and Louis Berger, International, 1998: 49)
Food security: Condition of all people at all times with both physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs for a productive and healthy life. (USAID 1992; cited by TIID, 1997)
Foreign internal defense: Participation by civilian and military agencies of a government in any action program taken by another government to free and protect its society from subversion, lawlessness, and insurgency. Also called FID. (US DOD: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/)
Foreign or external influence: Political, diplomatic, economic, or military influence on a conflict from actors in or outside countries.
Freedom of movement: The freedom of citizens to move in, around and from their country.
Frozen democracy: Restricted, elite-dominated democracies that are unwilling to carry out substantive reforms. (Karl, cited by Sørensen 1993: 158)