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OGC Extended Essay: Global Politics

 Global Politics: Overview 

An extended essay (EE) in global politics gives students an opportunity to undertake an in-depth analysis of a significant, contemporary global political issue.

Students should choose a topic that will allow them to demonstrate their:
• knowledge
• research skills
• critical thinking skills.


The outcome should be a substantial, coherent and structured essay that utilizes relevant key concepts, theoretical foundations and approaches to global politics to effectively answer a specific research question.

Global politics is an interdisciplinary subject, reflecting the complex nature of many contemporary political issues. Nonetheless, it has its own theoretical and conceptual frames, terminology, methods and literature. It is essential for students undertaking an EE in global politics to have knowledge and understanding of these.

 

Requirements for a Global Politics EE

The Subject-Specific Guidance page for your chosen subject is THE KEY to ensuring your paper meets the requirements. Print, highlight, and annotate this page and pin it above your desk!

The Command Terms are the key terms and phrases used in examination questions. Use these in your essay to indicate a strong background in your subject

The Subject Reports give an overview of what EXAMINERS have said about makes a successful paper in the subject. It's smart to read these over to know what the examiners are looking for.

Sample Research Questions

Review the questions below

  • Which ones will be most successful?
  • What ideas do the questions spark for you?

 

Sample Questions in Global Politics

Broad Topic: How media portrayals can differ from government information

  • How did the Hong Kong protests of late 2014 portrayed in the official media in Singapore contrast with the reporting undertaken by NGOs X, Y and Z active in Singapore? (Example from the GP Guide).

Broad Topic: How the success of a political party in one country can influence outcomes in another country.

  • What was the influence of the election success of Syriza in Greece on the campaign and outcomes of the 2015 parliamentary election in Spain? (Example from the GP Guide).

Broad Topic: How particular groups or individuals have struggled for political power.

  • To what extent did Mexican migrants help achieve a political voice in county X in Arizona? (Example from the GP Guide).

Broad TopicL Political trends in a particular country.

  • To what extent should we be worried about the use of “big data” in election campaigns? The case of the Obama 2012 campaign. (Example from the GP Guide).

Broad Topic: A comparison of global political trends have had different effects in two countries.

  • To what extent are the ideological and practical forces that drive urbanization global instead of nation-specific? A comparison of the political rhetoric, government policies and impact of global forces in driving migration from rural areas into cities in Australia and Indonesia. (Example from the GP Guide).

Broad Topic: How a single crisis has affected political relations between two countries.

  • To what extent is the evolution in the Russia–China relationship during and after the 2014– 15 Ukraine crisis evidence that a realist view on international politics still has applicability?  (Example from the GP Guide).

Past Papers: Why Read Them?

  • See common structures, methodologies, use of command terms and other subject-specific vocabulary
  • Notice the difference between successful papers AND papers that were less successful
  • Read the examiner comments on scored papers and their reflections to note what worked and what didn't

Global Politics