Global Politics

1. What makes Global Politics distinct?

A Global Politics EE must:

• be rooted in political concepts, for example power, legitimacy, sovereignty, human rights, development or justice

• analyse real political processes, actors, institutions or interactions

• use carefully selected case studies

• evaluate differing perspectives or interpretations

• show understanding of global, regional or local political contexts

• build an argument that answers a clearly defined research question

Your essay should feel unmistakably political, not sociological, historical or economic.

2. What counts as a suitable Global Politics topic?

A strong topic:

• focuses on a specific political issue, conflict, policy or debate

• allows for meaningful comparison or conceptual exploration

• uses real examples from credible sources

• is narrow enough for depth

• allows you to apply at least one major political concept

Examples of suitable topic types

• analysis of a human rights issue using relevant frameworks

• evaluation of political legitimacy or authority in a specific context

• study of a social movement and its relationship with power

• impact of globalisation on a political actor or community

• examination of sovereignty in contested territories

• analysis of media framing in political debates

• assessment of the effectiveness of international organisations

Examples of unsuitable topics

• personal opinions about global politics

• broad discussions of world issues without focus

• topics more suited to History or Economics

• essays that lack political concepts

• purely descriptive accounts of events

• topics with no clear actors, contexts or case studies

Global Politics requires conceptual framing, not general commentary.

3. Using evidence in a Global Politics EE

Evidence should come from:

• academic texts and journals

• policy documents

• reports from credible organisations (for example UN, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, OECD)

• political speeches, interviews or statements

• media sources from multiple perspectives

• case studies and contextual data

Avoid:

opinion only pieces

unverified online sources

overly partisan material used uncritically

relying on a single perspective

superficial or generic summaries

A strong essay triangulates evidence and acknowledges perspectives.

4. Concepts and theories in Global Politics

Your essay should use at least one core concept and may include:

• power and legitimacy

• sovereignty and authority

• human rights frameworks

• justice and equality

• globalisation and interconnectedness

• peace and conflict theories

• development models

• political ideology

Concepts must be used accurately and integrated throughout the argument, not added in as afterthoughts.

5. Research methods appropriate for Global Politics

Depending on your question, you may use:

• case study analysis

• comparative investigations

• discourse and media analysis

• policy or treaty analysis

• qualitative analysis of speeches or statements

• evaluation of NGO or IGO reports

• triangulation of sources

• analysis of public opinion within context (with caution)

Methods should help answer the research question and must be applied critically.

6. Expectations for analysis

Analysis in Global Politics should:

• explain political relationships, processes and dynamics

• interpret evidence in relation to core concepts

• compare actors, policies or cases where relevant

• explain causation, influence or impact

• identify tensions, contradictions or trade offs

• remain tightly focused on your conceptual framing

Your argument should show how politics operates in practice, not simply recount events.

7. Expectations for evaluation

Evaluation may include:

• differing political perspectives

• ideological biases in sources

• limitations or weaknesses in evidence

• contested interpretations of an event

• questioning the effectiveness of institutions or policies

• implications for actors or communities

• reflection on scale (local versus global)

Evaluation must appear throughout, not only in the conclusion.

8. Common pitfalls in Global Politics EEs

Avoid:

• topics that drift into sociology, history or ethics without political framing

• essays dominated by description rather than analysis

• relying on weak or biased sources

• personal or moral arguments instead of conceptual ones

• unfocused questions that attempt to cover the entire world

• case studies with no depth or context

• failing to evaluate perspectives

• applying concepts inaccurately

These are common reasons for lower marks.

9. Model research questions

Examples of strong Global Politics EE questions:

1. To what extent does media framing influence public support for climate policy in Sweden?

2. How effectively has the International Criminal Court exercised its mandate in cases involving Kenya between 2010 and 2015?

3. To what extent does Chinese investment in Kenya challenge traditional notions of sovereignty?

4. How far has youth activism influenced policy change on environmental issues in Germany since 2018?

5. To what extent does the Kurdish struggle for independence illustrate the limits of state sovereignty?

Each question is specific, concept driven and researchable.