Unit 4, Topic D: Global Political Issues
Focus:
Theme
Approac
hes to
Global
Politics
Sovere
ignty,
Theori
es,
Globali
sation
This topic examines key issues in recent
global politics and how these issues are
dealt with at a global level.
Content explanation
Jan 2010 June 2010
Jan 2011
June 2011
Jan 2012
June 2012
Jan 2013
June 2013

A Knowledge of the
divisions between realism
and idealism and the ideas
of an anarchic international
system and a society of
states.
A knowledge of the
processes of globalisation
and its impact on the states
system.
A knowledge of the factors
driving globalisation
(economic, cultural,
political) and an awareness
of debates about the
impact of globalisation, and
particularly its implications
for the nation state, and
debates about the benefits
and drawbacks of
globalisation
Why do
realists
believe
that global
politics is
characteris
ed by
conflict?
(15
marks)
Distinguish
between economic
globalisation and
political
globalisation. (15
marks)
Why do liberals believe
that global politics tends
towards cooperation
rather than conflict? (15
marks)
Are war and
international
conflict inevitable
features of global
politics? (45
Marks)
To what extent is
globalisation simply
‘Americanisation in
disguise’? (45 marks)
Define state
sovereignty,
and explain its
implications for
international
politics. (15
Marks)
How do realists
explain the
tendency
within the
international
system
towards war?
(15 marks)
Distinguish
between
external
sovereignty
(state
sovereignty)
and internal
sovereignty.
(15 marks)
What are the
key areas of
disagreement
between
realism and
liberalism? (15
marks)
Explain the
key reasons
why state
sovereignty
may be
considered an
outdated
concept. (15
marks)
Developments in the post
1989 period.
A knowledge of the
changing nature of world
order in the 20th and 21st
centuries, and an ability to
discuss the effects of
events such as the collapse
of communism on the
nature of global order,
including an awareness of
the implications of
conditions such as
bipolarity, unipolarity and
multipolarity.
A knowledge of the
differing significance of
states in global affairs, of
the importance of power
(both hard and soft) and
why, for instance, some
states are classified as
great powers or
superpowers, or as
‘emerging powers.’
What is
soft power
and why
has it
become
more
important
in recent
years? (15
Marks)
Define hegemony,
and explain its
significance for
global order. (15
marks)
What is the balance of
power, and how
effective is it in
preventing war? (15
marks)
What are the
implications of
bipolarity for
global order?
(15 marks)
To what extent is
the global system
now multipolar?
(45 marks)
Is China a superpower?
(15 marks)
‘Military
power is now
largely
obsolete in
global
politics.’
Discuss. (45
marks)


World Power,
Order polarit
y,
nation
alism



To what
extent has
globalisati
on
reshaped
internatio
nal
politics?
(45
Marks)
What is
cultural
globalisation,
and why has it
been
criticised? (15
marks)
‘State
sovereignty
is now an
outdated
concept.’
Discuss. (45
marks)
Distinguish,
using
examples,
between ‘hard’
power and
‘soft’ power.
(15 marks)
To what
extent has
the rise of
emerging
powers
altered the
nature of
world order?
(45 marks)
Economic
globalisation
benefits the
few rather
than the
many.
Discuss. (45
marks)
Distinguish
between great
powers and
superpowers.
(15 marks)
To what
extent does
multipolarity
result in
conflict and
instability?
(45 marks)
‘Globalisation
is producing a
global
monoculture.’
Discuss. (45
marks)
Explain the
implications of
bipolarity for
peace and
international
order. (15
marks)
Does the USA
remain a
global
hegemon?
(45 marks)
To what
extent does
contempora
ry world
order tend
woards
anarchy and
chaos? (45
marks)
Explain why
the current
international
system is
considered to
be multipolar.
(15 marks)
Global Intern
Govern ational
ance organi
sations
,
intergo
vernm
entalis
m,
supran
ational
ism
Europea
n Union
and
Relgion
alism
Europe
an
Union
Region
alisatio
n




Knowledge of the origins,
development and role of
major global insitutions,
from 1945, in relation to
the key problems of
global politics.
The emphasis will be on
the role, performance
and significance of the
United Nations. Students
should also have
knowledge of other key
bodies such as NATO,
IMF, World Bank, WTO
and the G8.
Knowledge of the origins
and development of the
EEC/EC/EU, of the
general factors that have
fostered European
integration , of the major
developments through
which this has occurred,
particularly economic
and monetary union, of
the process of
enlargemnent, and
significance of the EU as
an international body.
A knowledge of the
growth of regional
integration globally, of
regionalisation
organisations outside of
Europe, and of debates
about the reasons for,
and significance of,
regionalisation. (essay
questions will not be set
on non-European
organisations).
How does
global
governanc
e differ
from world
governme
nt? (15
Marks)
Explain
the main
criticisms
that have
been made
of the
World
Trade
Organizati
on. (15
Marks)
Explain
the driving
forces
behind
regional
integration
and
cooperatio
n. (15
Marks)
To what
extent
has the
EU
establish
ed a
‘federal’
Europe?
(45
Marks)
Define the concept
of
supranationalism,
and explain why it
has been
controversial. (15
marks)
‘The UN is now
an outdated boy.’
Discuss. (45
marks)
Why has it been
difficult to develop
an effective EU
Foreign and
Security Policy? (15
marks)
What have been
the implication of
the enlargement of
the EU since 2004?
(15 Marks)
Distinguish, using
examples, between
intergovernmentalism
and supranationalism.
(15 marks)
To what extent is the
UN effective in
ensuring peace and
security? (45 marks)
‘The EU is a unique
example of regional
integration.’ Discuss (45
marks)
Describe the
relationship between
regionalism and
globalisation. (15
marks)
Why have
there been
calls for the
reform of the
UN security
Council? (15
marks)
Explain how
the role of
NATO has
changed since
the end of the
Cold War. (15
marks)
Why has the
World Bank
been criticised,
and how has it
responded to
criticism? (15
marks)
To what
extent is
global
economic
governance
effective?
(45 marks)
‘The UN
peacekeeping
has been a
history of
failure.’
Discuss. (45
Marks)
Explain the
key features of
global
governance.
(15 marks)
In what ways
is the EU an
example of
supranational
governance?
(15 marks)
Distinguish,
using
examples,
between
economic
regionalism
and political
regionalism.
(15 marks)
Explain the
key driving
forces behind
the expansion
of the EU. (15
marks)
The EU has
developed
into a major
global actor.
Discuss (45
marks)
Define
subsidiarity,
and explain its
significance for
the process of
European
integration.
(15 marks)
‘Economic
integration
within
regions
inevitably
leads to
political
integration.’
Discuss. (45
marks)
Why is global
governance so
controversial?
(15 marks)
Explain the key
purposes of the
United Nations.
(15 marks)
Assess the
main
criticisms of
the Group of
Eight (G8).
(15 marks)
‘The Bretton
Woods
system
continues to
provide
stability for
the world
economy.’
Discuss (45
marks)
In what ways
has the
enlargement of
since 2004
been
problematic for
the EU? (15
marks)
Explain the
main factors
that foster
regional
integration
and
cooperation.
(15 marks)
The EU lacks
global
significance
and influence.
Discuss. (45
marks)
To what
extent has
the EU been
a model for
regionalism
elsewhere?
(45 marks)