Qualification aims and objectives

Global Politics is a course for students who want to understand more about how the world they live in works, what makes it change, or prevents it from changing. The course draws on a variety of disciplinary traditions in the study of politics and international relations, and more broadly in the social sciences and humanities. Students build their knowledge and understanding of the local, national, international and global dimensions of political activity and processes by critically engaging with contemporary political issues and challenges. 

The aims of the course are to enable students to:

• Explore and evaluate power in contemporary global politics
• Examine how state and non-state actors operate and interact within political systems
• Investigate and analyse contemporary political issues and challenges from multiple perspectives
• Develop a lifelong commitment to active global citizenship through collaboration and agency

Course outline

Core

Understanding power and global politics

Thematic studies

• Rights and justice
• Development and sustainability
• Peace and conflict

Course Assessment

• Paper one (1 h 15 min): 20%. Source-based questions that address topics from the global politics core in an integrated way.
• Paper two (1h 30 min): 30%. Extended response questions based on prescribed content from the thematic studies.
• Paper three (1h 30m) 30%. Stimulus-based questions related to current global political challenges.
• Internal assessment. 20%. Engagement Project. A written report on a political issue explored through engagement and research.

Future courses & possible careers

• Journalism
• Media
• Civil Service
• Local Government
• International Relations
• Business Researchers