Treatment of the topic

EEs in global politics will often be interdisciplinary in terms of subject matter and research approach and may use both primary and secondary sources.

Essays that rely on secondary sources only are perfectly valid, but students must engage critically with the sources of information that they use.

The topic and chosen level(s) of analysis will suggest the appropriate theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches.

Various approaches to the research are possible, such as:

• case studies
• comparative studies
• analyses of discourse.

Relevant techniques for gathering and interpreting evidence include:

• interviews
• literature or media reviews
• quantitative data analysis.

Students may use journalistic or visual material, interviews or data from popular and social media, but their essay should not be based solely on such sources.

Theoretical underpinning

Students must show that they have grounding in theories and methods of global politics and are able to use these appropriately and effectively in order to develop a reasoned argument.

The essay is a formal research essay that examines contemporary political issues, and may do so from an angle previously unfamiliar to the student. For example:

• Students interested in a more theoretical approach to political issues can examine the key concepts of global politics in a way that is more anchored in academic debates.
• Students interested in statistics that underpin decision-making and perceptions in global politics can undertake more comprehensive data analysis.

Examples of topics, research questions and suggested approaches

Once students have identified their topic and written their research question, they can decide how to research their answer. They may find it helpful to write a statement outlining their broad approach. These examples are for guidance only.

Topic	Influence of “big data” on election campaign tactics: the case of the Obama 2012 campaign
Research question	To what extent should we be worried about the use of “big data” in election campaigns? The case of the Obama 2012 campaign.
Approach	Literature review of the ways in which “big data” on voter opinions and behaviours delivers different information to political campaigners than traditional pre-election voter surveys. Analysis of the differences in how the Obama 2008 and 2012 campaigns approached voters and which of these could be attributable to understanding more about individual voters in the 2012 campaign, including an interview with a key campaign manager. Evaluation of the ethical implications of the use of “big data” tactics in light of different political conceptions of democracy and different political ideologies about individual freedom.

Topic	A comparative study of migration from rural areas into cities in Australia and Indonesia
Research question	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.
Approach	Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the extent and local and global reasons behind rural-to-urban migration in Australia and Indonesia. Analysis of the political rhetoric used in the two countries to argue for the necessity (or otherwise) and benefits (or drawbacks) of this form of migration. Analysis of the government policies applied in the two countries that have as their intention to encourage this form of migration.

Topic	Evolution in the Russia–China relationship during and after the 2014–15 Ukraine crisis
Research question	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?
Approach	Literature review on the ways in which variants of the theory of realism have been used to explain big powers’ strategies and moves in post-Cold War international politics. Brief historical review of the Russia–China relationship in the post-Cold War era. Analysis of Russian, Chinese and Western media reporting on the evolution in the Russia–China relationship during and after the 2014–15 Ukraine crisis. Evaluation of these developments against realist theories of international politics.

An important note on “double-dipping”

Students must ensure that their EE does not overlap significantly with any other work they are submitting for the Diploma Programme. For example, the engagement activity and higher level extension tasks might give students ideas and inspiration for their EE but they must not examine the same political issue.

The global politics EE and IA

In particular, an EE in global politics is not an extension of the internal assessment tasks—the engagement activity (SL and HL students) and the HL extension (HL students only)—for the subject. Students must ensure that they understand the differences between the two.

• The engagement activity task is based primarily on experiential learning, whereas the EE in global politics is a formal research essay relying primarily on secondary sources.
• Although the HL extension task and the EE in global politics are both based primarily on secondary sources, the HL extension task is directed towards an oral end product, whereas the EE in global politics culminates in a comprehensive written task.

Supervisors play an important role here in guiding students on these distinctions. Students risk their diploma if academic misconduct is found.