IB Global Politics/Core topics

Understanding power and global politics IB Global Politics/Outline Understanding power and global politics yes Introduction Before anything, you must know that Global Politics and global politics are two different things. The capitalized term is the academic subject itself, in which we want to understand politics, and the uncapitalized term is the field, made up of the relations between political entities, that you are studying through the subject. Now, this is the real start of the syllabus. Global Politics looks at how we humans have organized our world. Of course, politics is nowhere near being the only way we have done so, so it is highly dependent on many other systems and frameworks for its significance. Therefore, to study Global Politics, you will also need certain knowledge of and skills from other subjects to analyze the issues in this one, although common sense can be assumed. In the core topics, we will focus on building up the basics instead of diving deep into individual issues, because you will need an understanding of key concepts and topics to apply, expound on, and create links with the thematic studies.(wip) The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Steve Biko People around us shape our understanding of global politics, including those close to and removed from us. Many different political actors exercise, or at least claim to exercise, power over us. As they justify or legitimize their positions, we can and need to critically consider how much power we actually give to the systems and political actors around us. Understanding power and global politics introduces Global Politics, in which we will consider actors and stakeholders, structures, how systems operate, and the acquisition, use, and challenges to the four key concepts, while looking at real-world examples along the way to understand how complex global governance is. Reflective questions To what extent do state and non-state actors interact? How do interstate relations work and what relevant laws are there? Which types of power are expressed and how? Why is state sovereignty changing in different contexts? Can the legitimacy of state and non-state actors be criticized? What is the prevalence of competition over cooperation in global politics? Are there inevitable biases and shortcomings in theoretical perspectives? Glossary Global politics Institutions Interdependence Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) Legitimacy Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Non-state actors (NSAs) Norms Power Sovereignty States Theory/Theorization Notes Category:IB Global Politics