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Assessment details for the subject are not included: please refer to the assessment criteria in the Extended Essay guide.
Notes 1. This document should be read in conjunction with the School Based Syllabus (SBS) section of the Handbook of procedures for the Diploma Programme. 2. As a school-based syllabus (SBS) subject, World Politics and International Relations may only be offered by schools authorized to do so by the IB before the commencement of teaching. 3. An SBS may not be combined within the same Diploma with a pilot subject or another SBS. 4. Any queries arising from this document should be directed in the first instance to hexagoncoreenqs@ibo.org.
May 2009 syllabus Syllabus revised October 2009 For first examinations in May 2011
CONTENTS
NATURE OF THE SUBJECT AIMS OBJECTIVES SYLLABUS OUTLINE SYLLABUS DETAILS - Section I - Section II - Section III - Section IV - Section V
page 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
GROUP 3 AIMS
The aims of all subjects in group 3, individuals and societies, are to:
1.
encourage the systematic and critical study of: human experience and behaviour; physical, political, economic and social environments; the history and development of social and cultural institutions develop in the student the capacity to identify, to analyse critically and to evaluate theories, concepts and arguments about the nature and activities of the individual and society enable the student to collect, describe, analyse and interpret complex data and source material and to test hypotheses develop an awareness in the student that human attitudes and beliefs are widely diverse and that the study of society requires an appreciation of such diversity enable the student to recognize that the knowledge and methodologies of the subjects in group 3 are contestable and that their study requires the acceptance of uncertainty.
2.
3. 4. 5.
IB Diploma Programme guide: SBS World Politics and International Relations, 2009 (extract for extended essay use)
OBJECTIVES
Having followed the school-based syllabus World Politics and International Relations standard level programme, students will be expected to: 1. have knowledge and understanding of international relations, concepts and theories; 2. analyse policy decisions and information through the use of international relations, concepts and theories; 3. evaluate policy choices from different international relations theories; 4. apply international relations theory to a range of policy choices involved in the causes, consequences and possible solutions to persistent, contemporary and emerging global issues, such as world and regional integration and governance, human rights and international law, and conflict, peace and reconstruction.
IB Diploma Programme guide: SBS World Politics and International Relations, 2009 (extract for extended essay use)
SYLLABUS OUTLINE
The IB recommends 150 hours of teaching contact time over two years for a standard level syllabus. The major areas to be covered and approximate course time allocations are: Section I - The underlying principles of modern world order and power (30 Hours) Section II - World and regional integration and governance (30 hours) Section III - Human rights and international law (30 hours) Section IV - Conflict, peace and reconstruction (30 hours) Section V - Selected contemporary geopolitical issues (30 hours) The five sections have been designed to require approximately the same amount of teaching time. However, teaching of section V, selected contemporary geopolitical issues, is integrated into the whole content of the course.
IB Diploma Programme guide: SBS World Politics and International Relations, 2009 (extract for extended essay use)
SYLLABUS DETAILS
SECTION 1 The Underlying Principles of Modern World Order and Power
a. The Historical Context of International Relations (IR) - Definitions of Democracy (Direct, Representative, Liberal, Ancient City States, Lincoln) - An Outline definition of International Relations (IR) b. The Creation of the Nation-State and the development of IR - The Treaty of Westphalia as the basis of the creation of nation-states - Imperialism and Colonial Enterprise as driving forces of IR c. Major Conflict as an element of IR - The First World War in the context of multi-polar forces causing conflict - The Second World War in the context of multi-polar failure to prevent further conflict - The Cold War in the context of bi-polarity in IR - The Post Cold War era in the context of uni-polarity in IR d. Nationalism and Sovereignty - Nations and nation-states : definitions and analysis - Analysis of Nationalism with definition and characteristics - Analysis of Sovereignty with definition and features - Definition, features and examples of Microstates - Definition, features and examples of Stateless Nations e. Principles and Theories of International Relations - Analysis of Idealism/Liberalism with definition and features - Analysis of Realism with definition and features - Analysis of Marxism and Maoism with definitions and features.
IB Diploma Programme guide: SBS World Politics and International Relations, 2009 (extract for extended essay use)
b. Power and the Exercise of Power - Analysis of the definitions of power - Analysis of Authority and Legitimacy - The Concept of Universal Authority versus an Emerging World System c. The Balance of Power - Multipolarity - Bipolarity - Unipolarity d. Globalisation and Interdependence - Analysis of the development and scale of globalisation - The effects of globalisation - The growth and effects of technology - Analysis of the growth of economic interdependence e. Evolving World Governance - Analysis of the growth of Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) - Analysis of the development and role of The United Nations - Analysis of the growth of Regional IGOs : Choose ANY ONE out of the EU, ASEAN, NAFTA and Mercosur - Analysis of the development of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) using any appropriate examples.
IB Diploma Programme guide: SBS World Politics and International Relations, 2009 (extract for extended essay use)
IB Diploma Programme guide: SBS World Politics and International Relations, 2009 (extract for extended essay use)
IB Diploma Programme guide: SBS World Politics and International Relations, 2009 (extract for extended essay use)
Section IV: Conflict, Peace and Resolution The development of war The strategy and weaponry of warfare National and international security Terrorism, non-state actors and civil war Peace and reconstruction.
The emphasis here is on the political developments connected with these issues and their impact on international relations, rather than on a historical outline.
IB Diploma Programme guide: SBS World Politics and International Relations, 2009 (extract for extended essay use)