Weekly Updates & Current Issues Resources
Weekly Updates & Current Issues Resources
This page is designed to provide teachers and students with weekly links to helpful articles, podcasts, and videos related to current issues in Global Politics and some updates to the site. We have consciously tried to limit the number of resources in each area. Quality over quantity is the aim.
Not all articles may be accessible; consult your school librarian for login access or access via school library databases.
This page also highlights the weekly updates to the site with a link to the relevant page.
April 2025: Week 3
I have added a third Paper 3 this week. You can access it Paper 3 in Practice. I will add student samples and a markscheme as part of my regular updates during the next month.
April 2025: Week 2
Clarified and reorganized instructions for the Framing Global Politics lesson.
This week, The Economist has another good development article, this time on the development differences between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
April 2025: Week 1
This week we have added another Paper 3 in the “Paper 3 in Practice” section. A markscheme and student samples to follow in due course.
If you are looking for a case on a successful development story, The Economist, published this article called, “The success of Ivory Coast is Africa’s best-kept secret: How has it managed to outshine its peers?” It was an interesting article and could be a good place for students to start when considering what development is and the role of not only economic development but also political, social, institutional and environmental development.
March 2025: Week 4
When teaching Development and Sustainability, one of the topics we often look at is the role of “GOs” or Governmental Organizations that provide international aid. With the recent shutdown of USAID, the largest national government organization that supports international aid has been shuttered. As Nicholas Kristof writes, the impacts are significant. His article is demonstrative of the significant role national foreign aid departments can play in the development process.
March 2025: Week 3
For those in need of an IB prescribed Global Politics Course Outline for the purposes of authorization, I have completed and uploaded a sample version. Of course, it will need to be adapted to suit your context, however, this outline should give you are good start.
The New York Times published an excellent article on the notion of “Zero Sum” called: Welcome to the Zero-Sum Era. Now How Do We Get Out? I have added it to the section on Realism as well.
March 2025: Week 2
It is the time of year where many Global Politics teachers introduce the Engagement Project. With that in mind, I have added a page with an Engagement Project Timeline that teachers may wish to follow. It is similar to what many colleagues have shared that they follow so may be of some help with your planning.
Is “Liberal-Realism” a contradiction in terms? Maybe not. Check out this podcast where Charles A. Kupchan, a senior fellow at CFR and a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University explores the idea.
February 2025: Week 4
This week, I added the final sample for Paper 3, which I developed. As with the last two weeks, scroll to the bottom of the "Paper 3: Sample 1" section of the Paper 3 in Practice page.
February 2025: Week 3
I have added a second sample student response for Paper 3, which I posted a few weeks ago. Scroll to the bottom of the "Paper 3: Sample 1" section of the Paper 3 in Practice page.
The New York Times "The Daily" podcast discussed "The Demise of U.S.A.I.D. and American Soft Power." The section with Stephanie Nolan (author of the heartwrenching 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa) was particularly good and relevant to our course. On Spotify, her section runs from 9m 38s to 17m 30s.
February 2025: Week 2
I have added the first of four marked student samples of the Paper 3 I posted a few weeks back. Scroll to the bottom of the "Paper 3: Sample 1" section of the Paper 3 in Practice page.
I added this excellent three minute video to the "What Are Your Politics" section. Jonathan Haidt identifies the foundational moral differences between the left and right and the role they play in balancing one another.
There are three great interviews in this edition of The Foreign Desk about the conflict between M23 (backed by Rwanda) and the DRC. It includes an interview with Michaela Wrong, author of the excellent book "Do Not Disturb."
February 2025: Week 1
A short primer from the Council on Foreign Relations on the background to the fall of Goma in the DRC to the M23 rebels backed by Rwanda.
This recent article by Nicholas Kristof looks at global population trends and what it may mean for development in Africa.
As we look for more ways to help our students consider policy recommendations, activities like this mini-simulation on economic sanctions may help them explore various alternatives.
January 2025: Week 4
This week, I added a markscheme for the Peace and Conflict Paper 1. Check out the Paper and the markscheme at the link below. A reminder that students cannot see the Papers or the markschemes, so use the Paper 1s I've created with this in mind.
Assessment
Possible Paper 1Peace and ConflictCauses of Violence and ConflictSource A: From the 2024 Positive Peace Report: Changes in Positive Peace Index Indicators between 2013 & 2022
For those with access to school newspaper databases through your libraries (or a Wall Street Journal subscription), this article argues that great power politics is back (or, as John Mearsheimer would likely argue, it never left us)!
January 2025: Week 3
This week, I added a markscheme to the Paper 3 I posted last week. Check it out at the link below.
Paper 3 in Practice
Introduction to Using Paper 3sThis section is dedicated to providing Paper 3s that teachers can use in the classroom during the two years of the programme. As this section is developed and supplemented,...
Recently, the Council of Foreign Relations shared a list of 10 elections to watch in 2025. As teachers and students consider possible cases and examples to inquire into, this list could be a helpful start.
With Israel's cabinet recently approving a peace agreement between Hamas and Israel, I thought I would share a recent Global Dispatches podcast with Tjada D'Oyen McKenna of Mercy Corps. During the first 10-15 minutes of the discussion, she highlights the challenges of getting aid into Gaza and the impact of the conflict in the region.
January 2025: Week 2
This week, I uploaded a Paper 3 that you may be interested in using in your classroom. I will add a markscheme next week, and student samples the following week.
Paper 3 in Practice
Introduction to Using Paper 3sThis section is dedicated to providing Paper 3s that teachers can use in the classroom during the two years of the programme. As this section is developed and supplemented,...
In case you missed it last week, please use the link below to access a Paper 1 that you can use in your Development and Sustainability classes. I have included a markscheme and will add student samples shortly.
Paper 1: Development and Sustainability
Paper 1: Development and SustainabilityTeachers are encouraged to use this Paper as soon as they feel they have sufficiently discussed the material needed to address the four questions. The unit does...
- The Council on Foreign Relations provided this good overview of how ten key relationships impact the Middle East and North African region.
- The CFR's annual "Ten Conflicts to Watch" in 2025 is now out.
Timothy Snyder, on CBC's Frontburner, talks about fascism and authoritarianism.
December 2024: Week 3
The Council on Foreign Relations updated three articles that you may find useful if your students are exploring the situation in Syria.
- Will Iran Become More Dangerous After Assad’s Ouster in Syria?
- After Fall of Assad Dynasty, Syria’s Risky New Moment
This article on the regional dynamics of the Middle East and North Africa will provide students with a good overview of the situation around the region.
Finally, this article by Nicholas Kristof on fistula offers insights related to gender equality, institutional and social development issues and the role NGOs can play in supporting development.
Note that there won't be a Weekly News Update next week, but I will be kicking off 2025 with a Paper 3 you may want to consider using with your students.
December 2024: Week 2
Note that there will be no weekly update during the last week of December
This week, I edited and added to the reading on IR theory and the environment. I have also added four guiding questions with suggested answers.
Economic Sustainability
Introduction to Economic SustainabilityThis topic will discuss the balance between economic growth and sustainability by considering perspectives like regrowth and regenerative development, which focus...
December 2024: Week 1
- How Ukraine uses cheap AI-guided drones to deadly effect against Russia - HL students may find this useful when exploring links to the technology Global Political Challenge and all students may appreciate this context when studying " Forms of Violent Conflict."
- Will the West betray or save anti-Putin protesters in Georgia? - plenty of links to the concept of interdependence and the role of IGOs like the EU and NATO.
With the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria, you may be interested in exploring the Frontline documentary, The Jihadist, from the "Global Politics in Action" section of the "Forms of Violent Conflict" topic in the Peace and Conflict Thematic Study. The documentary is based on an interview with the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. For a more recent interview, consider this 10 minute CNN interview.
This backgrounder video on the evolution of sovereignty was added to the " Defining Sovereignty" topic in the sovereignty section of the site.
November 2024: Week 4
- Development of world norms in rights and justice
- Global governance and international law
Multilateralism vs. Many-lateralism? Check out this YouTube short from the Council on Foreign Relations that introduces the idea.
This week, I revised the guidance for Paper 3. I divided it into two pages, one for the inquiries and one for the Paper. I edited and added to both pages, which will hopefully provide clearer guidance.
In the next month or so, I'll create a Paper 3 and share student samples. I know folks are looking for more Papers to work from, so this is a priority.
November 2024: Week 2
Note that there will be no "weekly news" update next week.
With the United States election in the books, this article from the New York Times explores several reasons why his message may have resonated with Americans.
Key Curriculum Links
- Sources of state legitimacy, including government legitimacy
Sadly, another impending famine could be used as a case. Here is a link to the Guardian article explaining the impact conflict is having on food insecurity in Myanmar.
Key Curriculum Links
- GPC of Poverty
- Contested meanings: poverty
- Marginalized, vulnerable and most affected groups and individuals
On The Frontlines of Sudan's Civil War, a 'Catastrophic Situation'
A powerful documentary on the situation in Sudan.
Key Curriculum Links
- Marginalized, vulnerable and most affected groups and individuals
- Conflict, including latent and overt
- Violent and non-violent state and non-state actors
This week, I added a second student sample for the Paper 1 on Power. It includes comments and suggested marks on what a top end response might look like.
November 2024: Week 1
This week, we have the United States election. With one of the world's largest economies and militaries, US leadership matters to the rest of the world. In the lead-up to Tuesday's election, you may want to review this quick primer on the American Electoral College and share it with your students.
Key Curriculum Links
- Sources of state legitimacy, including government legitimacy
Liberalism can be one of the most difficult topics for students to understand (and perhaps for us to teach). In this video, Emily Chamlee-Wright provides a nice overview of classical liberalism that students might find beneficial.
Key Curriculum Links
- Theories, models and analytical frameworks in global politics
This week, I added a student sample for the Paper 1 on Power. It includes comments and suggested marks on what a mid-range response might look like.
October 2024: Week 4
This week, we saw a sharp escalation in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Here is a good article from Foreign Policy Magazine on why it matters.
Key Curriculum Links
- Parties to conflict
- Violent and non-violent state and non-state actors
- Justifications of violence in conflict
- Parties to conflict
- Violent and non-violent state and non-state actors
Why Turkey seeks to become first NATO member in BRICS
Key Curriculum Links
- Participation of IGOs and non-state actors in global governance
- Cooperation and competition between political actors
- Treaties, collective security, strategic alliances, economic cooperation
- Global interactions and networks
This week, I added a markscheme for Paper 1 on Power. As with all markschemes they can be rather general but they do highlight some broad things to look for. I have also included some general tips related to each question. For a thorough list of "how to" items, check out my Paper 1 advice.
October 2024: Week 3
Sovereignty: Has the sovereignty question of the Chagos Islands been resolved, or did it just get more complicated? Check out this article from The Economist for a perspective on this question: Britain has agreed to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Is Regional Upheaval Disrupting the International Order? This is Fareed Zakaria's take on the question.
This overview of articles from the Council on Foreign Relations is related to the old guide, but many are relevant to the new guide. The CFR is one of the best sources for our course, and this webpage collates all of the articles they have written that might be relevant to the topics covered in IB Global Politics.
October 2024: Week 2
