At its heart, IB Global Politics is the study of political issues and the ways power operates within social organization. A political issue can involve anything concerning the distribution and exercise of power , from international conflicts and human rights to climate change, migration, economic inequality, social movements, and the decisions made by governments and international organizations. You will therefore investigate politics at different levels, including:

• Global – examining issues involving international systems and institutions.
• International and regional – considering relationships between states and regional organizations.
• National – examining decisions made by individual governments.
• Subnational and local – investigating how political issues affect communities.
• Group and individual – considering how political decisions affect particular people and groups.

For example, climate change could be studied through the effectiveness of international agreements at the global level, the negotiating positions of developing countries at the regional level, national disaster-prevention policies, the experiences of communities affected by extreme weather, or the ability of migrant workers to support their families after a disaster.

These four key concepts form the conceptual foundation of IB Global Politics:

• Power
• Sovereignty
• Legitimacy
• Interdependence

These concepts are intended to provide a conceptual link throughout the course. They connect the core topics and thematic studies and should be used to analyze political issues rather than simply memorized as definitions. The guide also emphasizes that their meanings are contestable , meaning that different stakeholders and political perspectives may interpret them differently.

Sovereignty

Sovereignty concerns a state's independence, control over its territory, and ability to govern itself . You will examine:

• Traditional and modern ideas of state sovereignty.
• Sources of sovereignty.
• Internal and external dimensions of sovereignty.
• The Westphalian conception of sovereignty.
• The relationship between sovereignty and international law.
• Recognition by other states.
• The relationship between sovereignty and political participation.

You will also explore challenges to state sovereignty, including:

• Global interdependence.
• Influence or interference from other states.
• Supranational organizations.
• Humanitarian intervention.
• Indigenous national claims.
• Transnational cultural groups.
• Nationalist movements.
• Violent non-state actors.
• The influence of transnational corporations.

Key takeaway – Sovereignty requires you to consider how much control states actually have over their territory, populations, and political decisions in an increasingly interconnected world.

Legitimacy

Legitimacy refers to whether an actor or action is considered acceptable by a population . It provides a basis for governance and other forms of exercising power. You will investigate sources of state and government legitimacy, including:

• History.
• Ideology.
• National identity.
• Leadership recognition.
• Government performance.
• Free and fair elections.
• Representation.
• Consent of the governed.
• Transparency.
• Citizen welfare.
• Order and stability.
• Economic, political, and social development.
• International recognition.
• Quality of governance.

You will also explore why legitimacy can be challenged through political, economic, and social instability, ineffective governance, threats to citizen well-being, excessive force, violence, oppression, and human rights violations . Importantly, legitimacy is not restricted to governments. The syllabus also asks you to examine the legitimacy of non-state actors , considering their representation, interactions, ability to exert influence, and effectiveness.

Key takeaway – Legitimacy asks whether political actors and their actions are viewed as acceptable, justified, or authoritative, and why that legitimacy can be gained, strengthened, challenged, or lost.

Interdependence

Interdependence describes the mutual reliance between groups, organizations, geographic areas, and states . This can involve:

• Economic interdependence – such as international trade.
• Security interdependence – such as defense arrangements.
• Environmental and sustainability interdependence – such as international environmental treaties.

The course emphasizes that globalization has increased interdependence while also changing relationships of power between political actors.

Key takeaway – Interdependence helps you understand why political decisions made in one place can have consequences elsewhere and why states and other actors increasingly depend on one another.

The core topics provide the overarching framework for studying Global Politics. They are intended to be integrated with the three thematic studies rather than treated as completely separate units. The syllabus does not prescribe one particular order for studying these topics, allowing teachers to organize the course around students' interests, contemporary events, political issues, or case studies. The core topics focus on:

• Framing Global Politics
• Power in Global Politics
• Sovereignty in Global Politics
• Legitimacy in Global Politics
• Interdependence in Global Politics
• Theoretical Perspectives in Global Politics

The Framing Global Politics topic introduces the systems, actors, stakeholders, structures, and institutions that shape political issues . You will examine a wide range of political actors, including:

• States
• Subnational and local governments
• Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Private companies
• Social movements
• Resistance movements
• Political parties
• Interest and pressure groups
• Political leaders
• Formal and informal political forums
• The media
• Individual and collective actors

The course also distinguishes between actors and stakeholders . Actors may possess the ability to exercise power , while stakeholders can be affected by political issues even when they do not have the ability or resources to act directly . You will therefore consider not only who makes political decisions but also who is affected by those decisions . The topic also introduces systems, structures, legal frameworks, norms, and institutions . These can regulate interactions between political actors, constrain possible actions, or sometimes create political issues themselves . Institutions can include formal organizations as well as social structures of rules and norms.

Key takeaway – Framing Global Politics teaches you to identify the actors, stakeholders, systems, institutions, rules, and relationships involved in a political issue before analyzing how power operates within it.

This topic explores how states exercise authority and how that authority is challenged . You will examine both internal and external sovereignty , as well as traditional and modern understandings of what it means for a state to be sovereign. Issues you may investigate include:

• The Westphalian conception of sovereignty.
• Possession and use of force.
• International law and norms.
• Recognition by other states.
• Economic considerations and balance of power.
• Political participation and consent of the governed.
• Humanitarian intervention.
• Supranationality.
• Global interdependence.
• Indigenous sovereignty claims.
• Nationalist movements.
• Transnational cultural groups.
• Violent non-state actors.
• Transnational corporations.

Key takeaway – Sovereignty requires you to examine the tension between state independence and the growing influence of international organizations, other states, non-state actors, and global interdependence.

The Legitimacy in Global Politics topic explores why governments and other political actors are considered legitimate and what happens when that legitimacy is questioned . You will distinguish between the legitimacy of a state and the legitimacy of a particular government , while also examining their relationship with sovereignty. Possible sources of legitimacy include:

• Free and fair elections.
• Representation.
• Consent.
• Government performance.
• Transparency.
• Citizen welfare.
• Stability.
• Development.
• International recognition.
• Quality of governance.

You will also examine legitimacy challenges and the ways non-state actors can gain or lose legitimacy. Legitimacy can be established through formal recognition, self-legitimation strategies, recognition from stakeholders, or attempts by opposing actors to undermine an actor's legitimacy.

Key takeaway – Legitimacy is not permanent. You should analyze how political actors establish authority, why others accept or reject that authority, and how political actions can strengthen or undermine legitimacy.

The Interdependence in Global Politics topic examines how states and other political actors interact through global governance, international law, international organizations, cooperation, competition, and networks . You will explore:

You will distinguish between government and governance and examine the differences between national and international law. You may investigate:

• UN Security Council resolutions.
• Climate change agreements.
• Financial regulation.
• WTO trade agreements.
• Regional decision-making mechanisms.
• Treaties.
• International customs.
• General principles of law.
• Court decisions.
• Scholarly writings.

Theoretical Perspectives in Global Politics

The course also introduces theories, models, and analytical frameworks that can help you understand political issues. The guide does not prescribe one specific political theory. Instead, educators are encouraged to introduce diverse approaches, including:

• Realism
• Liberalism
• Feminism
• Postcolonialism
• Social constructivism

You will consider how theories and models can be used to:

• Organize information.
• Evaluate political issues.
• Critically review explanations.
• Simplify complex situations.
• Explain causes, consequences, and motives.
• Predict outcomes.
• Prescribe possible responses.

You should also consider the biases, limitations, successes, and failures of theoretical models when applying them to real-world cases.

Key takeaway – Theoretical perspectives give you different ways to interpret political events. The goal is not simply to memorize theories, but to understand how different frameworks explain political behavior and where those frameworks may have limitations.