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Case Study Unit 1: Power & Sovereignty Unit 2: Human Rights Unit 3: Development Unit 4: Peace and Conflict
Sub-Saharan Africa has
been caught in a poverty
Sub-saharan cycle that has made it
Africa difficult or impossible to
break out of poverty. This
has been exacerbated by
the link between poverty
and disease. HIV/AIDS has
been a particular blight on
sub-Saharan Africa,
accounting in 2007 for
some 68 per cent of
HIV/AIDS cases worldwide
and 76 per cent of all AIDS
deaths. The association
between poverty and civil
conflict, crime, corruption
and state failure has also
seriously disadvantaged
sub-Saharan Africa
In 2008 Kosovo unilaterally Although Serbia never
declared its independence recognized Kosovo as an
Kosovo from the republic of Serbia independent state, the two
after 9 years of being under states started negotiating in
UN rule. Most countries March of 2011. The talks are
recognized Kosovo’s mediated by the EU and are
independence and the ICJ aimed at three main topics:
stated that they did not regional cooperation, freedom
violate international Law. the of movement and rule of law.
population in Kosovo is 92% So far, the two states ended the
Muslim Albanians and 5% trade embargo, agreed on
Christian Serbians. The freedom of movement across
Justification for the administrative borders,
legitimacy of Kosovo’s recognized each other’s
declaration is rooted in the university diplomas and so on
argument that Kosovars’ (emerging positive peace).
rights were abused under the Kosovo was nominated to join
Serbian regime. The to the UN as a sovereign state,
intervention of NATO in 99’ but Russia (who is an ally with
and the presence of Serbia) vetoed.
international forces in Kosovo
for a decade are evidence to
the human rights abuse that
took place. Raises the
question of what the criteria
for minority is to justify
secession.
1990s Civil War
The Kosovo was 1994-1998
Former
Yugoslavia
After Ukraine’s 2014
revolution, Ukraine’s
Crimea and sovereign region, Crimea, was
Ukraine annexed by Russia. This was
made easier by the fact that
Why Ukraine is Crimea’s demographics
trapped in consist of a strong ethnic
endless Russians majority (65% ish).
conflict?- Vox (Can mention political
concepts like identity,
Documentary: ethnicity, language,
Winter on Fire constructivism, realism, etc.)
(on Netflix)
UN Security Council
Resolution 242 was passed in
Israeli-Pales 1967. It requires Israel to
tinian withdraw to the borders that
Conflict existed before the 1967 Six
Day War, when Israel
occupied the West Bank,
Just keep in
Golan Heights and Gaza Strip.
mind that IB has
UN Security Council
a rule on
resolutions are binding in
contemporary
international law, yet Israel
case studies.
has not yet withdrawn to the
Information
pre-1967 borders.
outside of the
Furthermore, it has built a
learner’s
security wall around, and
lifetime can be
settlements within, territory
used for context
that is beyond the pre-1967
but the bulk of
borders are no longer
case studies
relevant and that the security
should be
wall is needed to protect the
contemporary
(ASA within the state of Israel from terrorist
learner’s attacks from Palestine.
lifetime)
Boko Haram emerged in 2002 While south of Nigeria is
as an anti-west group. mostly Christian due to
Nigeria - Although they didn’t start as influences from British
Boko Haram a military organization, their powers, the north is mostly
acts became more and more Muslim. The country is
violent. They gained world divided almost perfectly to
recognition when in 2014 50/50.
they kidnapped 274 girls from 136th on CPI, 152nd on
school. Today they control HDI, gini coefficient of
the most northern part of 48. This obviously shows
Nigeria with an extreme a correlation between
Sharia law. they are using corruption and
children as soldiers and underdevelopment,
young girls as suicide which is accentuated if
bombers.
one considers that
Nigeria’s debt towards
the IMF increased by
500% since the 1990s
because the money
disappeared instead of
going to development.
Venezuela had great 75% of Venezuela’s Venezuela used to be one
economic and soft power, population lost 20 pounds, of the richest countries in
Venezuela with the biggest oil reserves hospitals are lacking 98% Latin America, and its
The collapse of in the world and a democratic percent of medical democracy and
Venezuela, government that was praised supplies and 85 out of 100 government was praised
explained - Vox world-wide. However, drugs are totally worldwide. Venezuela’s
Inflation rate, although the money was unavailable. Venezuela is economy is solely based on
average invested in education and in a serious humanitarian oil, and it has the biggest
health, it increased the crisis, however, when aid proven oil reservoir in the
consumer prices dependence on oil. After the arrived to the country it world, following the oil
- IMF oil crisis, Maduro’s has been confiscated by price crisis in 2014, the
Venezuela government became more the military. Venezuelan economy
Needs authoritarian and more and collapsed. Average
International more power was given to the consumer prices index
Intervention. army. To keep being in charge changed from around 100$
Now. - The New Maduro must prevent a in 2014 to over 2K in 2018.
York Times military coup, which is done It has the highest inflation
by paying a lot of money to rates in the world (around
the army. Since the country is 950%). It GDP dropped by
in deep financial crisis, it 35% percent in the last 6
loans billions of dollars, years and the murder rates
especially from China. China are standing at 91 people
invested over 50$ billion in per 100,000, one of the
Venezuela, an investment highest in the world. The
that seems to have very low poor in Venezuela make
probability of having any about 82% of the
profit. However, it gives china population
a very strong hold in the
region, and access to the
world’s biggest oil reservoir.
Taliban and US intervention: Facts and stats:
- Taliban is a terrorist group - Has received 60bn $ in aid
Afghanistan that was in power in since 2002 and yet is 169th
Afghanistan between on CPI and 169th on HDI
1996-2001 (impact of corruption)
- UNSC accepted - 7.2% of Afghanistan’s GDP
interventions against threats came from investments by
to global terrorism, and in foreign MNCs in 2016
res. 1386 they created the - Since 2016, foreign AID
ISAF to assist Afghani security has made up on average
- The official government of 76% of Afghanistan’s GDP
Afghanistan was reinstated - Adult illiteracy is 61.8%
with the support of US and - Worst score for Gender
Northern Alliance (rebels) development in the world
Libya
The Yemen Civil War started Yemen has been in a state
as part of the Arab Spring in of Humanitarian Crisis for a
Yemen 2011, with demonstration few years now: 1.8 million
The Middle calling to end the 33-year rule children are malnourished,
East's cold war, of the president. Due to 7 million people are the
explained - Vox international pressure, the break of famine, around
the US maybe president resigned and was 2,000 people died of a
aiding war replaced by his vice cholera epidemic and
crimes in Yemen president. However, his there are over half a
- Vox attempts at constitutional million confirmed cases
and budget reforms angered and there are not enough
Why are the the Houthi group in the drugs as both sides in the
SAUDIES losing north. By 2014 they took over war are blocking
in YEMEN? - the capital of Yemen, forcing humanitarian aid – Doctors
VisualPolitik EN Without Borders had to
the government to relocate. evacuate its volunteers
Yemen - World The Saudis, that do not want from the country. The
Report 2018 | a Shia government on their Saudis are using cluster
Human Rights border back the government, bombs which are
Watch while the Iranians are forbidden under
supporting the rebels. This international law, and are
one out of three current destroying schools and
proxy wars (the others being hospitals, all backed and
Iraq and Syria) carried fueled by the US. since
between Saudi Arabia and great powers as using
Iran. Yemen for their own
interests (with Saudi
Arabia and the USA
backing the government
and Iran backing the
rebels) it is not probable
that humanitarian
intervention will take place
in the foreseeable future.
According to the World
The Islamic State began Bank, more than 400,000
Syria people have been killed in
seizing control of territory in
Syria in 2013. After a series of Syria since the start of the
terrorist attacks coordinated war. The UN reports that
by the Islamic State across more than 5.6 million have
Europe in 2015, the United fled the country, and 6.5
States, the United Kingdom, million have been
and France—with the support internally displaced. Many
of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and refugees have fled to
other Arab Jordan and Lebanon,
partners—expanded their air straining already weak
campaign in Iraq to include infrastructure and limited
Syria. Together, these nations resources. More than 3.4
have conducted over eleven million Syrians have fled to
thousand airstrikes against Turkey, and many have
Islamic State targets in Syria, attempted to seek refuge
while the U.S.-led coalition in Europe.
has continued its support for
ground operations by the SDF
(Syrian Democratic Forces. a
military group led by Kurds
from the Democratic Republic
of Northern Syria together
with other ethnic groups).
Turkish troops have been
involved in ground operations
against the Islamic State since
2016, and have launched
attacks against armed Kurdish
groups in Syria. Meanwhile,
at the request of the Syrian
government in September
2015, Russia began launching
airstrikes against what it
claimed were Islamic State
targets, while Syrian
government forces achieved
several notable victories over
the Islamic State, including
the reclamation of Palmyra.
According to the U.S.-led
coalition against the Islamic
State, 98 percent of the
territory formerly held by the
group in Iraq and Syria,
including Raqqa and Deir
al-Zour, has been reclaimed
by Iraqi security forces and
the SDF.
With Russian and Iranian
support, the Syrian
government has steadily
regained control of territory
from opposition forces,
including the opposition’s
stronghold in Aleppo in 2016.
The regime has been accused
of using chemical weapons
numerous times over the
course of the conflict,
resulting in international
condemnation in 2013, 2017,
and 2018. Opposition forces
have maintained limited
control lin Idlib, in
northwestern Syria, and on
the Iraq-Syria border.
Russian
Intervention
in USA
Elections
Russians linked
to U.S. election
interference
indicted despite
Trump calling
probe a hoax -
PBS NewsHour
An anarchist movement in Zapatistas oppose There is continuous military
Chiapas, Mexico that capitalism and have coercion between Zapatistas
Zapatistas established an autonomous collectivism-based, and Mexican government,
government. self-sufficient economy. including checkpoints and
Roles in the Juntas of Good Prices of goods are decided assassinations.
Government are rotating by the local community.
between representatives Focus on self-realisation is
from different communities. expressed through learning
practical skills in indigenous
languages.
Yet, level of poverty is
extremely high.
A rough geographic region Amnesty International During the war in Syria, the
where ethnic Kurds live. Claims that the Democratic Kurdish party the Democratic
Kurdistan There’s a movement to Union Party was Union Party installed a system
and the create a sovereign Kurd committing human rights where the vowed to protect the
Democratic Nation-State in partitioned violations against human rights of all ethnic
Federation areas of Northern Iraq, non-ethnic Kurds. groups (including Assyrian and
Northern Syria, and Turkey. Turkmen) and promoted gender
of Northern
equality. Then in 2014, ISIS
Syria After the involvement in the began attacking, and with
How Syria’s Syrian war (see unit 4 foreign support from the US,
Kurds are Trying column), the Kurds were able the Kurds maintained and
to Create a to strengthen their fight for retook occupied land. The
Democracy- an independent Kurd Syrian Kurds had some of the
Vox territory. Multiple ethnicities armies that were the most
in Northern Syria joined to effective against ISIS in the
SYRIA: US form the Democratic Syrian war which lead to
ALLY’S RAZING Federation of Northern Syria continued US support.
OF VILLAGES with an organized
AMOUNTS TO multi-ethnic militia to fight Despite the countering actions
WAR CRIMES- both Assad and ISIS of Turkey, in 2017 the
Amnesty Democratic Union Party took
International After the Strengthening of ISIS’ capital in Syria, Raqqa.
the Democratic Federation of
Who are the Northern Syria, Turkey grew Later in 2017, Turkey launched
Kurdistan worried that they are merely Operation Olive Branch, to
Workers’ Party a front for the violent Turkish suppress Kurdish forces.
(PKK) rebels?- Kurd separatists the PKK, so Without the common enemy of
BBC Turkey sent in troops into ISIS, and with the US no longer
Syria in September 2016. providing an abundance of
support, the Democratic Union
TLDR; Kurds want Party is at a severe
independence, infringing on disadvantage.
Sovereignty
Burundi and Uganda don’t Workers in the coltan Apple and Samsung The DRC has been through two
respect the borders of the mines work 12 hours per electronics use the coltan civil wars – no positive peace.
Democratic DRC and just cross the day and receive 5$ for a exploited from the DRC to The government is very
Republic of borders to exploit coltan day of work. make phones worth of 500 unstable, which also allows for
the Congo – 1000$. other actors to violates the
DRC’s sovereignty and exploit its
resources.
Costa Rica
Example of the use of Counter Argument for
Collective rights for Liberal Democracies being
Bolivia Indigenous Peoples needed for Development:
Rise of Far
Right in
Europe
China has been increasing Despite economic For the last 30 years, China
has been the fastest
Rising China its soft power by taking capitalism, China
growing economy in the
position of the US, for remains to be a country
Martin Jacques: example in terms of with restricted political world with annual growth
China's rise to climate action. China is the freedoms. of GDP at rate of 9%,
power | CGTN largest producer of solar becoming the largest
America panels and solar energy. economy in the world.
China's trillion 300 million people
China is also investing a lot
dollar plan to moved to cities in that
of money in countries such
dominate global time.
trade - Vox Atlas
as The Democratic
Republic of the Congo and Absolute poverty in
Why China is China fell from 250
building islands Venezuela, gaining soft million in 1978 to 28
in the South power and economic
million in 2001.
China Sea - Vox influence. In 1978 China started
Atlas reforming its communist
economy. Since then it
doubled its gdp 6 times.
More than 200M people
moved from the rural areas
to the urban ones. Its
downsides are: increase in
inequality, mainly between
the urban and the rural
societies which brought its
GIni index from 0.16 to
0.45; massive pollution
causing massive illness and
shoten in life spans; A lot of
separated families due to
urbanization.
After the genocide of 1994, After the genocide, there were
Rwanda was one of the over 800,000 dead, million of
Rwanda poorest countries in the Rwandan displaced in
How is world. In 2000 president neighboring countries, 130,000
RWANDA Paul Kagame came into suspects accused of genocide
stepping out of power, and by looking at crimes and only 36 judges and
MISERY? - development models from 14 prosecutors available. the
VisualPolitik EN Thailand, Singapore and UN set the International Crime
How did Gacaca China, he started to rebuild Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in
combine Rwanda. He did that using Tanzania, where the most
elements of a plan called “vision 2020” serious violators of the IHL
both retributive which is a list of 44 clear (International Humanitarian
and restorative and accountable goals, Law) were tried. France offered
justice and how which are being checked to send judges to help speed up
effective was it regularly by the the system, but Rwandan
in reconciling government. one of them refused to have foreign
Hutus and Tutsis was promoting gender involvement. The solution was
in Rwanda after equality, and today Rwanda to re-establish the Gacaca
the 1994 is the country with the courts which is a community
genocide? | most female based justice system from
Global Politics representatives in the pre-colonial times.In its
EE parliament. Besides that, retributive form Gacaca
its GDP is growing 8% punished those who committed
annually (rate similar to war crimes during the
countries like china). Paul genocide, treating crime as
Kagame has been president done against the state. However
for the past 18 years and in its restorative form it also
wins over 94% percent of acknowledged crimes between
the votes in elections. people and focused on efforts
- Rwanda is in the top tier to reconcile communities
for Gender development, through dialogue. During their
scoring higher than many time of operation, the Gacaca
EU countries, and yet has courts completed roughly 1.5
an HDI ranking of 159 million cases, and held
punishments which ranged from
life imprisonment to community
service. Despite criticism from
the international community,
today it is commonly agreed
that Gacaca courts were
successful in their mission.
Crisis in
South Sudan
Ebola
outbreak
Since the beginning of There were two wars between
2017 more than 100 male Chechnya (which declared
Chechnya LGBT Chechens were independence from Russia in
abducted and detained in 1991) and Russia, in 1994-1996
torture camps because of and 1999-2000. Between 2000
their sexual orientation, and 2009 Russia has had an
and at least 3 have been ongoing anti-terrorist operation
killed extrajudicially. The in Chechnya to help the country
local government justifies transit from Islamic radicalism
this because of Chechnya’s to positive peace. In 2007
semi-autonomous Ramzan Kadyrov was appointed
governing system, and the President of Chechnya with
Islamic background of the Russia’s support. He has since
population and culture. then fully supported Russian
policies on security and fought
Islamic radicalism, while at the
same time economically
developing the country with
financial assistance from the
Kremlin.
Oil crisis of
2014
South china sea is one of the There have been military
richest areas in the world: it clashes involving Chinese,
South China contains 11 billion barrels of Vietnamese, Malaysian and
Sea oil and 5.4 trillion cubic Filipino military vessels as well
Why China is meters of natural gas. as incidents of harassing
building islands Moreover, 30% of the world’s fishermen.
in the South shipping trade goes through It is a traditional interstate
China Sea? - Vox it. Most south-east Asian conflict over territory.
countries base their claims
for some part of it on the UN
law of the sea which states
that a country’s territorial
water extend 200 miles of
their shore. Everything within
these 200 miles is the
sovereign territory of that
state. China claims that they
have an historical right to
south china sea, and they
mark it using the so-called 9
dash line (a border made out
of 9 dashed lines – obviously
imprecise). China is building
islands there and placing
military bases on them to
slowly but steadily take
control of the region. So far,
the US have released
statements encouraging
china and other south-east
Asian countries to solve the
dispute, and sent its navy to
keep trading routes open.
However, actual international
intervention does not seem
likely.
In the early 1960’s the
global economy was
Four Asian recovering from WW2
Tigers trauma. The four countries’
(Taiwan, governments took
Hong Kong, advantage of the
opportunity to invest
Singapore,
heavily in industrialization,
and South and offering tax incentives
Korea) for foreign investors
(AKA Asian (globalization) , and
Dragons) implementing mandatory
education for the young
people. Soon after they
began exporting a wide
variety of goods.
Catalonia’s
independen
ce
Smart
Power in
Negotiation
s with Iran
OPEC
Proxy war: India provides
military support to
Pakistani-In Afghanistan to fight Pakistani
dian conflict terrorists, like Haqqani
network, who are behind
attacks such as the 2007 and
2008 Indian embassy
bombings in Kaboul
- Lashker-e-taibe Pakistan
group responsible for 2008
Mumbain bombings, and
Pakistani Taliban responsible
for 30% of India’s terrorist
attacks
- Pakistan isn’t focused on
eradicating terrorism, and
there are arguments that say
this is because the terrorists
damage India in ways
Pakistan otherwise could not
UN peacekeeping:
- African Union mission with UN
Somalia approval to bolster peace and
remove Al-shabaab forces from
Somalia, started in 2007
- Criticism because AMISOM
uses mostly military and violent
means to eliminate Al-shabaab,
and has not focused on
peacebuilding and
state-building
- Because of the previous
reason, AMISOM has not been
able to expand peace even in
the areas it liberated in Somalia
Peacebuilding:
- 40 years of conflict between
Northern IRA and British government
Ireland ended with Good Friday
Agreement in 1998
- since 1994 there had been
negotiations in place to bring all
fighting parties to the table,
including non-state actors such
as Ulster Loyalists and the IRA
which renewed its 1994
ceasefire in 1997
- the agreement itself in 1998
gave political stability to Ireland
and Northern Ireland, being
signed by all political parties
involved and stating Northern
Ireland’s relationship with
Ireland while still being part of
the UK.
Mexico (gini coefficient of
48)
Mexico × States in Mexico that
were least affected by
globalization are the ones
which were seen to be
lagging behind in terms of
poverty and labour in the
1990s.
× Also, during the same
period income in states of
Mexico with low exposure
to globalization decreased
by 10%, and the number of
families in poverty
increased.
× In 2002 32% of Mexico’s
GDP was foreign
investment.
× NAFTA severely damaged
most Mexican farmers
because of the import of
US subsidised corn.
× Poor Mexicans are
migrating to the US
because of their poverty
level impacted by
globalization, and are then
being employed by the
same companies that put
them out of work.
× After NAFTA, Mexican
average wages dropped by
22%.
- Brief Summary: Britain
supported the Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Army against the
revolutionary forces trying
to overthrow the
government. Operation
Palliser (7th May 2000 -
September 2000)On 18
January 2002, President
Kabbah declared the Sierra
Leone Civil War (1991 -
2002) over.
- Stakeholders:
Revolutionary United Front
(RUF), Sierra Leone Army
(SLA), British Army
- What happened? After
deciding that the RUF
would not disarm
voluntarily, the British
began training the SLA for
a confrontation against the
rebels.
- Results and facts: The
overall British operation
was mostly completed by
September 2000. The RUF
began to disarm after
political pressure, and later
economic sanctions, were
exerted on Liberia—which
had supported the RUF in
exchange for conflict
diamonds smuggled out of
Sierra Leone. The
government signed a
ceasefire agreement with
the RUF that later led to
the Disarmament,
Demobilisation and
Reintegration (DDR)
process.
Google
maps affect
on
territorial
disputes
Google Maps is
Different in
Other Countries
May 2014
● Examine the claim that the significance of military power is diminishing in contemporary global politics.
o Oxford Exam Hints
● Discuss the impact of NGOs, MNCs, and international organizations on state sovereignty
o Oxford Exam Hints
May 2015
● Examine the claim that increased interactions and interconnectedness in global politics have fundamentally changed the nature of state
sovereignty.
o Nicolai example essay
o Oxford Exam Hints
● Power is often assumed to be linked to the possession of, or access to, resources. Discuss the validity of this view
o Oxford Exam Hints
May 2016
● Discuss the claim that power in global politics is mostly exercised through the use of force and
threats.
o Cecilia example essay
o Oxford Exam Hints
o Mark scheme
● Evaluate the claim that state sovereignty creates obstacles for the realization of justice for
individuals and communities.
o Omer Maly example essay
o Oxford Exam Hints
o Mark Scheme
May 2017
● Discuss reasons why the legitimacy of a state may need to be questioned.
o Mark Scheme
● Examine the claim that economically powerful states are able to manipulate global governance
institutions to their advantage.
o Mark Scheme
November 2017
● Examine the claim that state sovereignty is challenged by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), intergovernmental organizations
(IGOs) and other non-state actors (NSAs).
o Mark Scheme
● Evaluate the function and impact of one of the following in dealing with global challenges: Political parties, Intergovernmental
organizations (IGOs), Multinational corporations (MNCs), Informal forums.
o Mark Scheme
Human Rights
Specimen 2014
● “A national or regional approach to human rights enforcement is more effective than a global approach.” Discuss.
● “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights seeks to impose a Western perspective on human rights on non-Western societies.” To what
extent do you agree with this criticism?
May 2014
● Compare and contrast an institutional approach to the ratification and enforcement of human rights (for example, through The Hague
Courts) with non-institutional approaches (for example, through human rights NGOs, such as Amnesty International).
● To what extent do the complex realities and relationships of power in global politics make the concept of human rights an unachievable
ideal?
May 2015
● “Human rights covenants and treaties can limit development in newly industrializing economies.” To what extent do you agree with this
claim?
● Discuss the extent to which cultural relativism can be used to justify different concepts of human rights.
May 2016
● “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) is no longer relevant for dealing with human rights issues in the 21st century.” To
what extent do you agree with this claim?
o Sebas C example essay
o Mark Scheme
● Examine the effectiveness of non-state actors in advancing the protection of human rights.
o Uriel example essay
o Mark Scheme
May 2017
● Examine the claim that human rights as presented in treaties and covenants are not enforceable, and are therefore of little use to
vulnerable populations.
o Mark Scheme
● Discuss the claim that development in industrializing countries often violates universal rights to a clean environment and to the
humanitarian treatment of labour.
o Mark Scheme
November 2017
● To what extent has the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provided the basis for contemporary political movements for social
change?
o Mark Scheme
● “Universal rights should take precedence over cultural relativism in the formation of human rights treaties and covenants.” Discuss this
view.
o Mark Scheme
Development
Specimen 2014
● Evaluate the claim that development is impossible to measure.
● “The biggest obstacle to development in developing countries is debt.” Discuss.
May 2014
● Evaluate the claim that development through aid relies heavily on a stable government and a lack of corruption.
● The fundamental weakness of development goals (such as the Millennium Development Goals) is their lack of focus on how targets are
actually to be achieved. To what extent do you agree with this claim?
May 2015
● Evaluate the view that globalization harms rather than benefits the poorest people in countries with the lowest incomes.
o Sebas C Example Essay
● Discuss the view that sustainable development will never be achieved until state and non-state actors can be persuaded or forced to act
in the common interest.
o Benjy Example Essay
May 2016
● Discuss the view that social factors such as gender relations or migration can both help and hinder development.
o Khan T example essay
o Mark Scheme
● Examine the view that successful development cannot be achieved without addressing political
inequality
o Sebas C example essay
o Mark Scheme
Specimen 2017
● Discuss the view that the biggest obstacles to development in today’s world are political.
May 2017
● Evaluate the claim that inequality encourages, rather than prevents, development.
o Mark Scheme
● To what extent is the achievement of political and social stability essential for development?
o Mark Scheme
November 2017
● “Definitions of development that stress meeting basic needs should be replaced with definitions that focus on well-being.” Discuss this
statement.
o Mark Scheme
● Discuss the view that harmful environmental factors represent the greatest threat to successful development
o Mark Scheme
Peace and Conflict
Specimen 2014
● “Truth and reconciliation commissions are the most effective way to foster peace.” To what extent do you agree with this claim?
● Evaluate the claim that humanitarian intervention is a justifiable intrusion into the sovereignty of a state.
May 2014
● “Transforming armed conflict towards peace relies on an interrelationship of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace building.” Discuss.
● “If a person died from tuberculosis in the eighteenth century it would be hard to conceive of this as violence since it might have been
quite unavoidable, but if he dies from it today, despite all the medical resources in the world, then violence is present” (Galtung). To
what extent do you agree with the view that those in power have an obligation to identify and prevent structural violence?
May 2015
● Peacebuilding is arguably more important than peacemaking, yet it is given much less funding and attention. To what extent do you
agree with this claim?
● Discuss why non-violent protest is sometimes able to achieve success against even the most powerful of opponents
May 2016
● Evaluate the success of third-party involvement in transforming one intra-state conflict away from violence and towards positive peace.
o Mark Scheme
● “The use of violence can never be legitimate.” Discuss the validity of this claim, with reference to at least one violent conflict you have
studied.
o Caterina example essay
o Mark Scheme
Specimen 2017
● Examine the view that peace can be defined as the absence of physical violence
May 2017
● Compare and contrast two different approaches to peacemaking in one armed conflict you
have studied.
o Mark Scheme
● Discuss the view that peace is more than simply the absence of war
o Mark Scheme
November 2017
● Examine the claim that contrasting material interests are the main cause of conflicts.
o Giang Example Essay
o Mark Scheme
● Discuss the view that non-violent protest are the only way to achieve lasting change in conflicts between the state and non-state actors.
o Mark Scheme