DP global politics is for students who want to understand more about how the world they live in works and what makes it change (or prevents it from changing). The course draws on a variety of disciplinary traditions in the study of politics and international relations, and more broadly on the social sciences and humanities.
Students build their knowledge and understanding of the local, national, international and global dimensions of political activity and processes by critically engaging with contemporary political issues and challenges.
Flexible and integrated syllabus
The common standard level (SL) and higher level (HL) syllabus is framed around four interconnected components, each with specified prescribed content—the global politics core topics and three thematic studies:
- rights and justice
- peace and conflict
- development and sustainability
The core encompasses wide topics linked to the nature of the subject and its key concepts. These topics find a particular expression in all the thematic studies. The prescribed content from the core can be developed within each of the thematic studies or explored separately to serve as a foundational.
The flexible syllabus allows educators to build the course around their students’ contexts and interests as well as contemporary events and developments in global politics. The course develops thinking, analysis and research skills through guided and independent inquiries into political issues and challenges, with a special focus on identifying and engaging with diverse perspectives.
