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We can use three main tools to analyse global politics.
These are :
Scale Perspectives Time
These tools help us focus our analysis and structure our essays and discussions.
Scale: Levels of analysis
Scale: Levels of analysis
Scale means the level at which political issues, concepts and topics are studied.
A political issue often manifests differently at different levels and has impacts at multiple levels. For example, migration is a global phenomenon. However, if we take an international/ national/ local perspective we will see the politics of migration differently.
The scales of analysis are socially constructed terms. This means they are open to interpretation and debate and are dynamic. For example, what one person calls a community issue another person might call a local issue.
The following terms and their understandings also translate differently between languages. Language is a lens that produces different ways of seeing global politics! (Always remember the global dominance of English is a form of power because of how it influences global politics).
Click on each of the terms below to read more.
Global
Global
Global refers to events, trends and actors found across the world.
Example events and trends: 2007-8 global financial crisis, climate change, global pandemics, population growth; commodity prices.
International
International
International refers to events, trends, cultures, and actors found in multiple countries.
Examples: transboundary pollution; drought, crime; terrorism; ageing populations; social movements; major world religions; international organisations (IOs); international non-governmental organisations (INGOs); multinational and transnational corporations (MNCs and TNCs).
Note: take care not to exaggerate and call international and regional issues 'global'.
Regional
Regional
Regional refers to events, trends, cultures and actors in a particular geographic region.
Examples: the Arab Spring; West African Ebola virus epidemic; Mediterranean migrant routes; African Union (AU) Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); European Union (EU); forms of dress; cuisine.
National
National
National
National
National refers to events, trends, norms and actors within the geographical boundaries of a particular country.
Examples: economic inflation; protests; pollution; crime; national law, political parties; national services and companies (including military, police, judiciary); private companies; non-governmental organisations (NGOs); lobby groups; language.
Sub-national
Sub-national
Sub-national refers to events, trends, norms and actors within a particular geographical sub-national region of a particular country. These may be clear geographic areas or imagined areas. The terms used to describe them is different in different countries, for example: provinces, states, 'the north/south/west/east' of the country.
Distinguishing between sub-national, local and community scales is difficult as the terms are relative to the geographic size and population of a country.
Local
Local
Local refers to events, trends, norms and actors that are found in a geographic space. The size of 'local' varies, the term might refer to a part of a city or an entire city.
Community
Community
A community might be found in a specific geographic space or in a digital space.
Examples: a neighbourhood community; a sports community; a school community; a Reddit community.
Individual (GloPoPolis extra)
Individual (GloPoPolis extra)
Generally we discuss global politics at scales larger than the individual and the IB Global politics guide doesn't name this as a formal level of analysis however, there are some occasions when the individual is important.
In particular, during your IA engagement project you are likely to interview individuals about their experience of your chosen political issue.
Perspectives
Perspectives
It is vital to explore global politics using different perspectives.
Perspectives can be looking at a political issue from...
individual perspectives e.g. John Mearsheimer says... whilst Joseph Nye says...
stakeholder/ group perspectives e.g. children, women, men, elderly, farmers, private companies, politicians, academics, religious groups, ethnic groups, national groups etc.
theoretical lenses e.g. environmentalism, feminism, liberalism, postcolonialism, Marxism, realism
By exploring perspectives, we can question, shift and strengthen our own political perspectives. Being truly open-minded is hard. When you study global politics it's ok to have your own opinions but it is important to be self-aware, to acknowledge where our opinion comes from and to consider alternative perspectives.
In essays, you must discuss political issues from multiple perspectives. The highest grades are achieved when students explore and evaluate different perspectives.
Time
Time
We tend to take time for granted and it seems so obvious to organise events into days, months, years, decades, centuries etc. However, it's important to remember time is a construct. For example, we can also think of the Buddhist calendar or Hebrew calendar. We can also consider time as short-term and long-term, or cause, impact, response.
Example using the global political challenge: health
Example using the global political challenge: health
We can think about health at different scales, through different perspectives and over time. Possible ways are:
Scale
Scale
Global: how COVID-19 spread and became a pandemic
Community: how volunteers worked together to coordinate food and care to vulnerable people
Perspectives
Perspectives
Stakeholders: how elderly populations versus young populations perceived lockdowns
Ethnicity: how different ethnic groups experienced the pandemic within the same city.
Theory: examine the access of vaccines from a theory of realism versus liberalism
Time
Time
How did public perception of the health risk change over time?
e.g. 2019-2020: European lockdown policies and protests
2021 onwards: European vaccine policies and protests
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