Part 1 – The Core: Understanding Power and Global Politics
An Academy adaptation for planning and mastery.
LAYER 1: CONTENT OVERVIEW (Academy Study Breakdown)
The IB Global Politics guide identifies the following prescribed topics and content for the Core. The Academy has organised these official areas into smaller study checkpoints.
| Academy Study Area | SL | HL |
|---|---|---|
| Framing Global Politics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power in Global Politics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sovereignty in Global Politics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legitimacy in Global Politics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interdependence in Global Politics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Theoretical Perspectives | ✓ | ✓ |
Total trackable checkpoints in Part 1: 35 (Academy-created study organisation).
LAYER 2: RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE
Purpose: A suggested order for learning the Core. This is not an IB-required sequence.
| Academy Study Area | Sequence | Why we suggest it |
|---|---|---|
| Framing Global Politics | 1st | Introduces the scope and systems of global politics |
| Power in Global Politics | 2nd | Core concept that underpins all other areas |
| Sovereignty in Global Politics | 3rd | Builds on power and introduces state authority |
| Legitimacy in Global Politics | 4th | Explores why authority is accepted or contested |
| Interdependence in Global Politics | 5th | Shows how states and actors rely on each other |
| Theoretical Perspectives | 6th | Meta-level lens to analyse all previous concepts |
STUDENT ACTION: “This is a suggested Academy sequence. You may adapt it to your own learning style, teacher’s sequence and classroom work.”
LAYER 3: SYLLABUS ITEMS WITH MASTERY TRACKING
SECTION: THE CORE (2026 Syllabus – 35 Checkpoints)
Instructions:
– Use the status buttons to mark a checkpoint Not Started, Revising, or Practising.
– Use Test Mastery when you are ready to check whether you can mark the checkpoint Mastered.
– You must pass the Mastery Gate for the status to become Mastered.
– If you cannot pass, choose I Couldn’t Pass. The checkpoint will be marked Revising and added to your Weak Spots.
LAYER 4: MASTERY GATE
Purpose: Test your understanding of the selected checkpoint.
Answer the questions that match the learning objective type:
🔹 For DEFINE / DESCRIBE checkpoints:
☐ Can I recall the definition accurately?
☐ Can I explain it in my own words?
🔹 For EXPLAIN checkpoints:
☐ Can I recall the definition?
☐ Can I explain the mechanism/process?
☐ Can I give an example?
🔹 For APPLY checkpoints:
☐ Can I recall the definition?
☐ Can I explain the concept?
☐ Can I give an example from a contemporary case study?
🔹 For DISCUSS / EVALUATE checkpoints:
☐ Can I recall the definition?
☐ Can I explain the concept?
☐ Can I give an example/case study?
☐ Can I evaluate it (strengths AND limitations)?
PASS?
YES → 🟢 MASTERED
The checkpoint moves to Mastered.
Academy Spaced Review: 1 Day → 3 Days → 7 Days → 30 Days
NO → 🔴 REVISING
The checkpoint remains in Revising and is added to your Academy Weak Spots.
LAYER 5: DASHBOARD
THE CORE – PROGRESS OVERVIEW
🚨 WEAK SPOTS (Checkpoints that failed the Mastery Gate):
⬆ UPCOMING SPACED REVIEWS:
📊 PROGRESS: 0%
LAYER 6: HL EXTENSIONS AND GLOBAL POLITICAL CHALLENGES
HL students: The higher level extension is not composed of additional prescribed content, but of guiding questions that structure students’ research.
HL students conduct extended inquiries around eight Global Political Challenges:
- Borders
- Environment
- Equality
- Health
- Identity
- Poverty
- Security
- Technology
These challenges are explored through the guiding questions of the HL extension, drawing on concepts, topics and ideas from the wider course.
Paper 3 – HL
Paper 3 is a stimulus-based paper focused on the HL extension global political challenges. The stimulus may include text, data, diagrams and infographics.
Paper 3 is 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 28 marks, and contributes 30% of the final assessment at HL.
LAYER 7: KEY CASE STUDIES REFERENCE
Purpose: These are Academy-selected example case studies. They are examples – not a required list.
| Case Study | Year(s) | Focus | Useful for… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia–Ukraine conflict | 2014–present | Power, sovereignty, security | Power, Sovereignty, Interdependence |
| Brexit | 2016–2020 | Sovereignty, interdependence, legitimacy | Sovereignty, Interdependence |
| UN Security Council | Ongoing | Power, legitimacy, global governance | Power, Legitimacy |
| WHO and COVID-19 response | 2020–present | Interdependence, legitimacy, health governance | Interdependence, Legitimacy |
| China’s Belt and Road Initiative | 2013–present | Power, interdependence, development | Power, Interdependence |
| Paris Climate Agreement | 2015–present | Interdependence, legitimacy, environment | Interdependence, Legitimacy |
| Hong Kong protests | 2019–2020 | Sovereignty, legitimacy, identity | Sovereignty, Legitimacy |
| NATO expansion | 1999–present | Power, security, sovereignty | Power, Sovereignty |
For each case study, try to know: Context → Actors → Concepts → Evidence → Strengths → Limitations → Relevance.
⚡ ACADEMY RECOMMENDATION – FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
Aim for strong mastery of the Core while continuing to build Research Methodology and thematic study application alongside it. The 80% mastery target is an Academy planning guideline only. It is not an IB requirement and does not predict an IB grade.
📞 Need Help with the Core?
Chat with us on WhatsApp or call for personalised guidance on your IB Global Politics journey.
This dashboard is an adaptation created by IB Global Politics Academy. It is NOT the official IB syllabus. Always refer to the official IB Global Politics guide (first teaching 2024, first assessment 2026) for definitive syllabus content.
🔗 Official IB Global Politics subject brief
IB Global Politics Academy · Part 1 Core · Adapted from IB DP Global Politics Guide (2024)