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Global Politics Extended Essay Guide
A guide to writing an analytical, well-evidenced IB Global Politics Extended Essay using political theory and real-world events.
What is a Global Politics Extended Essay?
The Global Politics Extended Essay (EE) is one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of the IB Diploma. Below you will find everything you need to choose a strong topic, design your methodology, and write a high-scoring EE in Global Politics.
Word Count
3,500 – 4,000 words
Excluding bibliography, abstract, and appendices. Budget every section carefully before you start writing.
Assessment
Graded A–E
Combined with the TOK essay for up to 3 bonus IB Diploma points. A strong EE and TOK = maximum bonus.
Timeline
12–18 months
From initial topic to final submission. Most students underestimate this. Start early and plan backwards from your deadline.
Supervision
3 required meetings
Initial, interim, and final (viva voce). Each requires an RPPF reflection. Your supervisor approves your RQ.
Strong Global Politics EE Topic Ideas
| Topic Idea | Why It Works | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| To what extent has NATO’s collective security framework been effective in deterring Russian aggression since 2014? | International security, realism/liberalism debate | Hard |
| How has China’s Belt and Road Initiative shifted power dynamics in Southeast Asia? | Geopolitics, dependency theory, economic power | Hard |
| To what extent has the ICC fulfilled its mandate to protect human rights since 1998? | International law, human rights, specific cases | Medium |
| How effective has the European Union been in managing the 2015 refugee crisis in terms of its shared sovereignty principles? | EU politics, sovereignty, humanitarian law | Medium |
| To what extent does the United Nations Security Council veto system undermine global governance? | International organisations, power, reform debate | Easy |
| How has social media changed the nature of political protest movements? A case study of the Arab Spring | Digital politics, social movements, technology | Medium |
Subject-Specific Advice
Political Theory
Apply IR theory explicitly
Name and apply theories: Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, Dependency Theory. Political EEs without theoretical frameworks score in the lower bands.
Case Study
Focus on one specific case
Pick one country, one conflict, one institution, one event — and analyse it deeply. Comparing 5 different cases in 4,000 words produces only superficial analysis.
Current Events
Use recent data
Global Politics EEs are expected to engage with contemporary events. Ensure your sources include recent academic articles, think-tank reports, and government documents (2015–present).
Key Concepts
Link to GP concepts
Explicitly connect your analysis to the GP key concepts: power (hard, soft, structural), sovereignty, interdependence, human rights. These are the language of the discipline.
Assessment & Common Mistakes
Assessed on: political knowledge, application of theory, use of evidence, and quality of evaluation. Students who describe political events without applying theory are assessed in the lower mark bands.
⚠ Common Pitfall
Students confuse GP with History or Journalism. A GP EE is not a news report and it is not a historical narrative. It must apply political theory and concepts to evaluate a political question — not just describe what happened in a conflict or election.
Global Politics EE Checklist
- ✓ My RQ engages a specific political question — not a description of a political event
- ✓ I apply at least one named IR theory (Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism)
- ✓ I link my analysis to GP key concepts (power, sovereignty, interdependence, human rights)
- ✓ I use recent, academic or official sources (2015 onwards)
- ✓ I evaluate competing political interpretations — not just one view
- ✓ My conclusion makes a specific political judgement supported by theory and evidence
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