Choosing Case Studies (DP IB Global Politics: HL): Revision Note

What is a case study in Paper 3?

• In Paper 3, a case study is a specific, real-world political situation, event, or process that you have researched independently before the exam

• It is your evidence - the material you use to support your arguments and answer all three questions on the paper

• Unlike Papers 1 and 2, Paper 3 requires you to bring your own material into the exam room; the examiner will not provide your case study for you

• Your case study must connect clearly to one or more of the 8 HL topic areas

How many case studies do you need?

• The IB recommends that HL students develop at least 2–3 in-depth case studies for Paper 3

• Depth is more important than quantity - a case study you know in detail is far more useful than several you know only superficially

• Each case study should be understood well enough to support a full question 3 essay, worth 15 marks

• Your case studies should ideally cover different topic areas, giving you flexibility to respond to different questions

What makes a strong case study?

• A strong Paper 3 case study:

  • Clearly illustrates one or more of the 8 HL topic areas

  • Has a clear political dimension

    • It involves states, IGOs, NGOs or other political actors making decisions with real consequences

  • Includes specific, verifiable details

    • Dates, statistics, names of organisations, policy decisions and outcomes

  • Has multiple actors and stakeholders, enabling you to address question 2a and 2b as well as question 3

  • Connects to more than one topic area, making it useful across different exam scenarios

  • Presents a genuine political challenge, not just a description of an event

What to avoid

• Case studies that are too broad or vague

  • E.g. "climate change in Africa" covers too much to anchor with specific evidence

• Cases where the political dimension is unclear

  • E.g. a natural disaster with no identifiable governance failure or international response is unlikely to score well

• Cases that only connect to one topic area, as these limit your flexibility

• Cases where your knowledge is superficial - the examiner expects specific evidence, not general statements

Choosing your topic areas

• You do not need case studies for all 8 topic areas

  • Aim to cover at least 2–3 different areas

• Build on what you have already studied in your core and thematic coursework

  • Paper 3 case studies should deepen existing knowledge, not introduce entirely new subject matter

• The strongest case studies sit at the intersection of two or more topic areas

  • E.g. the Rohingya crisis connects Identity, Borders, Security and Equality

Checklist: Is this a good Paper 3 case study?