IB Global Politics Topics: Full List

If you are studying IB Global Politics (opens in a new tab), understanding the full list of course topics can help you organise your revision more effectively.

The IB Global Politics course explores how political power operates at local, national and global levels. Students study key political concepts and apply them to major global issues such as human rights, development, sustainability and conflict.

This guide provides a clear overview of the IB Global Politics topics for the current course with first assessment in 2026. It explains how the topics are organised and how they fit into the structure of the course, helping you plan your revision and make sure you cover all examinable content.

Key Takeaways

• IB Global Politics topics are organised around a core area and three thematic studies.

• Students explore themes including rights and justice, development and sustainability, and peace and conflict.

• Both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students study the same core themes, though HL includes an additional exam paper.

• Understanding how topics are grouped can help you organise revision and prepare for assessments.

Why It's Important to Know Your Exam Board

Unlike many other qualifications, IB Global Politics does not vary by exam board. All students follow the same course set by the International Baccalaureate.

However, it is still important to understand how the course content is organised. IB Global Politics is structured around a core area and three thematic studies, which form the basis of exam questions and assessments.

Knowing how topics are grouped can help you:

• organise your revision more effectively

• connect political concepts with real-world case studies

• prepare for essay questions and source analysis in exams

Understanding the course structure also makes it easier to track your progress and ensure you cover all examinable content.

IB Global Politics Topics (First Assessment 2026)

The IB Global Politics course is organised around a core area and three thematic studies. These areas introduce key political concepts and apply them to major global issues.

All students study these topics, regardless of whether they take Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL).

Understanding Power and Global Politics (Core)

This core area introduces the main political concepts used throughout the course.

Students examine ideas such as:

• Power – how political power is exercised and distributed

• Authority and legitimacy – why governments and political systems are accepted or challenged

• Governance – how political systems organise decision-making

• Political actors – the role of states, international organisations, NGOs and individuals

• Political activity across levels – local, national, international and global politics.

These concepts provide the foundation for analysing the global issues studied in the thematic units.

Rights and Justice

This theme explores political debates about human rights, equality and justice.

Students typically examine topics such as:

• Human rights frameworks

  • the development of international human rights law

  • the role of global institutions and courts

• Interpretations of justice

  • debates about equality, freedom and fairness

  • universal versus culturally specific interpretations of rights

• Protection and violation of rights

  • how governments protect or restrict rights

  • the role of activists, NGOs and international organisations

• Contested rights issues

  • debates about civil liberties and minority rights

  • political disagreements over social justice policies.

Students apply these ideas to real-world political examples.

Development and Sustainability

This theme focuses on global inequality and the political challenges of development.

Students explore topics such as:

• Economic development

  • causes of global inequality

  • development strategies and economic policies

• Political decision-making and development

  • how governments and international organisations shape development outcomes

• Sustainability and environmental governance

  • environmental policy and climate politics

  • balancing economic development with sustainability

• International cooperation

  • global agreements and institutions addressing development challenges.

These topics help students understand the political dimensions of global development.

Peace and Conflict

This theme explores the causes of conflict and the processes used to maintain peace.

Students study topics such as:

• Causes of conflict

  • political, economic and social factors behind conflict

  • the role of identity, ideology and power

• Conflict resolution

  • diplomacy and negotiation

  • peace agreements and mediation

• Peacekeeping and peacebuilding

  • the role of international organisations

  • rebuilding societies after conflict

• International cooperation and security

  • how states and organisations work to prevent or manage conflict.

Students analyse case studies of conflicts and peacebuilding efforts in different regions of the world.

IB Global Politics Assessment Structure

IB Global Politics topics are assessed through a combination of written exams and an internal assessment.

• Paper 1 uses source material and case studies to test understanding of political issues.

• Paper 2 requires essay responses analysing course themes.

• Paper 3 (HL only) focuses on global political challenges and deeper conceptual analysis.

• The engagement project involves investigating a real-world political issue.

Questions in all of the written exams may draw on concepts, case studies and examples from across the core area and thematic studies.

IB Global Politics Assessment Overview

For a full breakdown of the differences between IB Standard Level and Higher Level across subjects, see our IB Standard vs Higher Level guide.

How to Use Topic Lists for Revision

A clear list of IB Global Politics topics can help you organise your revision and make sure you cover the full course content.

Start by reviewing the core area and thematic studies, then break your revision into manageable sections based on these topic groups.

For example, you might organise your revision like this:

• Understanding Power and Global Politics – review key political concepts such as power, legitimacy and governance

• Rights and Justice – revise human rights frameworks, debates about justice and examples of contested rights issues

• Development and Sustainability – focus on global inequality, development policies and sustainability challenges

• Peace and Conflict – study causes of conflict, diplomacy, peacekeeping and conflict resolution.

You could then:

• create a revision checklist for each theme

• identify topics you feel less confident about

• organise a revision timetable based on the main themes

• track your progress as you revise key concepts and case studies.

Because IB Global Politics relies heavily on real-world examples, it can also help to connect each topic with case studies or current events that illustrate the political concepts you are studying.

Explore our Learning Hub to find a wealth of revision advice, including articles on how to revise effectively and the best memorisation techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to revise all IB Global Politics topics for the exam?

Yes. Questions in IB Global Politics exams can draw on ideas from across the core area and the thematic studies.

This means it is important to understand all of the main topic areas, including power and global politics, rights and justice, development and sustainability, and peace and conflict. Even if exam questions focus on a particular theme, they often require you to apply political concepts and examples from different parts of the course.

Are these topics the same across all exam boards?

Yes. Unlike many other qualifications, IB Global Politics follows a single global curriculum set by the International Baccalaureate.

This means students around the world study the same core area and thematic studies. However, the case studies and examples used in lessons may vary between schools, depending on the issues teachers choose to explore in more depth.

How do I know which topics I struggle with most?

A useful way to identify weaker topics is to practise past exam questions or essay plans based on the course themes.

If you find certain themes harder to analyse or explain, such as development policies or conflict resolution, those may be areas to prioritise in your revision. Many students also find it helpful to rate their confidence in each topic and focus more time on the areas they find most challenging.

Do all topics come up in every exam paper?

No. Each exam paper usually focuses on a selection of topics or themes from the course.

However, the IB Global Politics course is concept-driven, so exam questions often require you to apply political concepts and examples from across the course rather than relying on knowledge from a single topic area.

Final Thoughts

IB Global Politics offers a fascinating way to explore how political decisions shape the world around us.

By studying themes such as rights and justice, development and sustainability, and peace and conflict, you gain a deeper understanding of the political forces influencing societies today. The course also encourages you to analyse different perspectives and connect political concepts with real-world issues.

Understanding the full list of IB Global Politics topics can help you organise your revision more effectively and make sure you cover all the key areas of the course.

If you are studying IB, use Save My Exams’ IB revision notes, practice questions and study resources to help you strengthen your understanding and prepare for your assessments.

References:

• Studying global politics - International Baccalaureate® (opens in a new tab)

• Global politics updates - International Baccalaureate® (opens in a new tab)

• Individuals and societies: Global politics | Subject Brief (First assessment 2026) (opens in a new tab)