Introduction: Politics, Power, and the Ethics of Understanding
IB Global Politics asks students to examine some of the most complex questions of our time — about conflict, justice, rights, and power. But meaningful political analysis depends on one essential quality: integrity.
In a world flooded with misinformation and bias, integrity helps students think critically, respect evidence, and argue ethically. The IB Global Politics Guide (IBO, 2023) stresses that “students must demonstrate intellectual honesty and transparency in their engagement with global issues.”
This guide explains how IB Global Politics students can ensure academic integrity across all components — from research and case studies to presentations and the engagement activity.
Quick Start Checklist: Practicing Integrity in Global Politics
- Use credible sources only — international organizations, peer-reviewed research, or reputable journalism.
- Cite every statistic, quote, or case study.
- Avoid biased or unverified media.
- Analyze rather than copy commentary.
- Disclose interview sources and permissions.
- Reflect critically, not ideologically.
Integrity allows political inquiry to rise above opinion and move toward understanding.
Why Integrity Matters in Political Inquiry
Politics involves competing perspectives and values. Without integrity, analysis can easily become propaganda.
Integrity in IB Global Politics means:
- Respecting evidence over emotion.
- Acknowledging bias — your own and your sources’.
- Building arguments through reasoned evaluation, not selective citation.
As political scientist Hannah Arendt observed, “Truth and politics are not on the best of terms — but factual truth is the ground we stand on.” In IB coursework, your integrity protects that ground.
Conducting Ethical Research
The Global Politics course encourages original investigation into real issues — migration, human rights, or climate policy — but research must be ethical.
Follow these principles:
- Use primary sources responsibly (interviews, surveys, local data).
- Obtain informed consent before using interview material.
- Protect anonymity if requested.
- Use secondary sources from verified organizations such as:
- United Nations (un.org)
- Amnesty International (amnesty.org)
- World Bank (worldbank.org)
- The Economist or BBC News for current analysis.
Ethical sourcing ensures your conclusions rest on verified, balanced evidence.
Avoiding Bias and Misrepresentation
Every political issue has multiple sides. Integrity means recognizing that complexity rather than simplifying it to support your viewpoint.
To avoid bias:
- Compare perspectives from different regions or ideologies.
- Question the motivations of every source.
- Distinguish between fact, interpretation, and opinion.
- Avoid selective omission — include counter-evidence.
Balanced analysis strengthens your argument and demonstrates the global awareness the IB values.
Honest Case Study and Data Use
In your Global Politics IA or engagement activity, you may draw on case studies such as climate agreements, conflict resolutions, or NGO initiatives. Uphold integrity by:
- Citing all factual data, treaties, and organizations accurately.
- Avoiding fabricated or outdated statistics.
- Linking every claim to a verifiable source.
- Explaining methodology for interviews or field data.
Example:
Data from the UNHCR (2024) indicates that global displacement surpassed 114 million, illustrating the scale of forced migration crises.
Real data builds real credibility.
Ethics in the Engagement Activity
The engagement activity asks students to connect political theory with real-world action. This is where ethical responsibility becomes most visible.
- Choose organizations or actions that align with IB safety and ethics policies.
- Seek permission before participation or data collection.
- Avoid representing groups inaccurately or making promises you can’t fulfill.
- Reflect on your role — you’re a learner, not an activist on behalf of the IB.
Your reflection should focus on understanding political processes, not promoting a specific agenda.
Using Political Theories with Integrity
When applying political theories — from realism and liberalism to feminism or post-colonialism — integrity means understanding their context and crediting original thinkers.
Examples of ethical referencing:
Realist perspectives, such as those outlined by Hans Morgenthau in Politics Among Nations (1948), emphasize state power as the central force in global relations.
A feminist approach, following Cynthia Enloe’s Bananas, Beaches and Bases (1990), challenges whose voices are heard in policymaking.
Using real sources shows respect for scholarship and depth in your analysis.
Responsible Use of AI and Digital Tools
Technology can assist research, but it must never produce analysis for you.
- Use AI only for organizational help or grammar checking.
- Do not let AI summarize sources or generate case study content.
- Verify all digital information through reliable human-edited sources.
- Cite any digital tools or datasets that influenced your work.
Integrity ensures that your political insight remains authentically human.
Reflecting Honestly in Evaluations
Integrity is clearest in your reflection sections — after analysis and engagement. Be candid about:
- What surprised you or challenged your assumptions.
- How bias affected your initial thinking.
- What limitations shaped your conclusions.
- What ethical questions arose during your research.
Honest reflection is intellectual maturity in action — it turns your coursework into real global understanding.
How RevisionDojo Supports Political Integrity
RevisionDojo helps IB Global Politics students maintain academic and ethical standards through:
- Guides on evaluating source bias and reliability.
- Lessons on referencing political theory and global data accurately.
- Reflection exercises for ethical engagement activities.
- Case study templates that emphasize balance and authenticity.
By learning with RevisionDojo, students build the analytical discipline and moral reasoning required for both IB success and global citizenship.
Conclusion: Integrity Is the Heart of Global Politics
Politics without integrity becomes manipulation.
Through ethical research and honest reasoning, IB Global Politics students learn how to question, analyze, and act responsibly in an interconnected world.
When you choose transparency over bias and truth over convenience, your political insight gains weight — and your voice becomes one of genuine global understanding.
RevisionDojo Call to Action
Engage with the world responsibly.
Use RevisionDojo to master ethical research, balanced political analysis, and reflective evaluation — the core skills of principled global thinkers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What sources are considered credible in IB Global Politics?
International organizations, academic journals, and reputable media outlets such as the UN, IMF, The Economist, or BBC News are acceptable. Avoid anonymous blogs or unverified social media.
2. Can I use interviews or surveys?
Yes, but you must obtain informed consent and respect participant confidentiality. Describe your methodology transparently.
3. How should I reference political theories?
Credit the theorist and major work when introducing the concept. Explain in your own words how the theory applies to your case study.
4. Can I use AI tools for my IA or engagement report?
Only for basic language refinement or formatting. All research and analysis must be your own.
5. How does RevisionDojo support Global Politics integrity?
RevisionDojo teaches ethical research practices, source evaluation, and reflective analysis — ensuring every project reflects both intellectual honesty and IB values.
