IA Engagement Project Guide Notes

IB Global Politics IA Engagement Project Guide

Why the Engagement Project actually matters

1. It’s politics off the page.
   1. Most of IB is about essays, exams, and theory. The Engagement Project is where you get your hands dirty with real-world politics.
   2. Instead of just reading Nye or Waltz, you can say: “Yeah, I interviewed an activist, and this is how power actually plays out.”
2. It’s your project, your choice.
   1. You’re not stuck analyzing something random. You pick the issue.
   2. Into climate change? Migration? Human rights?
   3. The project lets you chase what genuinely interests you, which makes it way more fun to research.
3. It makes theory click.
   1. Ever read a definition of “legitimacy” or “sovereignty” and thought, okay, but what does that even mean in practice?
   2. The Engagement Project is where those abstract ideas start to make sense because you see them in action.
4. It shows off your independence.
   1. This isn’t just busywork. It’s a chance to prove you can investigate, analyze, and think like a political scientist.
   2. That looks impressive for uni apps and, honestly, makes you feel a little powerful yourself.
5. The IA (Internal Assessment) Engagement Project is a required component of IB Global Politics. It involves:
   1. Choosing a local or community-level political issue
   2. Conducting research and engagement (not just academic research)
   3. Writing a report that reflects on your learning and experience

The Process Overview

1. Planning: Define your political issue and create a research question
2. Research: Investigate the issue, the actors involved, and possible solutions
3. Engagement: Participate in or observe real-world activities connected to your issue
4. Reflection & Reporting: Analyse what you learned, link to political theory, and write up the findings

How to Choose a Political Issue

Ask:

1. Who has power? Who lacks it?
2. Who wants to change things? Who resists change?
3. What impact does the issue have on people’s lives?

Possible actors:

1. Governments (local, national, international)
2. NGOs and civil society
3. Private companies
4. Interest groups or political parties
5. The media or specific leaders

Engagement Ideas

1. Interview local activists, politicians, or stakeholders
2. Volunteer with a relevant NGO or campaign
3. Observe a political protest, public hearing, or policy meeting
4. Help run or analyse a political awareness campaign

Possible Issues to Explore

1. Climate action: e.g. local renewable energy projects, city recycling policies, or community climate strikes.
2. Migration & refugees: local support groups for asylum seekers, housing policies, or integration programs.
3. Human rights: treatment of minority groups, gender equality campaigns, or policing and accountability.
4. Health & equity: access to mental health services, vaccination campaigns, or healthcare inequality.
5. Housing & development: rising rent, affordable housing campaigns, or urban regeneration conflicts.
6. Education access: funding disparities between schools, curriculum debates, or activism on student debt.
7. Digital politics: surveillance, data privacy in your city, or the politics of online misinformation.
8. Labor rights: gig economy protections, strikes, or campaigns for fair pay.

Common Problems & Solutions

Ethical Considerations

1. Prioritize safety, yours and others’
2. Respect laws, cultures, and consent
3. Keep interview data confidential and anonymous
4. Don’t lie, exaggerate, or fabricate anything

IA Engagement Project: PEEL+R Structure

1. Each body section should follow PEEL+R:
   1. Point → clear claim / finding.
   2. Evidence → research + engagement data.
   3. Explanation → connect evidence to political meaning.
   4. Link → tie back to research question / theory.
   5. Reflection → your learning, limits, perspective shift.

SL Report (~1,950 words)

1. Intro (≈200 words)

1. Define issue + research question.
2. Context (who’s involved, why it matters).
3. Key political concepts.
4. Reflection: why you chose it, initial perspective.

2. Research Findings (≈450 words)

1. P: Finding about actor/issue.
2. E: Data, case studies, secondary sources.
3. E: What this reveals about power, legitimacy, sovereignty, etc.
4. L: Tie back to RQ.
5. R: What surprised you about the research process?

3. Engagement (≈350 words)

1. P: What your engagement showed (e.g. NGO strategy, protest dynamics).
2. E: Observations, interviews, volunteering experience.
3. E: Why this matters politically.
4. L: Connect to theory and research.
5. R: Challenges, ethical issues, or perspective shifts.

4. Analysis & Synthesis (≈600 words)

1. P: Claim combining engagement + research.
2. E: Specific examples from both sides.
3. E: Apply theory (justice, legitimacy, sovereignty, agency).
4. L: Explicitly connect to RQ and course concepts.
5. R: How your understanding of politics deepened.

5. Evaluation (≈200 words)

1. P: Judgement (e.g. effectiveness of actors/policy).
2. E: Evidence for strengths + weaknesses.
3. E: Acknowledge biases or limits in sources/engagement.
4. L: Connect to broader implications.
5. R: What gaps remain in your knowledge?

6. Conclusion (≈150 words)

1. P: Direct answer to RQ.
2. E: Summarise strongest evidence.
3. E: What this means politically.
4. L: Link back to key concept(s).
5. R: Final reflection - personal/political learning.

HL Addition (≈400 words): Recommendation

1. P: Clear one-sentence proposal.
2. E: Evidence + insights from research and engagement.
3. E: Feasibility, actors, precedent.
4. L: Tie to theory and political agency.
5. R: Risks, unintended consequences, what you learned.

Assessment Criteria (SL)

1. A: Explanation & Justification (4): Clearly explain the issue and justify your engagement choice
2. B: Process (3): Show your research and planning process
3. C: Analysis & Synthesis (8): Go beyond description, analyze the issue and combine perspectives
4. D: Evaluation & Reflection (6): Critically assess sources and reflect on your learning
5. E: Communication (3): Write in a clear, well-organized way

Extra for HL Students

1. H: Recommendation (6 marks)
   1. Propose a feasible, evidence-based solution to the issue
   2. It should be grounded in your research and engagement, not just opinion