Essay: Pick a real-life issue in world politics today and explain what should be studied under the heading ‘international relations’, according to feminism, realism and liberalism respectively.
Requirements:
Step 1:
Choose one of these two questions to answer:
1. Pick a real-life issue in world politics today and explain what should be studied under the heading ‘international relations’, according to feminism, realism and liberalism respectively.
2. Pick a real-life issue in world politics today and explain which one of these three theories (feminism, realism and liberalism) you think to be the most useful in your making sense of world politics.
The purpose of these essay questions is to get you thinking about how the competing theories studied in this course allow us to see international relations differently. To answer either of them, you will necessarily need to adopt a comparative approach and demonstrate: 1. your understanding of the three schools of IR theories; 2. your ability to apply the key concepts and assumptions of these theories in your analysis.
With the 2nd question, do not argue that all the theoretical perspectives we have studied are important. They probably are, but you need to choose one and make an argument that explains why your selected theoretical perspective is more useful than the other two to understand world politics.
Step 2:
You need to include a minimum of six academic sources of three different types. Using the University of Sydney Library catalogue and databases, locate more than six items that will be helpful for completing your potential essay. Then read through them to determine whether or not they are relevant, and identify the items that you view as most important.
None of the six references can be items from the set readings. This includes other chapters of books from the set readings. You should seek out scholarly sources wherever possible, augmenting these with contemporary non-scholarly pieces of research if need be. You need to include three different academic source types:
• A chapter from an edited book (where there are one or more editors but chapters are written by different authors);
• A chapter from a sole or multiple-authored book (not an edited book, but a book where there are one or more authors who have written all the chapters);
• A recent academic journal article related to your topic from a peer-reviewed journal. For a list of peer-reviewed journals you may use Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory from the University of Sydney Library website.
Acceptable non-academic sources could be:
• A recent government report or publication related to your topic;
• An official website of an organisation or group relevant to your topic (such as the UN, WTO/IMF etc). Note, blogs and wikipedia are unacceptable;
• A relevant, preferably recent, newspaper article.
Step 3:
Write a research essay of 1,500 words.
Note that 1500 is *not* inclusive of your bibliography and that it is fine to be 10% over or under the 1500 word count. In this essay, you draw on research to fully develop your argument and write it in an essay format, with an introduction, supporting paragraphs, a conclusion, and a complete bibliography.
What we score:
79%
Our Writer’s Comment
This assignment is designed to assess students’ understanding of business practices.
To secure an A+ grade, adhere to these guidelines and make sure your work aligns with the grading criteria:
Step 1: Choosing and Understanding the Question
You’ve got two options for your essay:
- Comparing Feminism, Realism, and Liberalism on a Real-World Issue:
- This option asks you to explain how three different International Relations (IR) theories (feminism, realism, liberalism) would approach a specific real-world issue. You should demonstrate how each theory interprets global politics in its own way.
- For example, if you choose climate change, realism might view it through the lens of state interests and power, while liberalism might focus on international cooperation, and feminism might highlight the role of gendered power structures in how climate policy is formed.
- It’s important to balance your analysis and give equal attention to each theory while showing how they differ in their approach to the same issue.
- Arguing Which Theory Is Most Useful for Understanding a Real-World Issue:
- This option requires you to pick one theory and make a case for why it’s the best framework for understanding a particular issue.
- For instance, if you believe realism provides the clearest explanation for international conflict, you could explain why it’s superior to liberalism and feminism by discussing how realism emphasizes the role of power, competition, and state interests.
- Be clear and focused: Avoid saying all three theories are equally important. Pick one, make your case, and support your argument with evidence.
Step 2: Researching Sources
You need to find six academic sources and meet the requirement of using three different types of sources:
- A chapter from an edited book.
- A chapter from a sole or multiple-authored book.
- A peer-reviewed academic journal article.
Key Tip: Make sure you are using relevant and recent sources. Scholarly books and peer-reviewed journal articles will strengthen your essay, and contemporary sources will make your argument more timely.
Here’s how to organize your research:
- Edited book chapter: This is a great opportunity to find a chapter focusing on feminist, realist, or liberalist theory in international relations.
- Sole-authored book chapter: Look for a book that delves deep into one of the three IR theories.
- Peer-reviewed journal article: Look for articles in journals like International Relations, World Politics, or Global Governance that address the theory you’re focusing on or the real-world issue.
Additionally, you can supplement with non-academic sources like government reports or official publications. These sources help give contemporary, real-world context to your argument, but remember not to over-rely on them—keep the focus on scholarly research.
Step 3: Writing the Essay
Your essay should have a clear and organized structure with these key elements:
- Introduction:
- Start with a hook that introduces the real-world issue you’ll discuss (for example, international trade or climate change).
- Clearly state the thesis: whether you’re comparing the three theories or arguing that one is more useful than the others, your thesis should guide the rest of the essay.
- Briefly outline what each paragraph will cover.
- Body Paragraphs:
- Comparative Approach (if answering Question 1): Dedicate one section to each theory, explaining how each would interpret the chosen issue. Be clear about the differences between them, but also note any overlaps where relevant. Support your points with evidence from your sources.
- Argumentative Approach (if answering Question 2): Dedicate most of the essay to explaining why one theory is most useful. Use examples from current events or historical cases to support your argument. In another section, explain why the other two theories are less applicable.
When writing, be sure to:
- Cite evidence: Use your research to back up your claims. Don’t just explain the theory—apply it to the issue using concrete examples.
- Integrate theory and practice: Show how abstract theories apply to real-world events or policies.
- Conclusion:
- Summarize your main points and restate your thesis.
- Highlight why understanding world politics through the lens of your chosen theory (or theories) is crucial to better comprehending international relations.
Additional Tips:
- Balance theory with examples: It’s important to show you understand each theory, but make sure you also demonstrate how these theories apply to real-life scenarios.
- Critical analysis: Don’t just describe the theories—critically engage with them. For example, is there a situation where realism falls short but liberalism explains things better?
- Citations and Bibliography: Follow the APA format strictly, including in-text citations and the final bibliography. Make sure your sources are cited correctly and provide URLs for non-academic sources when appropriate.
Final Thoughts
- Stay within the word limit: Aim for 1,500 words (you can go 10% over or under). Be concise and focus on the most important points to avoid going off-topic.
- Proofread: Take the time to proofread your essay for clarity, grammar, and APA formatting. Small mistakes can affect your overall score.
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