IB Global Politics SL and HL | 200 Essay Writing Words

Learn 200 IB Global Politics words for comparing political actors, evaluating evidence and developing a judgement about power. Each entry gives a plain-English meaning and an example.

Under the IB Global Politics course first assessed in 2026, SL and HL students take a 75-minute source paper and a 105-minute essay paper. HL students also take a 90-minute stimulus paper using researched cases. Paper 2 requires two essays, one from each section.

200 words and examples
Exam requirements and worked examples
Fencing Method
Practice exercises

200 essay vocabulary words and examples

Power, rights and international order

sovereignty — a state’s claim to ultimate governing authority within its territory. weigh treaty obligations against sovereignty.
legitimacy — the perceived rightfulness of a decision, authority or institution. explain how public participation might strengthen legitimacy.
coercion — use of force or threats to influence behavior. sanctions may exert coercion through economic pressure.
soft power — influence through attraction rather than coercion or payment. distinguish cultural soft power from a financial incentive.
structural power — the ability to shape the systems and rules within which others act. control over lending terms can exercise structural power.
interdependence — mutual reliance among actors. trade interdependence can create shared gains and asymmetric risks.
multilateralism — coordination among multiple states through shared rules or arrangements. the treaty gives multilateralism a formal structure.
non-state actor — an organization or group that acts politically without being a state. identify a non-state actor involved in monitoring the agreement.
jurisdiction — authority to make or enforce legal decisions over a matter. the court’s jurisdiction depends on the applicable rules.
ratification — formal consent to be bound by a treaty in the relevant legal process. distinguish signing from ratification.
compliance — conformity with a rule or obligation. assess whether reporting data establish compliance.
enforcement — steps used to secure adherence to a rule or decision. enforcement can depend on national institutions.
accountability — an obligation to explain conduct and face scrutiny or consequences. ask whether review improves accountability.
universality — the claim that a principle or right applies to everyone. compare universality with disagreement over application.
cultural relativism — the view that norms or judgments should be understood in their cultural setting. cultural relativism raises a question about how standards are interpreted.
discrimination — unjust or prohibited differential treatment on specified grounds. distinguish a formal rule from evidence of discrimination in practice.
remedy — a means of redressing an injury or violation. access to a remedy affects whether a right can be exercised.
participation — involvement in a process or decision. measure participation by who can influence the outcome.
representation — the process of speaking or acting for others in a decision. formal representation can leave some interests weakly heard.
self-determination — the principle that peoples can determine their political status and pursue their development. ask how competing claims invoke self-determination.

Development, security and conflict

human security — an approach to security centered on people and their survival, livelihoods and dignity. use human security to examine effects on civilians.
securitization — framing an issue as a security threat to justify exceptional action. test whether securitization changed available policy choices.
deterrence — discouraging action through a credible threat or the prospect of failure. deterrence depends on the other actor’s expectations.
ceasefire — an agreement or declaration to stop fighting temporarily or indefinitely. a ceasefire can reduce immediate violence.
mediation — assistance by a third party in reaching agreement. mediation may improve communication between parties.
peacekeeping — operations that support security and political processes in a conflict setting. evaluate peacekeeping against the mandate.
peacebuilding — efforts to address causes of conflict and sustain peace. peacebuilding can include restoring trust in local institutions.
negative peace — absence of direct violence. negative peace can follow a halt in fighting.
positive peace — conditions and relationships that support justice and durable peace. positive peace involves more than monitoring a truce.
structural violence — avoidable harm produced by entrenched social arrangements. explain how institutional barriers may cause structural violence.
displacement — forced or compelled movement from a place of residence. distinguish internal displacement from movement across borders.
fragility — limited ability of a system to manage risks and shocks. connect fragility to a specific weakness in service delivery.
capacity-building — development of skills, institutions or resources to perform functions. capacity-building can support local monitoring.
resilience — ability to withstand and adapt to disruption. assess resilience after a change in external funding.
dependency — a condition of reliance that can limit a party’s options. export concentration may increase dependency.
redistribution — reallocation of resources, income or opportunity. compare intended and observed effects of redistribution.
sustainability — ability to maintain an outcome over time without undermining future conditions. evaluate the sustainability of donor-funded staffing.
equity — fairness attentive to different circumstances and needs. equity may justify unequal resource allocations.
policy coherence — consistency among policies that affect shared objectives. test policy coherence across trade and climate commitments.
asymmetry — an imbalance in power, dependence or resources. asymmetry can shape who can credibly walk away.

Competition, participation and accountability

electoral system — rules translating voter choices into electoral outcomes. the electoral system shapes how votes become seats.
plurality — more votes than any rival even without an absolute majority. a candidate can win a plurality with under half the vote.
proportional representation — electoral rules aiming to align seat shares with vote shares. proportional representation can improve representation of smaller parties.
coalition — an alliance formed to govern or pursue a political objective. parties negotiate a coalition after a close election.
party system — the pattern of competition and interaction among political parties. a dominant party can reshape the party system.
incumbency — the status of already holding office. incumbency can provide visibility during a campaign.
clientelism — conditional exchange of targeted benefits for political support. clientelism relies on exchanges tied to support.
patronage — allocation of offices or resources to political allies or supporters. patronage can reward party loyalty.
civil society — organized activity by groups outside the state, often independent of government. civil society can monitor public decisions.
pluralism — the presence of multiple groups able to pursue and contest interests. legal barriers can restrict political pluralism.
mobilization — organizing people or resources for political action. digital platforms can facilitate mobilization.
cleavage — a durable social division reflected in political organization. a regional cleavage may shape party support.
repression — use of coercion to restrict political opposition or participation. repression may deter demonstrations.
co-optation — drawing potential opponents into existing institutions to reduce resistance. co-optation may offer access without transferring much power.
corporatism — institutionalized representation of major organized interests in policymaking. state-managed corporatism can narrow who represents workers.
rentier state — a state relying heavily on external rents, often from resource exports. oil revenue can support a rentier state’s budget.
state capacity — the state’s ability to implement decisions and deliver public functions. limited state capacity weakens enforcement.
political efficacy — the belief that one understands politics or can influence it. low political efficacy may discourage participation.
node — a connection point within a network. a port can act as a trade node.
connectivity — the degree to which places or systems are linked. connectivity affects access to services.

Institutions, comparison and political ideas

parliamentary sovereignty — the doctrine that the UK Parliament is the supreme legal lawmaking authority. parliamentary sovereignty concerns legal authority.
uncodified — not collected into a single authoritative constitutional document. the UK has an uncodified constitution.
convention — an established political practice treated as binding politically. the confidence convention links government and Commons.
spatial — relating to the arrangement of things across space. explain the spatial pattern of access.
fusion — overlap between institutions or officeholders that share political functions. fusion of personnel connects ministers with Parliament.
scale — the level or geographical extent at which a process is examined. compare local and national scales.
scrutiny — systematic examination of decisions, policy or spending. committee scrutiny can expose weaknesses in a proposal.
whip — an official who helps organise party discipline or an instruction about a vote. a strong whip can affect voting behaviour.
backbencher — a legislator who does not hold a frontbench role. backbenchers can challenge a proposal.
mandate — authority claimed from an election or other political authorisation. a government claims a mandate for a policy.
manifesto — a public statement of a party’s programme. compare a manifesto commitment with later action.
majoritarian — organised around majority control or decision. a majoritarian system can concentrate power.
proportionality — the degree to which outcomes reflect relative shares or strength. electoral proportionality relates seats to votes.
mobility — the ability or tendency to move between places. mobility varies between groups.
flow — movement of people, goods, capital or information. map the flow of investment.
network — a set of connected places, people or institutions. transport networks link centres and margins.
liberalism — a tradition placing importance on liberty, rights and limited or justified authority. compare liberal accounts of freedom.
conservatism — a tradition emphasising order, continuity and inherited institutions in varying ways. compare conservative views of state authority.
socialism — a tradition concerned with equality, cooperation and social control of economic power in varying forms. distinguish socialist accounts of ownership.
individualism — giving priority to the individual in moral or political explanation. individualism can support different accounts of liberty.

Global connections and historical processes

contextualization — placing a development within a relevant broader historical situation. contextualization links the trade route to empire.
unstated — implied without being expressed directly. an unstated assumption about access.
transformation — a major change in the structure or character of something. the transformation of long-distance trade.
interregional — connecting or involving different regions. interregional exchange across the Pacific.
brokerage — work that connects parties and helps exchanges happen. commercial brokerage between ports.
diaspora — a population dispersed from a place of origin. a merchant diaspora maintaining trade links.
commodity — a good traded for value. silver circulated as a valuable commodity.
circulation — movement of people, goods or ideas through a system. circulation of manufactured goods.
extraction — removal of resources or value from a place or group. colonial extraction of mineral wealth.
tributary — relating to payments or obligations owed to a stronger power. a tributary relationship between states.
mercantilism — policies seeking to strengthen state power through managed trade and wealth. mercantilism shaped imperial restrictions.
commercialization — expansion of activity directed towards markets or sale. commercialization changed patterns of production.
monopoly — exclusive or dominant control of a trade or resource. a state-backed trading monopoly.
maritime — relating to the sea or sea travel. maritime trade linked distant ports.
syncretism — blending of elements from different traditions. religious syncretism in a contact zone.
imperial — relating to an empire or the extension of its rule. imperial control of a trade route.
labour — work or the workers who do it. coerced labour supported extraction.
integration — bringing separate parts into a connected system. commercial integration across regions.
inequality — uneven distribution of resources, opportunities or outcomes. assess spatial inequality in access.
period — a defined span of time relevant to the question. keep the argument within the specified period.

Taking a position

claim — a statement you want the reader to accept. make a claim.
stance — your position on a question. take a clear stance.
thesis — the central position or interpretation your response develops. support the thesis.
premise — an idea the argument starts from. question the premise.
assumption — something treated as true without being established. test the assumption.
assert — state a position firmly. assert that access matters.
argue — give reasons in support of a position. argue for a trial.
maintain — continue to hold or defend a view. maintain that the policy is fair.
contend — put forward a position that can be challenged. contend that the proposal is workable.
justify — give sufficient reasons for a decision or judgement. justify the expense.
advocate — publicly support an action or change. advocate for reform.
defend — answer criticism of a view or choice. defend a decision.
qualify — limit a statement so it applies only where warranted. qualify the conclusion.
concede — acknowledge a valid point made by the other side. concede that costs may rise.
rebut — answer an opposing claim with reasoning or evidence. rebut the objection.
counterargument — a reasoned objection to a position. address a counterargument.
reservation — a concern that makes agreement incomplete. express a reservation.
distinguish — show what makes two things different. distinguish cost from value.
criteria — standards used to judge something. agree on the criteria.
verdict — a final judgement reached after consideration. reach a verdict.

Using evidence and reasoning

evidence — information that helps establish a claim. draw on evidence.
example — a specific case that makes a general point clearer. give a concrete example.
illustrate — make an idea clearer through a case or detail. illustrate the difficulty.
demonstrate — show how or why something is true. demonstrate a connection.
substantiate — support a claim with convincing information. substantiate the allegation.
corroborate — provide independent support for an existing account. corroborate the witness’s account.
infer — draw a conclusion from available clues. infer a motive from the wording.
imply — suggest a meaning without saying it directly. imply that change is possible.
interpret — explain what something means in context. interpret a figure in context.
analyse — examine how parts work together. analyse the writer’s choices.
evaluate — judge the strength, quality or value of something. evaluate the proposal.
plausible — reasonable enough to believe given what is known. a plausible explanation.
credible — worthy of belief or trust. a credible source.
relevant — directly connected to the issue being considered. relevant to the question.
sufficient — enough for the purpose or conclusion at hand. sufficient for a limited trial.
representative — typical enough to reflect a larger group. a representative sample.
anecdote — a brief account of a particular incident. open with an anecdote.
limitation — something that restricts what a method or claim can establish. acknowledge a limitation.
contradict — state or show something incompatible with another claim. contradict the earlier finding.
synthesise — combine ideas from separate sources into a new account. synthesise competing accounts.

Testing evidence and reasoning

intermediate — coming between earlier reasons and the main result. identify an intermediate conclusion.
remittance — money sent by a migrant or other worker to people elsewhere. remittances can change household income.
premiss — a proposition offered as a reason for a conclusion. test whether the premiss is true.
jointly — together rather than separately. the two reasons jointly support the claim.
deductive — involving an inference intended to follow necessarily. a deductive argument with a missing premiss.
inductive — involving reasoning that extends beyond the observed cases. an inductive inference from a survey.
abductive — concerned with inferring a likely explanation. an abductive inference from an unexpected result.
counterinstance — an example that goes against a general claim. one counterinstance challenges the rule.
equivocal — open to different meanings or interpretations. an equivocal use of the word free.
circular — using the conclusion itself as part of its supposed support. circular reasoning provides no independent reason.
fallacy — a flaw in reasoning. identify a fallacy in a forced choice.
confounder — a factor that can distort a proposed causal relationship. distance may be a confounder.
denominator — the reference total against which a count or rate is expressed. check the denominator in the reported rate.
response — a reply or a contribution to a survey. a low survey response rate.
self-selection — the process by which participants choose whether to take part. self-selection limits the survey.
comparability — the extent to which items can be fairly compared. question comparability across the two periods.
interested — having a stake that could affect an account. an interested source may still provide accurate data.
contemporaneous — made or existing at the same time as an event. contemporaneous records of attendance.
weight — the importance assigned to a piece of evidence. give more weight to direct measurements.
decisive — strong enough to settle a question under the available evidence. the documents do not provide decisive support.

Weighing competing priorities

trade-off — a choice in which obtaining one benefit comes with a loss elsewhere. a trade-off between privacy and convenience.
proportionate — appropriate in scale to the problem or objective. a proportionate response to a risk.
equitable — fair in view of different needs or starting points. equitable access to public services.
discretion — freedom to exercise judgement within a role or set of rules. give teachers discretion.
autonomy — the ability or right to make one’s own decisions. protect personal autonomy.
ageing — the process of becoming older, including a rise in a population’s older share. an ageing population changes service demand.
consensus — broad agreement among a group. build consensus over priorities.
dissent — expressed disagreement with a prevailing view. allow space for dissent.
marginalisation — a process that limits a group’s access to resources or influence. marginalisation can shape exposure to risk.
intergenerational — involving or affecting people of different generations. intergenerational access to public space.
disparity — a noticeable difference between groups or outcomes. a disparity in participation.
burden — a cost, duty or difficulty borne by someone. reduce the burden on families.
incentive — a feature that encourages someone to act. create an incentive to volunteer.
deterrent — something that discourages an action. a deterrent to unsafe driving.
feasibility — whether a proposal can be carried out in practice. assess the feasibility of a pilot.
viability — whether a proposal can work or continue successfully. question the long-term viability.
allocation — distribution of limited resources among possible uses. the allocation of public funds.
reciprocity — mutual exchange of benefits, help or obligations. a relationship based on reciprocity.
compromise — a settlement in which competing parties accept some limits. reach a compromise.
safeguard — a measure designed to protect against a risk. build in a safeguard for applicants.

Public decisions and evidence

governance — how institutions make and carry out decisions. local governance shapes enforcement.
interoperability — the ability of different systems to work together. interoperability between public services.
externality — a cost or benefit that affects people outside a transaction. traffic noise is a negative externality.
regressive — placing a larger proportional burden on people with less income in a tax or charging context. a potentially regressive flat charge.
progressive — placing a larger proportional tax burden on higher incomes. a progressive tax schedule.
procurement — the process of buying goods or services, often for an institution. public procurement rules.
capacity — the amount a system can handle. expand the network’s capacity.
outcome — the result of an action or process. improve learning outcomes.
levy — an officially imposed charge. a levy on disposable packaging.
exemption — release from a rule or charge. an exemption for emergency vehicles.
substitution — the use of one option in place of another. substitution of rail travel for driving.
transnational — operating across national boundaries. a transnational firm can organise production across countries.
rationale — the reasoning behind an action. explain the rationale for a fee.
densification — an increase in the concentration of people or buildings in an area. densification near transport hubs.
causality — the relationship through which one factor produces an effect. a claim about causality needs evidence.
implementation — the process of putting a plan into practice. the implementation depends on local staffing.
walkability — how suitable an area is for walking. improve walkability near schools.
distributional — relating to how effects are shared across groups. the distributional impact of a transport charge.
incidence — where a cost or benefit ultimately falls in an economic context. assess the incidence of the charge.
spillover — an effect that reaches beyond the original activity or area. a spillover into neighbouring districts.

Exam requirements and worked examples

Know which writing job each paper sets

Paper 1 is common to SL and HL. It contains four compulsory structured questions drawing on the core topics. Read each command separately and apply sources in the way the question requests. Paper 2 is also common to both levels. Section A asks about one thematic study. Section B asks you to integrate ideas across studies or connect them with the core. The two essays total 30 marks. Paper 2 counts for 40% at SL and 30% at HL.

At HL, Paper 3 asks three questions linked to global political challenges. Use the stimulus to focus your response and draw on cases researched during the course where the task requires them. The engagement project is assessed separately at both levels. Plan vocabulary by response type. A term for comparing two sources serves a different purpose from a term for explaining how power affects the outcomes of a treaty.

Official exam and example sources

Worked essay reasoning about the Paris Agreement

Try the question To what extent does multilateral cooperation constrain state autonomy? The Paris Agreement requires parties to prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions. The UNFCCC explains that these contributions are submitted every five years and that parties are to pursue domestic mitigation measures with the aim of meeting their objectives. The structure creates shared procedural obligations while leaving national governments an important role in setting the substance of their contributions.

This case supports a limited judgement about the design of cooperation. Governments accept regular reporting and a framework for international scrutiny. The substance of national commitments still varies. Distinguish the existence of an obligation from the evidence needed to judge its effect. To show that the process changed what states did, you would need evidence about domestic policy or implementation after a relevant stage in the process.

Write a counterargument that recognizes the difference. Reporting can make political inaction more visible and create pressure even where direct enforcement is limited. That effect depends on who can use the information and on what reputational costs matter to the government. You can conclude that formal autonomy and practical freedom of action are related but distinct criteria. State which one you mean at the beginning and return to it at the end.

Fencing Method for a political concept

Start with a base sentence. The agreement encourages cooperation. Add a detail. Parties submit nationally determined contributions on a recurring schedule. Refine the tone. The common schedule creates a recurring opportunity for comparison. Add a reason. Where outside actors can use those comparisons, the schedule may strengthen scrutiny of domestic commitments. Transfer that reasoning to a different international framework by identifying its obligations, review process and relevant audience.

Try the same exercise with legitimacy. Name whose acceptance matters. A government, a local community and a regional institution may judge the same decision using different criteria. Add one reason for acceptance or opposition and identify evidence that would test it. Your sentence becomes more precise when a reader can tell which actor is judging what and why.

Use a case card with an argument on the reverse

On the front, record the actor, date or period, policy decision and a reliable source. On the back, record the mechanism and the claim the case can support. Write a separate sentence about its limits. For a treaty example, distinguish a clause you can cite from an outcome you still need to establish. For a conflict example, distinguish a fall in violence from a durable change in the causes of conflict.

Prepare a second case with a meaningful difference. Comparison works when each case can answer the same question. If your first case concerns scrutiny, your second case should help explain when scrutiny is stronger, weaker or differently organized. You can compare the role of local monitoring, international review or access to remedies. Keep the criterion consistent while explaining why the contexts differ.

Practise a Section B connection

Make a map linking one core idea to two thematic studies. For example, power can connect the ability to fund climate adaptation with the ability to influence how climate-related harms are recognized. Draw one arrow from a resource or rule to an actor’s options. Draw another to an outcome you could investigate. Add evidence for each arrow instead of relying on the thematic labels to do the work.

Now write the first and final sentences of your answer. The first should state the relationship you plan to defend. The final sentence should say under which conditions that relationship matters most. If the last sentence adds a new topic, return to the body and decide whether you have evidence to develop it. A cross-theme answer gains depth by showing how the ideas interact in a case.

Common questions about Paper 2

Do I need a case in every sentence? Use case evidence where it supports a claim, and explain its significance. Should both essays use different cases? Follow the prompts and choose evidence for each on its merits. What counts as evaluation? Compare the strength, limits or consequences of explanations and reach a reasoned judgement. If a paragraph only names two viewpoints, add a criterion that explains why one has more force under the stated conditions.

Make a five-minute revision check

Underline the actors in one paragraph. Circle the verbs that show how influence operates. Then put a mark beside the sentence where you link evidence to the prompt. This is a quick way to see if your wording has slipped into broad claims about governments, communities or international institutions. Replace the broadest claim with one bounded by an actor, a mechanism and an outcome the case supports.

Top 200 Vocabulary Word List for IB Diploma Programme Global Politics (SL and HL) | Essay Writing