Globalisation Assignment
Research Essay (25%)
1000 words (+/- 10%, not including references)
You must select one option from the list of questions below to guide your research
essay. The topics are drawn from Study Areas 1, 2 and 3 of the unit.
Suggested resources have been provided to assist you with your research. You
should make use of the suggested resources and complete your own research.
Your teacher will be able to guide you to a range of other resources once you have
committed to a topic and begun the research process. You can also make use of
your campus library and off-site libraries as needed.
Question 1: Globalisation has benefited developing countries more than developed countries. Evaluate this statement using an example of one (1) developed and one (1) developing country. (Study Area 1)
Suggested resources: Abeyratne, S. (2019). Globalisation: Winners and losers. The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved from: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190217/business-times/globalisation-winners-and-losers- 336041.html Foster, C. (2019). Trade wars are growing over the digital economy and developing countries are shaping the agenda. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/trade-wars-are- growing-over-the-digital-economy-and-developing-countries-are-shaping-the-agenda-113000 Morgan, E. (2018) Inequalities in globalisation and liberalisation ignoring the appeals of developing countries. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/inequalities- in-globalisation-and-liberalisation-ignoring-the-appeals-of-developing- countries_150243?profile=1096 Pologeorgis, N. (2019). How Globalisation affects developed countries. Investopedia. Retrieved from: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/10/globalization-developed-countries.asp The World Bank (2013). The Winners and Losers of Globalization: Finding a path to shared prosperity. The World Bank. Retrieved from: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/10/25/The-Winners-and-Losers-of-Globalization- Finding-a-Path-to-Shared-Prosperity
(Question 2 begins on the next page)
Global Studies Unit 1: Research Essay Questions & Suggested Resources
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190217/business-times/globalisation-winners-and-losers-336041.html
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190217/business-times/globalisation-winners-and-losers-336041.html
https://theconversation.com/trade-wars-are-growing-over-the-digital-economy-and-developing-countries-are-shaping-the-agenda-113000
https://theconversation.com/trade-wars-are-growing-over-the-digital-economy-and-developing-countries-are-shaping-the-agenda-113000
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/inequalities-in-globalisation-and-liberalisation-ignoring-the-appeals-of-developing-countries_150243?profile=1096
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/inequalities-in-globalisation-and-liberalisation-ignoring-the-appeals-of-developing-countries_150243?profile=1096
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/inequalities-in-globalisation-and-liberalisation-ignoring-the-appeals-of-developing-countries_150243?profile=1096
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/10/globalization-developed-countries.asp
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/10/25/The-Winners-and-Losers-of-Globalization-Finding-a-Path-to-Shared-Prosperity
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/10/25/The-Winners-and-Losers-of-Globalization-Finding-a-Path-to-Shared-Prosperity
2 | P a g e
Question 2: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the United Nations (UN) in relation to one of the topics below? ? Climate Change
? Peace and security
? Humanitarian Aid
(Study Area 2) Suggested resources: Climate Change Selin, H., & Najam, A. (2015). Paris Agreement on climate change: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/paris-agreement-on-climate-change-the-good- the-bad-and-the-ugly-52242 Harvey, F. (2015). Paris climate change deal too weak to help poor, critics warn. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/14/paris-climate-change-deal- cop21-oxfam-actionaid Le Page, M. (2015). Paris climate deal is agreed but is it really good enough? New Scientist. Retrieved from https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28663-paris-climate-deal-is-agreed-but-is-it- really-good-enough/ Peace and Security Borger, J., & Inzaurralde, B. (2015). Russian vetoes are putting UN Security Council’s legitimacy at risk, says US. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/23/russian-vetoes-putting-un-security-council- legitimacy-at-risk-says-us Spencer, R. (2015). UN at 70: Five greatest successes and failures. The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/11700969/UN-at-70-Five- greatest-successes-and-failures.html McGreal, C. (2015). What’s the point of peacekeepers when they don’t keep the peace? The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/17/un-united-nations- peacekeepers-rwanda-bosnia Oladipo, T. (2018). The UN’s peacekeeping nightmare in Africa. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38372614 Humanitarian Aid Schwirtx, M. (2019) U.N. appeals to Madura and Guaido to end battle over humanitarian aid. The new York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/world/americas/venezuela- united-nations.html UN News (2019). Wars have rules: 5 things the UN humanitarian chief wants countries to tackle so human suffering in conflict can be minimized. United Nations. Retrieved from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/04/1035861
Global Studies Unit 1: Research Essay Questions & Suggested Resources
https://theconversation.com/paris-agreement-on-climate-change-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-52242
https://theconversation.com/paris-agreement-on-climate-change-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-52242
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/14/paris-climate-change-deal-cop21-oxfam-actionaid
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/14/paris-climate-change-deal-cop21-oxfam-actionaid
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28663-paris-climate-deal-is-agreed-but-is-it-really-good-enough/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28663-paris-climate-deal-is-agreed-but-is-it-really-good-enough/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/23/russian-vetoes-putting-un-security-council-legitimacy-at-risk-says-us
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/23/russian-vetoes-putting-un-security-council-legitimacy-at-risk-says-us
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/11700969/UN-at-70-Five-greatest-successes-and-failures.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/11700969/UN-at-70-Five-greatest-successes-and-failures.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/17/un-united-nations-peacekeepers-rwanda-bosnia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/17/un-united-nations-peacekeepers-rwanda-bosnia
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38372614
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/04/1035861
3 | P a g e
UN News (2019, March 8). Peace deal holds in South Sudan, but humanitarian funding ultimately unsustainable, says top UN envoy. United Nations. Retrieved from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/03/1034351
(Question 3 begins on the next page)
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/03/1034351
4 | P a g e
Question 3: How has globalisation affected global income distribution? Discuss using two (2) specific examples. (Study Area 3)
Suggested resources: PBS Newshour. (2017). How globalization affects inequality and populism in one chart [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=t1mWp2qp7A0 Freund, C. (2016). Deconstructing Branko Milanovic’s Elephant Chart: Does it show what everyone thinks? [Blog]. Retrieved from https://piie.com/blogs/realtime-economic-issues- watch/deconstructing-branko-milanovics-elephant-chart-does-it-show Harvard University Press (2018) The Elephant Chart in the EU room. [Blog]. Retrieved from https://harvardpress.typepad.com/hup_publicity/2016/06/branko-milanovic-elephant-chart- brexit.html Roberts, M. (n.d.) Globalisation and Milanovics elephant [Blog]. Retrieved from https://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/globalisation-and-milanovics-elephant/ Matthews, D. (2018). The global top 1 percent earned twice as much as the bottom 50 percent in recent years [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/policy-and- politics/2018/2/2/16868838/elephant-graph-chart-global-inequality-economic-growth Walker, A. (2016). Globalisation: Where on the elephant are you?. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-37542494 The Economist (2016). Shooting an elephant: charting globalisations discontents. The Economist. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/finance-and- economics/2016/09/17/shooting-an-elephant [Accessed 5 Dec. 2018].
(Question 4 begins on the next page)
Global Studies Unit 1: Research Essay Questions & Suggested Resources
https://piie.com/blogs/realtime-economic-issues-watch/deconstructing-branko-milanovics-elephant-chart-does-it-show
https://piie.com/blogs/realtime-economic-issues-watch/deconstructing-branko-milanovics-elephant-chart-does-it-show
https://harvardpress.typepad.com/hup_publicity/2016/06/branko-milanovic-elephant-chart-brexit.html
https://harvardpress.typepad.com/hup_publicity/2016/06/branko-milanovic-elephant-chart-brexit.html
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/2/16868838/elephant-graph-chart-global-inequality-economic-growth
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/2/16868838/elephant-graph-chart-global-inequality-economic-growth
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-37542494
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2016/09/17/shooting-an-elephant
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2016/09/17/shooting-an-elephant
5 | P a g e
Question 4: What are the threats of Neoliberalism in a global context? Discuss with specific reference to either environmental degradation or labour exploitation. (Study Area 3) Suggested resources: Environmental degradation Chua, J. (2015). Whos responsible for deforestation? New forest 500 bares all. Retrieved from https://www.eco-business.com/news/whos-responsible-for-deforestation-new-forest-500- bares-all/ Goldenberg, S. (2012). Top US companies shelling out to block action on climate change. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/may/30/companies- block-action-climate-change Goldenberg, S. (2013). Just 90 companies caused two-thirds of man-made global warming emissions. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/20/90-companies-man-made-global- warming-emissions-climate-change Lukacs, M. (2017). Neoliberalism has conned us into fighting climate change as individuals. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/true- north/2017/jul/17/neoliberalism-has-conned-us-into-fighting-climate-change-as-individuals Reuters. (2018). Arsenic and mercury found in river days after Brazil dam burst. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/nov/26/brazil-dam-arsenic- mercury-rio-doce-river Labour exploitation Muzi, L and Tondo L (2019) I had pain all over my body: Italys tainted tobacco industry. The Guardian. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/may/31/i- had-pain-all-over-my-body-italys-tainted-tobacco-industry Reuters (2019) Child labour at risk of rising in China and India as economic momentum fails to reach poorest in the community, study finds. South China Morning Post. Retrieved from: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3012429/child-labour-risk-rising-china-and- india-economic-momentum Sotheary P (2019) Government tackles child labour, Khmer Times. Retrieved from: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50615076/government-tackles-child-labour/ University of Liverpool (2019) Clothes, Chocolate and Children: realising the Transparency Dividend. University of Liverpool, department of Politics. Retrieved from: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/politics/research/research-projects/ccc/
Global Studies Unit 1: Research Essay Questions & Suggested Resources