This section will begin with an exploration of the different ways that power can manifest itself in the world. Although this is not an examinable aspect of the course, these initial video lessons will provide you with relevant examples of contemporary political situations and decision-making.

The videos will also provide you with some topic ideas for the Assignment. They will also hopefully make you think about the world around you and help you to understand how historic political decisions impact the world today.

The videos that follow will help you understand international relations and this may prompt an interest in studying this academic subject at college or university. At the very least you will gain a greater understanding of the balance of global power which will help you to learn to live within the environmental limits of our planet and to build a just, equitable and peaceful society.

This first video explores the notion of political power. It discusses the impact that historic political decision making had and continues to have on the world today. The main themes explored in this video are the British Empire, the division of the Middle East, the rise of international terrorism, the Balfour Declaration, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, controversial statues, the international community, US-Israeli relations, the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, Covid-19 and Sino-US relations. 

If you are interested in undertaking further reading on some of the issues covered in this video, follow the links below:

• The Balfour Declaration 

• The Sykes-Picot Agreement 

• Israel-Gaza Conflicts 

• Hamas 

• United Nations 

• The British Empire 

• The World Health Organisation 

• Covid-19 

• The Iron Dome 

• Sino-US relations 

• Noam Chomsky 

• 
  

There are two articles that may be of interest to you on the issue of colonialism. These are attached to the top of this post.

Once you have watched the video, try to construct three questions that you would like to ask as a result. Use three of the following questions starters:

• Why....?
• How would it be different if....?
• What are the reasons....?
• Suppose that....?
• What if....?
• What if we knew....?
• What is the purpose of....?
• What would change if....?

What new ideas or perceptions do you have about political decision making that you did not have before watching this video?

Post your three questions and your response to the question above in the space below: