In simple terms
A friendly intro before the formal notes — no formulas yet.
Your Case Study Toolkit
The case study method is about using a specific, real-world situation as a lens to understand a bigger, more complex global issue. It's like being a detective, gathering detailed evidence from one crime scene to understand the criminal's broader pattern of behaviour.
Imagine you're a food critic asked to write about 'the quality of modern pizza'. You wouldn't just say 'some is good, some is bad'. Instead, you'd do a deep-dive case study on two specific pizzerias: one a traditional Neapolitan place, the other a modern chain. You'd analyse their ingredients (actors), cooking methods (processes), and customer reviews (perspectives) to draw a detailed, evidence-based conclusion about the state of modern pizza. Your specific case studies provide the proof for your general argument.
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Deconstruct the exam question to identify the core concepts and the required line of argument.
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Select two or more well-chosen case studies that are relevant, allow for comparison or contrast, and for which you have specific details.
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Structure your response, dedicating significant space to each case study to explore its nuances, actors, and processes.
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Analyse and evaluate, explicitly using the evidence from your case studies to support, challenge, or refine theoretical arguments about the global political challenge.
Explore the concept
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Full topic notes
Formal explanation with the rigour you need for the exam.
Defining the Case Study Method
In Global Politics, a case study is not merely a descriptive story or a passing example. It is a structured and in-depth inquiry into a specific instance of a global political challenge. Think of it as putting a real-world event 'under the microscope'. The goal is to use the specific details, actors, and processes of that single case to illuminate broader theoretical concepts and arguments. For the HL extension, your case studies are the evidence upon which your entire argument rests.
Depth over Breadth: A good case study analysis prioritises detailed knowledge of one or two cases over superficial knowledge of many.
Evidence-Based: Claims must be supported by specific facts, statistics, names, dates, and policy details from the case.
Analytical, Not Narrative: Avoid simply telling the story. Constantly link the details of the case back to the concepts in the question.
Multi-Perspectival: Acknowledge and analyse the different viewpoints and interests of the various actors involved in the case.
Selecting Powerful Case Studies
Your choice of case studies can make or break your essay. You should prepare a 'toolkit' of case studies covering the six HL themes: security, borders, poverty, health, identity, and environment. When selecting cases, consider their relevance to the theme, the richness of available information, and their potential for comparison or contrast. For example, when studying borders, comparing the case of the European Union's Schengen Area with the US-Mexico border provides a powerful contrast between integration and securitisation.
For each of the six HL topics, prepare two detailed case studies. One should ideally be from the Global North and one from the Global South, or they should represent contrasting approaches to the issue (e.g., cooperation vs. conflict). This prepares you for comparative questions and demonstrates a global perspective.
Integrating Case Studies Seamlessly
The most common error students make is 'bolting on' a case study at the end of a paragraph. Instead, the case study should be the engine of your analysis. Use the 'Point, Evidence, Analyse, Link' (PEAL) structure within your paragraphs. Your 'Point' is the argument you are making. The 'Evidence' is the specific detail from your case study. The 'Analyse' section explains how that evidence proves your point. Finally, 'Link' it back to the overall question.
Worked examples
See the formulas applied — reveal one step at a time, like the exam.
Examine the claim that state sovereignty is the biggest obstacle to resolving global environmental challenges. [HL Extension]
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This is how you could structure a response using the case study method:
To what extent do non-state actors have a significant impact on global health challenges? [HL Extension]
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Here is a plan focusing on a comparative case study approach:
How it all connects
The big idea sits in the middle — tap a linked idea to explore the link.
Tap a linked idea to see how it connects back to the main topic — that connection is what examiners reward.
Glossary
Try to recall each definition before you reveal it.
Quick check
Answer in your head first — then tap to check. No pressure.
Revision flashcards
Flip the card. Test yourself before the exam.
What is a 'case study' in Global Politics?
An in-depth, multi-faceted investigation of a single instance, event, or phenomenon in its real-life context. It goes beyond a simple example by providing rich, detailed evidence to analyse a broader issue.
Key takeaways
Review these before you close the topic — retrieval beats re-reading.
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Depth over Breadth: A good case study analysis prioritises detailed knowledge of one or two cases over superficial knowledge of many.
- ✓
Evidence-Based: Claims must be supported by specific facts, statistics, names, dates, and policy details from the case.
- ✓
Analytical, Not Narrative: Avoid simply telling the story. Constantly link the details of the case back to the concepts in the question.
- ✓
Multi-Perspectival: Acknowledge and analyse the different viewpoints and interests of the various actors involved in the case.
Practice — then mark it
The whole point: a real Cambridge question, marked mark-by-mark.
Test Your Case Study Skills
Test Your Case Study Skills
Extra simulations & links
PhET, GeoGebra and other curated tools — open in a new tab.
Frequently asked
Checkpoint
One marked question is worth ten re-reads — close the loop before you move on.
Reading it isn’t knowing it — prove it.
Before you move on: do Test Your Case Study Skills on paper, snap a photo, and get examiner-style feedback on exactly where you win and lose marks.