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Advice for teachers -
Australian and Global Politics

Unit 4 Area of Study 1: Ethical issues and debates

Outcome 1

Analyse the debates relating to TWO global ethical issues, and evaluate the effectiveness of global actors’ responses to these issues.

Examples of learning activities

  • Discuss the meaning of the terms ‘cosmopolitanism’, ‘realism’, ‘justice’, ‘ethics.’ Research and list examples of each.
  • Compile a media file on the two selected ethical issues and debates.
  • Collect at least ten articles from the last 12 months. Outline each article and explain how the issue is related to the study of ethical issues and debates.
  • Example icon for advice for teachers
    Research one international treaty relevant to one of the selected ethical issues.

  • Research the response of three different global actors to the selected ethical issue.
  • Create a mind map to illustrate the underlying causes of the ethical issue or debate.
  • Create a table to illustrate the effectiveness of responses by global actors. In the first column state the aim of the response, in the second column outline the form the response took, in the third column outline the result of the response. Compare the aim to the result. Evaluate the effectiveness of the response.
  • In groups, students assume the role of key stakeholders within the selected debate. Research the position of the stakeholder and present their perspective.
  • Identify groups affected by the selected ethical issue or debate and list three impacts on them.
  • Write an essay on the following topic: ‘realism is the only appropriate response to an ethical issue. Discuss.’
  • Outline the difficulties faced by global actors in responding effectively to ethical issues.
  • Conduct a classroom debate on each of the ethical debates for an ethical issue. One participant states the argument of the debate with evidence, another provides the counterargument with evidence and a third decides which argument is a better argument and why.
Example icon for advice for teachers 

Detailed example

International treaty research

Students research one international treaty relating to one ethical issue. In the research, they must provide the following information:

  • the aim of the international treaty
  • the number of UN members who have ratified the treaty
  • copy two key provisions of the treaty
  • the name of the committee that oversees the treaty
  • detailed information of this committee’s report on a state party to the treaty
  • detailed information on the reasons that one state has chosen to ratify the treaty
  • detailed information on the reasons that one state has NOT chosen to ratify the treaty
  • two major criticisms of the treaty.