This deals with global governance, and therefore include key international relations theories including, among others, liberalism.

Question

This deals with global governance, and therefore include key international relations theories including, among others, liberalism.

Liberalism is essentially a school of thought that views the global system as an interconnected web of mutually-dependent actors like states, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), multinational corporations (MNCs), and civil society. Within this web, international organisations have emerged to help facilitate global social, economic, and political integration.

For example, the banning of anti-personnel landmines was achieved through the Ottawa Treaty. The treaty collaboratively engaged with several state and non-state actors who ultimately agreed to the ban in 1999. The Ottawa Treaty not only illustrates the realities of complex interdependence, it also illustrates how liberal principles of peace, cooperation, and human rights have been prioritised by several states.

This assignment requires you to reflect on the importance of global cooperation and apply the key concepts to another example of a collective effort to problem-solve a global challenge: the Kimberley Process, which is an ongoing effort to address the problem of blood diamonds.

To familiarise yourself with the issue of blood diamonds, explore the Kimberley Process FAQ webpage, which introduces the topic.

Once you have familiarised yourself with the topic, engage with the following resource that explore the topic in more detail:

Explore the official Kimberley Process website and find out who participates in the process and their relationship with one another.

Friends of the Earth International Diamond Mining in Zimbabwe (2017). Read the report on diamond mining in Zimbabwe produced by Friends of the Earth International to assess how effective the Kimberley Process has been.

Having worked through these resources, consider the Kimberley process as a case, and discuss the role of states, NGOs, corporates, and regional organisations in addressing this global problem. How effective was this collaboration between state and non-state actors? In your answer, be sure to apply concepts you learnt in this module to the Kimberley Process case.

When writing your essay, you are required to make reference to the course material, the additional resources provided in this assignment, and any other sources consulted as part of independent research, as indicated in the rubric below. Your submission, excluding in-text citations and list of references, may not exceed 600 words.

Essay writing guidelines: For guidance on referencing, planning and structuring your essay, be sure to consult the essay writing guidelines in the Orientation Module. (attachment enclosed)

Follow the matrx below that will be used for marking:

4. Rubric

The following rubric will be used to grade your submission:

Limited

[0% 49%] Adequate

[50% - 59%] Accomplished

[60%-79%] Exceptional

[80% - 99%] Outstanding

[100%]

Adherence to the brief

The student has written about the Kimberley Process and has examined the role each actor has played in addressing the issue of blood diamonds.

The essay includes in-text citations and a reference list. The student has not exceeded the word count of 600 words. No submission

OR

Answer fails to adhere to any of the elements contained in the brief.

OR

Answer shows limited adherence to the elements contained in the brief. Answer adheres to some elements contained in the brief, but most key elements are missed. Answer adheres to most but not all elements of the brief. Answer adheres to all elements of the brief. Answer adheres to all elements of the brief and the writing style is succinct.

Engagement with resources

The student has made use of the resources provided to support their argument by referencing information they have sourced from the Kimberley Process websites. No submission, or the answer fails to show evidence of adequate engagement with the resources provided. The submission contains some errors of fact and there is limited evidence that the student has understood what the Kimberley Process entails. There is some evidence that the student has engaged with the resources. However, a more concise integration of information is required to answer the question and address the relationship between state and non-state actors and their ability to address a global problem. Answer demonstrates evidence of a reasonable level of engagement with the resources provided. All information is relevant and accurate. This information has been reasonably used to illustrate the relationship between state and non-state actors and their ability to address a global problem but in a simplistic manner. Answer demonstrates a thorough understanding of the Kimberley Process through a detailed examination of the resources provided. The student can identify the relationship between state and non-state actors. Answer demonstrates a thorough and nuanced understanding of the Kimberley Process through a detailed examination of the resources provided. The student can identify the relationship between state and non-state actors and illustrates this clearly using examples.

Evidence of critical thinking

The student can draw larger conclusions and links between their independent research on the Kimberley Process and situate this within the larger academic debates that surround the importance of international problem-solving in a globalised world, including the challenges and opportunities, or successes and failures, of the Kimberley Process. The student engaged critically with the content to draw meaningful conclusions about governing the global system. There is limited evidence that the student has engaged with the conceptual issues discussed in the module. The student has not been able to adequately draw links between their own research and the academic debates discussed.

There is little evidence of critical thinking and the submission leans towards a description rather than a deeper critical, cohesive analysis of global governance. There is some evidence that the student understands some of the conceptual issues discussed in the module; however more links could have been drawn between the resources and the theoretical content. The submission leans towards a general description of the Kimberley Process rather than an analysis of it. There is evidence that the student has engaged well with and understands the conceptual issues discussed in the module, however there remains some room for improvement in strengthening the theoretical discussion of the argument with a more critical reflection.

The student has made good use of evidence from the course material, resources and any independent research to support their answer and shows command of the relevant conceptual issues with some analytical depth. However, at times the submission leans towards a description of the process, and there is a sense that more reflection on the issues covered in the module is needed. Answer demonstrates a thorough understanding of the key debates and theories discussed in the module. The student has drawn important links and conclusions between the academic debates that surround the challenges of global governance in a sophisticated manner by making reference to course material, provided resources, and other independent research. The students answer shows that they have critically engaged with the content to make meaningful conclusions about the state of the international system.

The answer demonstrates superior analytical sophistication, demonstrating a personal and superior marshalling of evidence to support their claims. Answer demonstrates a thorough and nuanced understanding of the key debates and theories discussed in the module. The student has drawn important links and conclusions between the academic debates that surround the challenges of global governance in a sophisticated manner by making reference to course material, provided resources, and other independent research. The students answer shows that they have critically engaged with the content to make meaningful conclusions about the state of the international system.

The answer demonstrates a systematic application of the content, theoretical issues and independent research in formulating the analysis and responding to the assignment brief.

Coherence and clarity

The answer is clearly and logically structured, written in a way that is comprehensible. Answer lacks clarity and needs a more comprehensible structure relating to language style, grammar and accuracy of facts and information. Answer is not logically structured, or is incomprehensible. Answer shows clarity and the writing is comprehensible, but needs to be more structured. Answer is written clearly and the writing is comprehensible, however there is room for improvement in the application of the module content. Answer is clearly structured and the writing is very comprehensible. The application of module content is adequate. Answer is extremely well- structured and written with exceptional clarity and is comprehensible. The application of module content is excellent.