Activity 1 - What are informal forums?

Activity Tasks
  1. Identify - Examine this image of world leaders. How many can you identify? You get ONE point for each correct name and ONE point for the country or bloc.
  2. Think/Pair/Share - What are informal forums? Discuss with a partner before sharing your ideas with the class.
  3. Define - Using the information from Slide 3 of the Lesson Presentation, write your own definition of what an informal forum is.
  4. List - With a partner, try to think of and list as many informal forums as you can. It’s harder than you think!

Activity 2 - Comparing Informal Forums

Activity Tasks
  1. Select - In groups, select one of the informal forums on this analysis sheet to research.
  2. Research - Try to record specific factual information and examples for each of the six categories: purpose/agenda; history; membership; organisation; summit achievements; criticisms and failures.
  3. Analyse - Write a paragraph answering the question, ‘What are the main similarities and differences between informal forums.’ Refer to your research analysis grids to help substantiate your answers.

Activity 3 - How effective are forums?

Activity Tasks
  1. Read - Your task is to now assess the effectiveness of the G8/G7 as an informal forum by reading and taking notes from at least two of the following sources:
    1. G8 Summit relies on hard graft, not congratulatory back patting – From the Guardian (UK)
    2. What did the G8 summit achieve? – Brookings Institute
    3. The G7 and the Future of Multilateralism
    4. Commentary: What the G7 can still offer the world
  2. Mindmap - Now draw up a mind map that explores the different sides to the proposition that ‘The G7/8 is not an effective agent of change in today’s world’. You may choose to create your mind map on paper or use mindmup.
  3. Debate - Discuss and debate the motion, ‘The G7/8 is not an effective agent of change in today’s world’. What does the majority in the class believe?

Activity 4 - Are informal forums legitimate?

Activity Tasks
  1. Identify - What do we mean when we call something democratic or undemocratic? Make a list of values that might qualify something to be considered democratic. Start with: accountability, legitimacy, transparency…
  2. Create - Create a simple two-column table to analyse the evidence for whether informal forums are undemocratic. Use the headings ‘democratic’ and ‘undemocratic’ for each column. 
  3. Organise - Now try to collect evidence for your table from the following sources:
    1. The G20 is a luxury we can't afford - The Guardian
    2. The G20, civil society, and democratic commitment
    3. Is the G20 an effective grouping?
    4. Storming the Stage - An Interview with Emily Laquer
    5. Explained: What is the G20 summit?
    6. There's Something Distinctly Undemocratic About G20 
  4. Discuss - To what extent do you think informal forums are undemocratic? ​

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics, pp. 117, 465, 477, 518
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Yu, V. (2020). China will not allow G20 to discuss Hong Kong, says foreign minister. Retrieved 14 January 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/24/china-will-not-allow-g20-to-discuss-hong-kong-says-foreign-minister
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
  1. Albert, E. (2020). Is BRICS Losing Its Shine for China?. Retrieved 14 January 2020, from https://thediplomat.com/2019/11/is-brics-losing-its-shine-for-china/

Y7-9 MYP

Y7 Humanities
Y8 Humanities
Y9 Explorations

Y10-11 IGCSE

IGCSE Global Perspectives
Global Politics & Debate
MUN

Y12-13 IBDP