Global Concepts

Today as never before, the world’s

diverse cultures affect each other in

many different ways.

The purpose of global studies is to develop our understanding of the people who share the world with us.

We are given insights into the lives of people that are different from – and, at the same time, very similar to – our own.

There are 15 key global concepts or themes that are highlighted and developed throughout the year.

Interdependence

• Decisions or actions can have an impact on others

Culture• Ideas, objects

and customs that people have developed for living in social groups

Scarcity• Impact of the

environment and human decision making on the availability of natural resources

Empathy• How people

relate to each other

Change• Any

environmental, political, social, religious and economic transformation

Environment• Diversity of

the global environment, how it affects people and how people affect it

Diversity• Variety of

peoples and cultures in the world contrasted with uniformity in some cultures

Identity• How people

define themselves and their place in the world as well as how they are defined by others

Technology

• Combination of skills and tools that assist human activity

Power• The way in

which individuals, groups or nations exert their influence upon others

Political Systems

• The way in which people organize their government including customs, procedures and institutions

Human Rights• Every human

being has certain rights and privileges. These should be protected by governments and the UN

Choice• Situations in

which people have alternatives and have to make decisions

Justice• The role of law

in governments in defining how citizens are treated and judged. Justice varies from nation to nation

Citizenship

• The rights and responsibilities one has as a member of a certain nation