Unit 3 Area of Study 2: Power in the Asia-Pacific
Outcome 2
Analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of the use of various types of power by a specific Asia-Pacific state in pursuit of its national interests.
Examples of learning activities
- Compile a media file on the selected Asia-Pacific state. Include at least ten articles from the last 12 months. Outline each article and explain how the issue is related to their national interests.
- Research to find journals and articles that illustrate differing interpretations of each national interest. Explain each differing interpretation and include in a table for each national interest.
- Research the basis of power for the selected Asia-Pacific state by looking at the following:
- List the factors shaping each national interest. Debate and rank which is the most important factor that shapes each national interest.
- List examples of when the selected state has used hard and soft power. Beside each of these, note the aim behind that use of power and the outcome of that use of power.
- Prepare a group presentation assessing the effectiveness of one foreign policy instrument.
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Create a table that includes columns for national interests, types of power and Foreign Policy Instruments (FPIs) as well as a column for a case study. Research a case study for each national interest and ensure there are enough case studies to include examples of all types of power and FPIs. If there is not, research for more case studies until complete. (see detailed example).
- Create a visual diagram of how national interests either help or hinder each other, with case studies.
- Investigate one group which has a particular interpretation of the national interest, list the factors for this different interpretation under the following headings: historical, social, political, economic, and cultural.
- Write an essay that compares the effectiveness of different forms of power in achieving the national interest.
- List evidence for and against the selected state in achieving its national interest.
- Debate the following: ‘soft power is more effective than hard power in achieving national interests’.
- Role-play a cabinet meeting of a state government. Discuss prioritising the national interests of the state. Each student is a member of the cabinet. At the beginning each student must rank the national interests of the state and provide this secretly to the teacher. The class must choose a chair of the cabinet. The cabinet then debate which national interest should be most important and rank them from most to least important for the state. Once the debate is over, any student that picked the ranking decided by the cabinet wins.
Detailed example
Case study key knowledge table
Students should be provided with the following table
| Case Study | National Interest | Types of Power | Foreign Policy Instrument |
|---|
| e.g. South China Sea (for China as the state) | supports: economic prosperity against: regional relationships | hard military diplomatic | military diplomacy |
Students research case studies and create summaries of all the state’s national interests, types of power and Foreign Policy Instruments (FPIs) are covered.
Students compare their research with other students and discuss whether their tables are accurate.
As a group, students collate their research by creating a concept map of the various types of power and FPI a state utilizes in achieving their national interests.
Each Student ranks each type of power and FPI according to the most effective to the least effective in achieving the state’s national interest.
Students compare their rankings and justify their most and least effective type of power and FPI in achieving the state’s national interest.