📋 Written Ability Test (WAT)/Essay Analysis Guide: How Can International Relations Adapt to the Rise of Non-State Actors?
🌐 Understanding the Topic’s Importance
Context: International relations must adapt to empower non-state actors while ensuring accountability, a critical theme for B-school discussions on governance and leadership.
🧠 Effective Planning and Writing
- 🕒 Time Allocation:
- Planning: 5 minutes
- Writing: 20 minutes
- Review: 5 minutes
- 📚 Preparation Tips:
- Gather examples of successful and problematic non-state interventions.
- Focus on key stakeholders and their impact.
📜 Introduction Techniques for Essays
- 🔍 Contrast Approach: “While states remain the cornerstone of global governance, non-state actors increasingly dictate outcomes on issues like climate change and cybersecurity.”
- 💡 Problem-Solution: “The rise of non-state actors challenges state-centric diplomacy, necessitating adaptive governance frameworks.”
- 🕰️ Timeline: “From NGOs influencing the Kyoto Protocol to corporations addressing data privacy, non-state actors have reshaped international relations over decades.”
🔍 Structuring the Essay Body
- 🏆 Achievements:
- Contributions to global public goods (e.g., climate action).
- Increased innovation in problem-solving.
- 📉 Challenges:
- Security threats posed by non-state groups.
- Transparency and accountability issues.
- 🔮 Future Outlook: Collaborative governance models integrating state and non-state actors.
✅ Concluding Effectively
- ⚖️ Balanced Perspective: “The inclusion of non-state actors enhances problem-solving but necessitates robust accountability mechanisms.”
- 🌍 Global Context: “As international relations evolve, lessons from global examples like Estonia’s cybersecurity model and the Paris Agreement must guide collaboration with non-state entities.”
📊 Analyzing Successes and Shortcomings
- 🏆 Achievements: Non-state actors advance global agendas like sustainability.
- 📉 Challenges: Lack of a unified accountability framework.
- 🌐 Global Context: Estonia and Paris Agreement provide models of successful collaboration.
🌱 Recommendations for Sustainable Progress
- ✅ Develop accountability mechanisms for non-state actors.
- 🤝 Foster multi-stakeholder partnerships in critical areas like cybersecurity and climate change.
✍️ Sample Short Essays
📖 Balanced Perspective
“Non-state actors transform diplomacy by bringing agility and resources but require governance reforms to ensure transparency.”
🌟 Solution-Oriented
“Collaborative frameworks integrating non-state actors with states are vital for addressing global challenges effectively.”
🌐 Global Comparison
“Drawing from Estonia’s cybersecurity model, international relations must adapt by leveraging non-state expertise while addressing risks.”

