world issues to write an essay about

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107 Global Issues Essay Topics

Find a collection of global issues topics for students covering challenges of the entire world. This is a broad spectrum of problems, from environmental concerns and human rights to economic disparities and geopolitical conflicts. Have a look at these world issues to write about and encourage a dialogue on the shared responsibilities we all have.

🗺️ TOP 7 Global Issues Essay Topics

🏆 global issues topics for students, 🎓 interesting world issues to write about, 💡 simple global issues essay topics, ❓ more issues in the world to write about.

• Global Health Issues: Essay Example
• Artificial Intelligence and Global Societal Issues
• Global Environmental Issue in the 21st Century
• Global and Local Issues Affecting John Deere Firm
• Global and Local Issues Affecting John Deere
• Perspectives on a Global Issue: Charles Baudelaire’s Poem “Albatross”
• Global Awareness of Environmental and Moral Issues
• Aspects of Global Health Issues The study claims that the new skills brought by science and medicine have failed to attain the mass of the global population.
• Obesity as a Global Health Issue The purpose of this research is to identify obesity as a global health issue, evaluate the methods and findings conducted on obesity, and find solutions to reduce obesity globally.
• The Global Water Crisis: Issues and Solutions The water crisis has now been associated with the reduction in food quantity besides the scarcity of safe drinking water.
• Global Nursing Issues: Challenges, Strategies and Advocating for Health Care Every person is entitled to quality health support and care. Unfortunately, many underdeveloped nations find it hard to deliver quality health care to their citizens.
• Global Issues of World Poverty: Reasons and Solutions The term ‘world poverty’ refers to poverty around the world and is not only limited to developing and under-developed nations.
• Globalization and National Security Issues International security researchers have taken side of the big debate, with some arguing that globalization has indeed contributed to national and international security.
• World Hunger and Food Distribution as Global Issue World hunger is a serious issue that affects the development of many countries, impairing the overall health of their populations and increasing child mortality.
• Violence against Women: A Review of the Global Issue Millions of women continue to suffer from domestic abuse and discrimination. This paper explores the issue of global violence against women in its current state.
• Global LGBTQ Health and Health Issues Although there has been rapid progress in the inclusion of LGBTQ people, they continue to face many health disparities, hence their poor health outcomes across the world.
• Cross-Cultural and Global Economic Issues The study’s purpose is to evaluate the cultural and economic issues that will impact Winmark Corp, an organization seeking to expand its operations from the United States to India.
• The History of Climate Change and Global Warming Issue The paper states that the history of climate change and the solutions communities opted for are critical to tackling the current global warming issue.
• Sexual Health and Identity as Global Issues This paper discusses the origins and essential information about the issue of sexual health and identity, the population impacted by the issue, and society’s impact on the issue.
• Global Societal Issue: Food and Water Security According to research, food and water security is a pertinent global problem in the current decade, with access to food and water becoming scarce in certain world regions.
• Food and Water Security as Globalization Issues Globalization has several implications for the business environment, among which are the expanded access to resources, and the interdependence of international companies.
• Global Issues in Healthcare: Cultural Competence and Patient Safety Within the framework of domestic issues’ impact on US HCM, the supporting systems are affected to the greatest extent.
• Articles about Global Issues: Reading Summary and Reflective Comments This paper presents reading summary and reflective comments on two articles: “Understanding international law” and “Global issues: Politics, economics, and culture”.
• Food Security: Global Health Issue Comparison The paper discusses three initiatives or approaches practiced by international organizations and offers three suggestions from the author on methods of improvement
• Outbreak Investigation: Global Issues Outbreaks may occur frequently but not every case is reported. The investigation is important because it helps to learn more about the cases to put appropriate prevention and control measures.
• Global Health Issues: On the Border Line The main purpose of this paper is to discuss how serving as a public health administrator at a border is a challenge for public health workers.
• Global Health Policy Issue: Africa There is global inequality in terms of health service delivery in Africa. The main problems that make health delivery a problem are poverty, illiteracy, and inequality.
• Global Issues, Advocacy & Caregiving for Patients in India This paper will examine the global issue, advocacy, and caregiving for people who have been infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in India.
• COVID 19 as a Global Health Issue Today, the global community remains concerned about the state of healthcare as new diseases arise, and the treatment for the widespread illnesses remains undeveloped.
• Vaccine Hesitancy as a Global Health Issue This work aims to describe the issue of vaccine hesitancy in the context of one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) offered by the United Nations.
• Globalization and Related Environmental Issues Globalization supports the flow of raw materials, wastes, and pollutants from one region to another. The wave of industrialization does not care much about environmental issues.
• Global Human Rights Progress and the Role of National Cultural Value Systems This paper aims to investigate arguments in favor and against the claim that there has been progressing in developing global human rights over the last twenty years.
• Global Pandemic Issues: Prevention of Infection and Transmission of COVID-19 For the last seven months, the world has been dealing with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
• Chinese Companies and Globalization Issues People are the driving force of a company; to unleash that force, the patrimonial approach should be changed to more liberal and liberating methods.
• Global Health Issues, Tuberculosis Tuberculosis is often latent and reveals itself when the immune system is weak. The TB incidence rates in Southeast Asia and Africa remain the highest in the world.
• Education With Regard to Globalization Issues Education is very important for representatives of the modern global community as would-be professionals and labor force.
• Global Warming and Other Ecology Issues The results of global warming will always remain a topic of controversy. Most scientists will always agree and disagree on the real effects of global warming on human life.
• Global Warming: Issue Analysis Global warming is a term commonly used to describe the consequences of man- made pollutants overloading the naturally-occurring greenhouse gases causing an increase of the average global temperature.
• Global Warming as Not a New-Fangled Issue Analytical research and an explanatory research have been seen to be helpful in many ways in order to increase the awareness that an audience has about the issues as global warming.
• “Global Issues: Third Edition” by John L. Seitz The third edition of the book “Global issues” by Seitz is an introductory analysis of most of the factors that influence the environment, economy, and society.
• Terrorism as Global Issue and Preventive Laws Terrorism is one of the actions that should be punished the hardest because it takes innocent life each time, no matter the justification of it.
• Global Issues Influencing Compensation in the US Compensation is a systematic approach of providing monetary value and other benefits to employees in exchange for their work and service.
• Compounded Global Issues: Terrorism, Nuclear Proliferation, and Climate Change
• The Global Issues Depicted in “Home”, a Documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
• Global Issues, Local Solutions: Rethinking Wealth and Health Through the Lens of Social Enterprise
• Global Issues of the Present and Ways to Overcome Them
• Understanding Global Issues Is More Important Than Ever
• Environment-Related Global Issues: Global and Regional Conventions and the Role of the Third World
• Teaching for Sustainable Development Through Ethical Global Issues Pedagogy
• Global Crimes Cause Global Issues That Affect the National and International Justice System
• Legal and Global Issues Focused on Treating Undocumented Immigrants
• Global Issues: What We Can Do to Solve the Biggest Problems in the World
• Solving Major Global Issues by Founding a System on Ethical Principles in Simon Blackburn’s Book
• Climate Change and Tourism: Responding to Global Issues
• The Politics of Marriage and Gender: Global Issues in Local Contexts
• Global Issues for Global Citizens: An Introduction to Key Development Challenges
• The Overpopulation of the Earth as a Global Issue: Are There Humane Ways to Prevent It?
• Critical Global Issues: What Are the World’s Biggest Problems and How Can We Help?
• The Secret to Solving Global Issues? Fewer Secrets, More Collaboration
• Global Issues and Challenges Beyond Ottawa: The Way Forward
• Top Ten Global Economic Issues: An Assessment of Global Risks and Priorities
• Science and Technology Cooperation on Global Issues
• Climate Change and Pollution: Serious Global Issues
• The Concept, Content, and Nature of Contemporary Global Issues
• Global Issues of Environment and Health
• Top 20 Current Global Issues That Need to Be Addressed
• How Cigarette Smoking Relates to Global Issues of the Future
• The Gay Marriage Debate: Contemporary Global Issues
• Lack of Fresh Water Is Becoming a Global Issue of Increasing Importance
• Global Issues and Change in Human Resource Management
• Poor News Coverage and Public Opinion on Global Issues
• Global Issues Surrounding the Millennium Development Goals
• Social and Global Issues and Trends in Adult Education
• Global Issues Within the First Civilizations
• Are Caste Systems a Global or a Local Issue?
• S. and India Global Issues Pertaining to Women
• How Global Issues Impact Individual States
• Global Issues in Finance and Accounting
• Environmental Problems Are Becoming a Global Issue
• Three Reasons Why You Should Care About Global Issues
• Global Issues: Violence and Peace in the Modern Age
• Canada’s Efforts to Address Global Issues
• What Global Issues Are Most Threatening?
• Are Gender Rights and Gender Discrimination Global Issues?
• Why Is It Important to Be Aware of the Global Issues in Society?
• How Do Global Issues Affect the Whole World?
• What Are the Top Global Issues in the World?
• Why Is Poverty a Global Issue?
• How Do Global Issues Impact Undeveloped Countries?
• What Is the Biggest Global Issue Today?
• Why Is Understanding Global Issues Important?
• How Do Global Issues Affect Communication?
• What Is an Important Global Issue That Impacts the Future?
• Why Is It Important to Learn About Global Contemporary Issues?
• How Can We Stop Global Issues?
• What Are the Major Contemporary Global Issues Facing the World in the 21st?
• How Can You Help Solve the Different Global Issues?
• What Is the Concept of Global Issues?
• Does Technology Help With Global Issues?
• What Are the Causes of Global Issues?
• Are Global Issues Important in Our Society Today?
• What Is the Most Important Global Issue We Face?
• How Has Technology Become a Solution to Global Issues?
• What Causes Global Issues?
• How Can We Turn Global Issues Into Innovation-Led Opportunities?
• Is Climate Change the Most Important Global Issue?
• What Global Issues Have Emerged Because of Globalization?

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StudyCorgi . "107 Global Issues Essay Topics." June 5, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/global-issues-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "107 Global Issues Essay Topics." June 5, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/global-issues-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Global Issues were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 22, 2024 .

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• A Research Guide
• Research Paper Topics

35 Global Issues Research Paper Topics for Students

Read also: Research writing process: peculiarities and techniques.

35 Global Issues Topics for an A+ Grade

• The presidency of Trump and its impact on world politics
• Kidnapping and human trafficking: will it increase afterthe legalization of prostitution worldwide?
• The Doomsday Clock: its meaning and importance
• The global warming: what are its advantages and disadvantages?
• What the first piloted flight to Marswill change?
• Does violence at the border between USA and Mexico have global consequences?
• Holy wars: isthere any risk of them now?
• The raise of China: what are the possibilities for the country in the next ten years?
• Digital piracy as global phenomenon
• The global hunger: what can be done to eliminate it?
• The pollution problem: who or what contributes the most?
• Social media and their global influence
• Global flashmobs: what can they change?
• The phenomenon of petitions
• The overpopulation of the Earth: are there humane ways to prevent it?
• Shall we fight extinction of every endangered specie, or let the nature decide?
• Deforestation and its global impact
• The global impact of the third world countries
• The consequences of Brexit
• Space missions as a global uniting factor
• The secret societies: are they a real force?
• The Third World War: is the danger real?
• Mother Teresa and her influence on the world
• Gender problems worldwide
• Shall class segregation be eliminated completely?
• Ethnic conflicts: is there a global solution?
• Is the universal religion possible?
• The global poverty: what can be done?
• Recycling: what can we do on global scale?
• Are caste systems a global or a local problem?
• Does the power over the globe now belongs to corporations, not to the governments?
• Civil wars: are they internal affairs or the symptoms of global events?
• How do closed countries like People’s Republic of Korea influence the world?
• Humanitarian aid: how to help without harm?
• Is the world ready for global catastrophes?

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101 Global Issues Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Global issues are a complex and multifaceted part of our world today. From climate change to poverty, these issues affect people all over the world and require collaborative efforts to address. If you are looking for essay topics on global issues, here are 101 ideas to get you started:

• The impact of climate change on global food security
• The role of the United Nations in addressing global conflicts
• The effects of globalization on developing countries
• The rise of nationalism and its implications for global cooperation
• The ethical implications of genetic engineering
• The challenges of providing clean water to all people
• The impact of social media on global communication
• The role of women in peacebuilding efforts
• The effects of deforestation on biodiversity
• The importance of universal healthcare
• The consequences of income inequality
• The role of technology in addressing global challenges
• The impact of migration on global economies
• The ethics of drone warfare
• The effects of nuclear proliferation
• The challenges of combating infectious diseases
• The role of education in promoting global citizenship
• The consequences of overfishing
• The impact of artificial intelligence on the job market
• The ethics of animal testing
• The effects of urbanization on the environment
• The importance of renewable energy sources
• The challenges of providing education to all children
• The implications of cyber warfare
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion
• The consequences of mass incarceration
• The impact of terrorism on global security
• The ethics of humanitarian intervention
• The effects of child labor on global economies
• The challenges of combating human trafficking
• The role of religion in global conflicts
• The consequences of water scarcity
• The importance of protecting indigenous rights
• The ethics of animal conservation
• The effects of plastic pollution on marine life
• The implications of artificial intelligence on privacy
• The challenges of addressing climate refugees
• The role of diplomacy in resolving international disputes
• The consequences of deforestation on indigenous communities
• The impact of social media on mental health
• The ethics of genetic modification
• The effects of air pollution on public health
• The importance of promoting gender equality
• The challenges of combating drug trafficking
• The implications of autonomous weapons
• The role of international organizations in promoting peace
• The consequences of human rights violations
• The impact of corruption on global economies
• The ethics of animal rights
• The effects of population growth on natural resources
• The challenges of providing healthcare in conflict zones
• The role of the private sector in addressing global challenges
• The consequences of climate change on indigenous cultures
• The importance of preserving cultural heritage
• The ethics of bioengineering
• The effects of soil degradation on agriculture
• The implications of mass surveillance
• The challenges of promoting sustainable tourism
• The role of education in preventing extremism
• The consequences of food insecurity
• The impact of armed conflict on civilian populations
• The ethics of genetic privacy
• The effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems
• The importance of promoting religious tolerance
• The challenges of combating cybercrime
• The implications of mass migration
• The role of international aid in promoting development
• The consequences of wildlife trafficking
• The impact of income inequality on social cohesion
• The ethics of human enhancement
• The effects of urban sprawl on natural habitats
• The importance of promoting intercultural dialogue
• The challenges of addressing mental health stigma
• The implications of water privatization
• The role of social entrepreneurship in addressing global challenges
• The consequences of gender-based violence
• The impact of climate change on indigenous knowledge
• The ethics of biohacking
• The effects of land degradation on food security
• The importance of protecting cultural diversity
• The challenges of combating cyberbullying
• The implications of mass incarceration on communities of color
• The role of education in promoting social justice
• The consequences of wildlife habitat loss
• The impact of human trafficking on vulnerable populations
• The ethics of environmental conservation
• The effects of electronic waste on developing countries
• The importance of promoting mental health awareness
• The challenges of addressing refugee integration
• The implications of artificial intelligence on democracy
• The role of international law in promoting human rights
• The consequences of water pollution on public health
• The impact of climate change on cultural heritage
• The ethics of biofuels
• The effects of deforestation on indigenous rights 96

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How to Write the Political and Global Issues College Essay

Essays are one of the best parts of the college application process. With your grades in, your test scores decided, and your extracurriculars developed over your years in high school, your essays are the last piece of your college application that you have immediate control over. With them, you get to add a voice to your other stats, a “face” to the name, so to speak. They’re an opportunity to reveal what’s important to you and what sets you apart from other applicants and tell the admissions committee why you’d be an excellent addition to their incoming student class.

Throughout your college applications process, there are many different types of essays you’ll be asked to write. Some of the most popular essay questions you’ll see might include writing about an extracurricular, why you want to matriculate at a school, and what you want to study.

Increasingly, you might also see a supplemental college essay asking you to discuss a political or global issue that you’re passionate about. Asking this type of question helps colleges understand what you care about outside of your personal life and how you will be an active global citizen.

Some examples from the 2019-2020 cycle include:

Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service : Briefly discuss a current global issue, indicating why you consider it important and what you suggest should be done to deal with it.

Yeshiva University Honors Programs : What is one issue about which you are passionate?

Pitzer College : Pitzer College is known for our students’ intellectual and creative activism. If you could work on a cause that is meaningful to you through a project, artistic, academic, or otherwise, what would you do?

Your GPA and SAT don’t tell the full admissions story

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographics, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details.

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Tips for Writing the Political and Global Issues College Essay

Pick an issue close to your life.

When you first see a political and global issues prompt, your gut reaction might be to go with a big-picture topic that’s all over the news, like poverty or racism. The problem with these topics is that you usually have a page or less to talk about the issue and why it matters to you. Students also might not have a direct personal connection to such a broad topic. The goal of this essay is to reveal your critical thinking skills, but the higher-level goal of every college essay is to learn more about who you are.

Rather than go with a broad issue that you’re not personally connected to, see if there’s just one facet of it that you  can  contend with. This is especially important if the prompt simply asks for “an issue,” and not necessarily a “global issue.” While some essay prompts will specifically ask that you address a  global  issue (like Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service), there are still ways to approach it from a more focused perspective.

For example, if you were to talk about world hunger, you could start with the hunger you see in your community, which is a food desert. For your solution, you can discuss your plan to build a community garden, so the town is able to access fresh produce. Food deserts, of course, aren’t the only reason world hunger exists; so, you should also explore some other reasons, and other solutions. Maybe there is a better way to prevent and recuperate produce currently being wasted, for instance. If the prompt doesn’t specifically ask for a global issue, however, you could simply focus on food deserts.

For another example, maybe you want to talk about climate change. A more personal and focused approach would deal with happenings in your community, or a community you’ve had contact with. For instance, perhaps your local river was polluted because of textile industry waste; in this case, it would be fitting to address fast fashion specifically (which is still a global issue).

Remember your audience

As you’re approaching this essay, take care to understand the political ramifications of what you’re suggesting and how the school you’re addressing might react to it. Make sure you understand the school’s political viewpoints, and keep in mind that schools are hoping to see how you might fit on their campus based on your response.

So, if you’re applying to a school known for being progressive, like Oberlin or Amherst, you might not want to write an essay arguing that religious freedom is under threat in America. Or, if you’re applying to Liberty University, you should probably avoid writing an essay with a strong pro-LGBTQ stance. You don’t have to take the opposite position, but try picking a different issue that won’t raise the same concerns.

If you have no political alignment, choose economics

If you find yourself applying to a school with which you share no political viewpoints, you might want to consider if the school would even be a good fit for you. Why do you really want to go there? Are those reasons worth it? If you think so, consider writing about an economic issue, which tend to be less contentious than social issues.

For instance, you could write about the impact of monopolies because your parents own an independent bookstore that has been affected by Amazon. Or you could discuss tax breaks for companies that keep or move their production domestically, after seeing how your town changed when factories were moved abroad. Maybe tax filing is a cause you’re really passionate about, and you think the government should institute a free electronic system for all. No matter what you write about here, the key is to keep it close to home however you can.

Pick the best possible framing

When you’re writing an essay that doesn’t fully align with the political views of the school you’re applying to, you’ll want to minimize the gap between your viewpoint and that of the school. While they still might disagree with your views, this will give your essay (and therefore you) the best possible chance. Let’s say you’re applying to a school with progressive economic views, while you firmly believe in free markets. Consider these two essay options:

Option 1:  You believe in free markets because they have pulled billions out of terrible poverty in the developing world.

Option 2:  “Greed is good,” baby! Nothing wrong with the rich getting richer.

Even if you believe equally in the two reasons above personally, essay option 1 would be more likely to resonate with an admissions committee at a progressive school.

Let’s look at another, more subtle example:

Option 1:  Adding 500 police officers to the New York City public transit system to catch fare evaders allows officers to unfairly and systematically profile individuals based on their race.

Option 2:  The cost of hiring 500 additional police officers in the New York City public transit system is higher than the money that would be recouped by fare evasion.

While you might believe both of these things, a school that places a lower priority on race issues may respond better to the second option’s focus on the fallible economics of the issue.

Structuring the Essay

Depending on how long the essay prompt is, you’ll want to use your time and word count slightly differently. For shorter essays (under 250 words), focus on your personal connection rather than the issue itself. You don’t have much space and you need to make it count. For standard essays (250-500 words), you can spend about half the time on the issue and half the time on your personal connection. This should allow you to get more into the nuance. For longer essays, you can write more on the issue itself. But remember, no matter how long the essay is, they ultimately want to learn about you–don’t spend so much time on the issue that you don’t bring it back to yourself.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Globalization and Its Challenges Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Globalization is a complex phenomenon which came into existence in the end of the twentieth century. Several decades ago it took days or even weeks for companies located in different countries to make a deal. Now it can be a matter of several hours. Interestingly, the word globalization is not new for people living in the twenty-first century, but sometimes the word is misused or misinterpreted.

Therefore, it is crucial to define the notion. Ukpere (2011, p. 6072) notes that globalization is “a state whereby national boundaries turn totally porous with respect to the movement of goods and capital and, to an extent, porous with respect to people, which is viewed… as cheap labor or, in some cases, cheap human capital”.

In other words, globalization presupposes no boundaries to business activity. The business activity is not confined to purely running business worldwide. Globalization also penetrates in such spheres of people’s life as education and even politics. The development of technology has enabled people to share information without paying any attention to location.

Many companies located in the developed countries shifted their facilities to developing countries. On the other hand, people from developing countries can look for jobs in developed countries. Basically, globalization has made the world smaller and more accessible, so to speak.

However, there are quite many negative effects. For instance, many people argue that globalization led to the global financial crisis in 2000s. These people state that various economies have become too interrelated. It is argued that some countries simply ‘shared’ their financial constraints with the rest of the world. There are many more challenges associated with globalization.

In the first place, people discuss problems developed countries face due to globalization. Thus, Rattner (2011) states that many people in developed countries lose as availability of workforce across the globe (e.g. China, India, Mexico, etc.) contributes greatly to the increase of unemployment within the country.

Rattner (2011) provides an example of the impact of globalization. The author focuses on such manufacturers as General Motors and Volkswagen. These giants shifted their capacities to other countries to reduce their expenditures. Admittedly, Americans are forced to work for lower wages as they understand that manufacturers can easily operate abroad.

Rattner (2011, n.p.) estimates that some workers will get $30,000 per year which can hardly be “the American dream of great middle-class jobs”. In fact, this is the major challenge for developed countries. Businesses are under constant pressure as growing economies of developing countries become more and more competitive.

Seemingly, developing countries benefit from globalization, but in reality globalization leads to great disproportions. On the one hand, many plants and factories are being built on the territory of these countries. Of course, this leads to new working places. However, these people do not obtain very big salaries. The conditions people have to work in are often very difficult or sometimes simply intolerable. Besides, the big enterprises coming to developing countries often become monopolies which dictate their own rules.

Ukpere (2011) also notes that globalization has led to increased levels of poverty and inequality. Admittedly, well-paid jobs are not available for the majority of people living in the developing countries. Those who manage to get a good job soon become much wealthier than the rest. This disproportion is caused by different opportunities. Thus, some people have access to information, knowledge, education, while others remain far from these ‘achievements of civilization’.

Therefore, it is possible to state that globalization has quite controversial effects. It helps some countries develop whereas other countries experience certain decline in their economy. Of course, economies have become interrelated, which is quite dangerous. As the global crisis has shown all economies become vulnerable if some country fails to keep the necessary balance.

It is also important to note that globalization contributes to marginalization of some countries (Ukpere, 2011). It is acknowledged that some countries lag behind due to some factors. They can be unattractive for investment. These countries may lack for professionals in some fields due to inaccessibility of education and training. Scarce resources also make countries unattractive for investors. Thus, it is possible to state that one of the major negative effects of globalization is that it creates disproportions.

Nonetheless, globalization should not be seen as something negative. People who simply oppose globalization (arrange protest walks) waste their time. First of all, the process is inevitable. Globalization can be regarded as a synonym to development. The development of technology has already removed boundaries. Besides, globalization has many positive effects which cannot be ignored. Thus, it is necessary to take advantage of positive effects, while trying to diminish negative effects of globalization.

Of course, government should cooperate to work out specific policies concerning global market. It is important to allocate funds wisely. No country should be left aside. Admittedly, all countries have something particularly valuable for the global market. Though, at first not all the countries can be involved in the operations on the global market. However, the boundaries should expand gradually. The example of the European Union is one of the illustrations that global market can be real. The experience of the EU can also be really valuable when developing the policies. Admittedly, these policies should be quite strict to make businesses comply with the rules.

In this case, all countries will benefit from globalization. All countries will be involved in the development of the global market. This will lead to equal development of countries. Thus, developing countries will be able to reach the level of developed countries. Admittedly, such problems as famine or unemployment can be solved. It is only necessary to allocate resources (natural as well as human) appropriately. It has been acknowledged that people produce enough food and goods for the entire planet, but these goods are distributed disproportionately. Globalization will address the problem.

On balance, it is possible to note that globalization presupposes no boundaries for economic activities. Globalization is seen differently by different people. Some say it is a process which should be stopped. Some claim that globalization is a positive process which should be fostered. People have not come to a single conclusion on the matter. However, it is impossible to ignore the fact that globalization is still a promising process.

It can help people address such problems as disproportion of various resources. Eventually, globalization will help humanity develop. Of course, people will have to work together to benefit from globalization. This process presupposes mutual work of all governments. This may seem somewhat idealistic but people have no other choice. It is a fact that if a country in some part of the world experiences financial constraints, other countries of the globe will eventually experience the same problems. Thus, to succeed people will have to cooperate.

Reference List

Rattner, S. (2011). Let’s admit it: Globalization has losers . The New York Times . Web.

Ukpere, W.I. (2011). Globalization and the challenges of unemployment, income inequality and poverty in Africa. African Journal of Business Management, 5 (15).

• The Trend in America's International Trade
• Managing Cultural Integration and Change Processes
• Globalization and Its Discontents
• Globalization and the World Economy
• Globalization Positive and Negative Impacts
• Stability Strategies - Global Business Management
• Management of New Establishment in China
• Cultural Variation Across International Organisations
• Safety Management Systems in the Aviation Industry
• Recruitment Strategies - Global Business Management
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, April 22). Globalization and Its Challenges. https://ivypanda.com/essays/globalization-and-its-challenges/

"Globalization and Its Challenges." IvyPanda , 22 Apr. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/globalization-and-its-challenges/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Globalization and Its Challenges'. 22 April.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Globalization and Its Challenges." April 22, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/globalization-and-its-challenges/.

1. IvyPanda . "Globalization and Its Challenges." April 22, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/globalization-and-its-challenges/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Globalization and Its Challenges." April 22, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/globalization-and-its-challenges/.

World Studies Extended Essay: Global Themes

• Introduction
• Getting Started
• Global Themes
• Interdisciplinary Research
• What Makes Up a "Discipline"?
• Evaluating the Insights of Academic Disciplines
• Multiple Forms of Integration
• Evaluating Your Essay
• Common Stumbling Blocks
• Examples of Globally Conscious Students

World Studies Global Themes

Conflict, peace, and security Culture, language, and identity Environmental and/or economic sustainability Equality and inequality Health and development Science, technology and society

Conflict, peace, and security

Culture, language, and identity

Environmental and/or economic sustainability

Equality and inequality

Health and development

Science, technology and society

WSEE Documents

WSEE Subject Guide and worksheets

• IB EE Subject Guide - World Studies, 2018
• Making Meaningful Connections Use this worksheet to help you think about your research plans: the concepts or methods your will be using, the global topic you're focusing on, and the academic disciplines you will be using.

RRS (Researcher's Reflection Space)

• Sample Prompts for the WSEE RRS What should you write in your RRS? Use these questions and prompts to help you think through the various stages of the research for your WSEE: your initial ideas, your thoughts and reflections during the process, and your conclusions.
• RRS Example B - World Studies

RPPF (Researcher's Planning and Progress Form) examples:

• RPPF Example 5 - World Studies
• RPPF Example 7 - World Studies

IB Extended Essay Guide & Timeline

Check the Extended Essay guide for specific guidance on completing the various steps in the research and writing process of the EE, and  these documents:

Quick Links

NoodleTools Links

The librarian is always happy to help you!

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• Next: Interdisciplinary Study >>
• Last Updated: Jul 12, 2024 4:49 PM
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Top 20 Current Global Issues We Must Address

What are the most pressing issues in the world today? What will demand the most attention in the next 5, 10, and 20+ years? In this article, which frequently refers to the World Economic Forum’s 17th Edition of the Global Risks Report, we’ll highlight 20 current global issues we must address, including issues related to climate change, COVID-19, social rights, and more. While it’s hardly a comprehensive discussion, it’s a solid introduction to the kinds of concerns facing our world today.

#1. Poverty

In fall 2022, the World Bank will update the International Poverty Line from $1.90 to $2.15. This means anyone living on less than $2.15 is in “extreme poverty.” Why the change? Increases in the costs of food, clothing, and shelter between 2011-2017 make the “real value of $2.15 in 2017 prices equal to $1.90 in 2011 prices. As for the World Bank’s goal to reduce extreme poverty to 3% or less by 2030, the pandemic has made it even harder. Extreme poverty isn’t the only poverty we have to contend with. 62% of the global population lives on less than $10/day. While there’s been progress over the years, the end of poverty is still far off.

Learn more about tackling poverty with an online course: Poverty & Population: How Demographics Shape Policy (Columbia University)

#2. Climate change

The IPCC released its sixth report in 2022. In its summary for policy-makers, the report’s authors outlined a series of near-term, mid-term, and long-term risks. If global warming reaches 1.5°C in the near term (2021-2040), it would cause “unavoidable increases in multiple climate hazards,” as well as “multiple risks to ecosystems and humans.” In the long term, climate change will present major health issues, premature deaths, risks to cities and settlements , and other dangers. Mitigation is desperately needed – and fast. Because of climate change ’s connection to other issues on this list, it’s one of the most serious challenges facing humanity.

Learn more about climate change with an online course: Science and Engineering of Climate Change (EDHEC Business School)

#3. Food insecurity

According to the 2022 Global Report on Food Crises , which is produced by the Global Network against Food Crises, the number of people in crisis or worse is the highest it’s been in the six years since the report has existed. Close to 193 million people were experiencing acute food insecurity in 2021, which is an increase of almost 40 million since 2020. This represents a staggering 80% increase since 2016. Causes include “economic shocks,” like an increase in global food prices. Domestic food price inflation in low-income countries also rose a lot. “Weather-related disasters” are also a big driver. For 15.7 million people in 15 countries, it was the primary driver of acute food insecurity.

Learn more about food insecurity with an online course: Feeding the World (University of Pennsylvania)

#4. Refugee rights

According to UNHCR, the war in Ukraine sparked the fastest-growing refugee crisis since WWII. Almost 6 million (as of May 10, 2022) people have fled. The UNCHR’s Refugee Brief , which compiles the week’s biggest refugee stories, has recently described situations in places like Somalia, where thousands of people were displaced due to severe drought. Between January and mid-April, more than 36,000 refugees from Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso arrived in Niger. These are only a few examples of the refugee crises, which endangers already marginalized groups – like women and children – and puts them at an increased risk of trafficking , violence, and death.

Learn more about refugee rights with an online course: Refugees in the 21st Century (University of London)

#5. COVID-19

The WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2022. It will continue to be a major issue for the world. The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2022 discusses COVID’s effects at length , including major economic recovery disparities and social erosion. According to a January 2022 article from NPR , there are also issues with vaccinations as many countries continue to have trouble getting doses. Distribution, vaccine hesitancy, healthcare systems, and other problems also factor into low vaccination rates. While we may never know the exact impact, the WHO estimates that between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021, there were around 14.9 million excess deaths linked to COVID-19.

Learn more about the impact of COVID-19 with an online course: Life After COVID-19: Get Ready for our Post-Pandemic Future (Institute for the Future)

#6. Future pandemic preparation and response

COVID-19 taught the world the importance of prepardeness. In a Harvard blog , Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, outlined the lessons the world should take to heart. The first: science has to guide policy. The politicization of the pandemic led to a lot of unnecessary damage. Another lesson is that science must pair with equity or it can actually make inequalities worse. This is obvious when looking at how low-income countries struggled to get the vaccines while wealthier countries stocked up. More resilient healthcare systems are also a must, as well as more coherent, global plans on how to respond. The world must also invest in research on contagious diseases, zoonotic diseases, the effectiveness of outbreak responses, and more.

Learn more about future pandemic response with an online course: Pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response (Politecnico di Milano)

#7. Healthcare

The healthcare industry has experienced major shifts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Economic Forum, there’s been new investments and innovations, especially from the technology and telehealth sectors. In 2021, $44 billion was spent on health innovation. The world will be seeing the effects of these innovations for years to come, though equity will no doubt be a major issue. In places like the United States, the pandemic also reaffirmed how broken healthcare systems can be. In an MIT News blog , Andrea Campbell, a professor of political science, says the pandemic revealed a “dire need” for investments in public-health infrastructure, as well as a need to expand healthcare access and insurance coverage.

Learn more about health inequity issues with an online course: Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare (University of Michigan)

#8. Mental health

Globally, almost 1 billion people have some form of mental disorder. The pandemic made the world’s mental health worse. According to a scientific brief from the WHO , there’s been a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide. Causes include social isolation, fear of sickness, grief, and financial anxieties. Health workers were also severely impacted, as well as young women and girls. The brief also highlights how the pandemic disrupted many mental health services, including services for substance abuse. Countries need to ensure access to mental health services as part of their COVID-19 recovery plans and beyond. It’s an economic decision, as well. The Lancet states that anxiety and depression alone cost the global economy around $1 trillion a year.

Learn more about mental health with an online course: The Science of Well-Being (Yale University)

#9. Disability rights

According to the WHO , over 1 billion people have some form of disability. Half can’t afford healthcare. They’re also more likely to live in poverty than those without a disability, have poorer health outcomes, and have less access to work and education opportunities. Human Rights Watch lists other discriminations disabled people face, such as an increased risk of violence. There’s been progress regarding disability rights, but many countries lack strong protections. The world still has a long way to go to ensure equality for those with disabilities.

Learn more about disability rights with an online courses: Disability Awareness and Support (University of Pittsburgh)

#10. LGBTQ+ rights

Members of the LGBTQ+ community face discrimination in many forms. According to Amnesty International , discrimination can target sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics. Even in more progressive countries like the United States, people face violence and discrimination. According to the Human Rights Campaign, more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were proposed in 2022. At least a dozen states are considering legislation that forbids schools from discussing or using a curriculum that covers sexual orientation and gender identity. Considering the United States’ influence in the world, this attack on LGBTQ+ rights will likely have consequences that need to be addressed.

Learn more about LGBTQ+ issues with an online courses .

#11. Reproductive justice

Reproductive justice – which encompasses more than just abortion rights – is threatened by legislation, lack of funding, lack of education, and restricted healthcare access. In most places, wealth is a big determinant of whether a person can access reproductive services. It’s better in some places than others, but as we’ve seen with other issues on this list, even “progressive” countries like the United States are experiencing major shifts. In June 2022, the Supreme Court is expected to overrule Roe v. Wade , a milestone court case that protected a pregnant woman’s right to abortion. The impact would be immediate and will likely influence other countries.

Learn more about reproductive justice and women’s rights: International Women’s Health and Human Rights (Stanford University)

#12. Children’s rights

Children are a very vulnerable group. In 2019, around 5.2 million children under five from mostly preventable and treatable causes. 2.4 million were newborns under 28 days old. Leading causes include preterm birth complications, pneumonia, and malaria. According to UNICEF, the climate crisis also represents a severe threat to kids. Around 1 billion kids live in “extremely high-risk countries” that are hit by the worst effects of climate change. 920 kids have trouble accessing clean water and 600 million are exposed to vector-borne diseases like malaria. Child labor also remains an issue. At the beginning of 2020, around 160 million were forced into labor while COVID-19 put 9 million more kids at risk. That’s almost 1 in 10 children globally. Almost half are in dangerous environments. As is often the case, the other issues on this list – climate change, poverty, COVID, gender equality, etc – factor into children’s rights.

Learn more about children’s rights: Children’s Human Rights – An Interdisciplinary Introduction (University of Geneva)

#13. Gender equality

Global gender equality has gradually improved over the years, but data from the 2021 Global Gender Report shows that the end of the global gender gap is still 135 years away. The pandemic played a huge role in reversing positive trends as women were hit harder financially. According to Oxfam , women experienced a 5% job loss while men experienced 3.9%. That means women lost about $800 million in 2020. This is a low estimate since it doesn’t count the informal economy, which includes millions of women. Women are also more likely to live in poverty, more affected by gender-based violence, and more affected by climate change.

Learn more about gender equality: Gender Analytics: Gender Equity through Inclusive Design (University of Toronto)

#14. Cybersecurity

The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2022 (page 9) listed cybersecurity vulnerabilities as a concern. The reason is rapid digitalization, which was triggered in part by COVID-19. Many “advanced economies” are now at a higher risk for cyberattacks. GRPS respondents identified cybersecurity failure as a critical short-term risk. In 2020, malware and ransomware attacks went up by 358% and 435%. There are a few reasons for this, including better (and easier) attack methods and poor governance. Cyberattacks have a swath of serious consequences and erode public trust. As countries become more dependent on digitalization, their cybersecurity needs to keep up.

Learn more about cybersecurity: IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate (IBM)

#15. Disinformation

Rapid digitalization comes with many issues, including the lightning-fast spread of disinformation. The WEF report describes deepfakes, an accessible AI technology, and its potential to sway elections and other political outcomes. Disinformation doesn’t need to be sophisticated to be successful, however. Through social media posts and videos, twelve anti-vax activists were responsible for almost ⅔ of all anti-vaccine content on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Their content flooded the internet with the type of harmful, fear-mongering disinformation that played a significant role in vaccine hesitancy and political radicalization. Because disinformation travels faster online than the truth, it’s a global issue that should be addressed.

Learn more about tackling disinformation: Communicating Trustworthy Information in the Digital World (University of Rotterdam)

#16. Freedom of the press

According to the Varieties of Democracy Institute (as reported in The Economist ), about 85% of people live in a country where press freedom has gone down in the past 5 years. After peaking at .65 in the early 2000s and 2011, the global average dropped to .49 in 2021. Major countries like China, India, Russia, Brazil, and Turkey saw significant declines. Journalists and news organizations face threats like violence, imprisonment, lack of funding, and coordinated online attacks and harassment. A free press is essential to a functioning democracy. Without press freedom, all human rights are at risk.

Learn more about freedom of expression: Human Rights for Open Societies (Utrecht University)

#17. Debt crises

In the WEF Global Risks Report (page 7), respondents named debt crises as one of the most pressing issues over the next decade, though respondents believe they will become most serious in just 3-5 years. COVID-19 is a big reason why. Government stimulus was necessary, but many countries are now left with debt burdens. For corporate and public finances in large economies, debt burdens can lead to defaults, bankruptcies, insolvency, and more. This is a far-reaching issue as it affects budgets for areas like healthcare and green energy.

Learn more about the debt: Finance for everyone – Debt (McMaster University)

#18. Corruption

Corruption encompasses a host of actions such as bribery, election manipulation, fraud, and state capture. The World Bank Group names corruption as a barrier to ending extreme poverty and “boosting shared prosperity” for the poorest populations. When it comes to addressing poverty, climate change, healthcare, gender equality, and more, corruption gets in the way. Because corruption is a global problem, global solutions are necessary. Reform, better accountability systems, and open processes will all help.

Learn more about tackling corruption: What is Corruption: Anti-Corruption and Compliance (University of Pennsylvania)

#19. Authoritarianism

According to Freedom House, global democracy is eroding. That includes countries with long-established democracies. In their 2022 report, the organization reveals that global freedom has been declining for the past 16 years. 60 countries faced declines in the last year. Only 25 saw improvements. Only 20% of the global population lives in Free countries. China, Russia, and other authoritarian countries have gained more power in the international system, while countries with established democracies – like the United States – are losing their freedoms. What can be done? Freedom House says success “requires a bold, sustained response that establishes support for democracy and countering authoritarianism.” Governments and citizens engage and stand for democracy.

Learn more about tackling authoritarianism: Citizenship and the Rule of Law (University of London)

#20. Global cooperation

Addressing the issues in this article is not an easy task. True progress is only possible through global cooperation, a fact which is woven through the WEF report. Everything from addressing cybersecurity threats to humanitarian emergencies to protecting democracy depends on strong cooperation between countries. As the report says in its preface: “Restoring trust and fostering cooperation within and between countries will be crucial to addressing these challenges and preventing the world from drifting further apart.” The challenges threatening global cooperation are just as clear as the need, however, which makes it one of the most serious issues of the day.

Learn more about global cooperation: Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

• [email protected]

Global Issues Research Paper Topics to Write About

Academeter is the best place to find essay and research paper topics on world issues. In this article, we list some of the most popular global issues topics that you can write about. To find solution to some of the most pressing global issues, research papers are needed to offer recommendations. Research can help to identify response strategies to address those issues.

There are 10 world issues to write about based on the topics we have listed below.

According to the UN, there are many global issues the world is currently facing. Some of the main global issues include:

Global issue topic 1: Ageing

An inevitable part of humanity is ageing (people above 60 years). There are several topics that emerge from this global issue. Here are the top 5 age-related world issues one can write about:

• How to reduce chronic illnesses among elderly populations.
• The economic contribution of older adults in modern economy.
• How to keep elderly individuals productive after retirement.
• Is an ageing workforce detrimental to American civilization?
• Can immigration solve the problem of ageing population in the Western world?

Need help with a research paper on one of these world issues? Order a research paper from our home page.

Global issue topic 2: Famine

As the world’s population grows, especially in the developing world, pressure on existing food production channels increase. This means we could struggle feeding the world population if more people are born in the next few decades. Here are a few topics related to the world issue of famine and food:

• How water contamination impacts our ability to grow sufficient food.
• Strategies to reduce the cost of food production.
• A 10-year projection of how world population could affect demand for food.
• Possible solutions to the persistent world hunger.
• Malnourished children and effects on their success in future.
• The link between meat consumption and global famine in Africa.
• What is the role of technology in reducing world hunger?

Global issue topic 3: Child Labor

UNICEF estimates that there are about 150 million children still experiencing child labor as at 2021. There has been increased attention on child labor following the growing popularity of social media. However, the issue continues to persist despite efforts to address it. This is because many children in developing countries lack education. Also, luxury goods companies have not established strategies to eliminate child labor.

Here are the few essay and research paper topics on child labor to write about:

• What role does luxury goods industry play in child labor?
• The significance of quality education on reducing child labor.
• Best penalties from companies that facilitate exploitation of children.
• How globalization contributes to child labor.
• Analysis of textile factories in Asia using child labor.

Global issue topic 4: Terrorism

The next world issues to write about is terrorism. Global studies have identified the topic of terrorism as a controversial one that requires a lot of caution when investigating. There are a lot of conspiracies surrounding the topic and researchers need to assess their topic selections very carefully.

Here are the 5 exciting research paper topics of terrorism as a world issue:

• The success and failures of the war on terror.
• What counter-terrorism measures have been most effective in the Middle East?
• Evaluating the origins of extremist ideological underpinnings.
• Is al-Qaeda and its affiliate in the decline?
• How effective has the United States’ anti-terrorism approach been effective?

Debate Topics

Need to write an argumentative essay? Preparing for an upcoming debate? ProCon.org has over 100 topics complete with pro and con arguments, quotes and statistics from experts, historical information, and other pertinent research.

Abortion – Should abortion be legal?

Alternative Energy – Can alternative energy effectively replace fossil fuels?

American Socialism – Should the U.S. become socialist?

Animal Dissection – Should K-12 students dissect animals in science classrooms?

Animal Testing – Should animals be used for scientific or commercial testing?

Artificial Intelligence – Is artificial intelligence good for society?

Banned Books – Should parents or other adults be able to ban books from schools and libraries?

Binge-Watching – Is binge-watching good for you?

Bottled Water Ban – Should bottled water be banned?

Cancel Culture – Is cancel culture (or callout culture) good for society?

CBD for Pets – Is CBD good for pets?

Cell Phone Radiation – Is cell phone radiation safe?

Cheerleading – Is cheerleading a sport?

Churches & Taxes – Should churches (including mosques, synagogues, etc.) remain tax-exempt?

College Education – Is a college education worth it?

Congressional Term Limits  – Should term limits be imposed on U.S. Senators and Representatives?

Constitutional Carry of Handguns – Should permitless, “constitutional carry” of guns be legal?

Corporal Punishment – Should corporal punishment be used in K-12 schools?

Corporate Tax Rate – Should the federal corporate income tax rate be raised?

Cuba Embargo – Should the United States maintain its embargo against Cuba?

DACA & Dreamers – Are DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the DREAM Act good for America?

Daylight Saving Time – Should the United States keep daylight saving time?

DC AND Puerto Rico Statehood – Should Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico be granted U.S. statehood?

Death Penalty – Should the death penalty be legal?

Defund the Police – Should police departments be defunded, if not abolished?

Dress Codes – Should dress codes be implemented and enforced?

Drinking Age – Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?

Drone Strikes – Should the United States continue its use of drone strikes abroad?

Drug Use in Sports – Should performance-enhancing drugs be accepted in sports?

Election Day National Holiday – Should the election day be made a national holiday?

Electoral College – Should the United States use the electoral college in presidential elections?

Employer Vaccine Mandates – Should employers be able to mandate vaccinations?

Felon Voting – Should people who have completed felony sentences be allowed to vote?

Fighting in Hockey – Should fighting be allowed in hockey?

Filibuster – Should the U.S. Senate keep the filibuster?

Fracking – Should the United States continue fracking

Free College – Should public college be tuition-free?

Fur Clothing Bans – Should fur clothing be banned?

GMOS – Should genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be grown?

Gold Standard – Should the United States return to a gold standard?

Golf – Is golf a sport and are golfers athletes?

Gun Control – Should more gun control laws be enacted?

Historic Statue Removal – Should historic statues be taken down?

Homework – Is homework beneficial?

Illegal Immigration – Should the U.S. government provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants?

Internet – Is the internet “making us stupid?”

Kneeling during the National Anthem – Is kneeling during the national anthem an appropriate form of protest?

Mandatory National Service – Should the United States have mandatory national service?

Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) – Should medical aid in dying be legal?

Medical Marijuana – Should medical marijuana be legal?

Milk – Should humans consume dairy milk?

Minimum Wage – Should the federal minimum wage be increased?

Net Neutrality – Should the U.S. have net neutrality laws?

Obesity – Is obesity a disease?

Olympics – Are the Olympic games an overall benefit for their host countries and cities?

OTC Birth Control Pills – Should birth control pills be available over-the-counter (OTC)?

Penny – Should the penny stay in circulation?

Pit Bull Bans – Should breed-specific legislation (“pit bull bans”) be enacted?

Pokémon – Is Pokémon Go good for our society?

Police Body Cameras – Should police officers wear body cameras?

Prescription Drug Costs – Should the U.S. federal government regulate prescription drug prices?

Presidential Election, 2024 – 2024 Presidential Election Site

Private Prisons – Should prisons be privatized?

Recreational Marijuana – Should recreational marijuana be legal?

Reparations for Slavery – Should the federal government pay reparations to the descendants of slaves?

Right to Healthcare – Should all Americans have the right (be entitled) to health care?

Sanctuary Cities – Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?

Santa Claus – Is there really a Santa Claus?

Saturday Halloween – Should Halloween be moved permanently to Saturday?

School Uniforms – Should students have to wear school uniforms?

Social Media & Digital Addiction – Does social media spur digital addiction and other social ills?

Social Security Privatization – Should social security be privatized?

Space Colonization – Should humans colonize space?

Standardized Tests – Do standardized tests improve education in America?

Student Loan Debt – Should student loan debt be eliminated via forgiveness or bankruptcy?

TikTok Bans – Should TikTok be banned?

Uber & Lyft – Are ride-sharing companies a benefit to society?

Universal Basic Income (UBI) – Should the United States implement a universal basic income?

U.S. Supreme Court Packing – Should packing the U.S. Supreme Court ever be considered?

Vaccines for Kids – Should states be allowed to mandate vaccines for school attendance??

Vaping E-Cigarettes – Is vaping e-cigarettes safe?

Vegetarianism – Should people become vegetarian?

Video Games & Violence – Do violent video games contribute to youth violence?

Voting Age – Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

Voting Machines – Are electronic voting machines the best method for voting?

Zoos – Should zoos exist?

Archived Topics

Please note that ProCon no longer updates these debates.

ACLU – Is the ACLU good for America?

Big Three Bailout – Should the big three car manufacturers be bailed out by the U.S. government?

Born Gay – Is sexual orientation determined at birth?

Climate Change – Is human activity primarily responsible for global climate change?

College Football Playoffs – Should college football replace the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) with a playoff system?

Dakota Access Pipeline – Should the Dakota Access Pipeline be completed?

D.A.R.E. – Is the D.A.R.E. program good for America’s kids (K-12)?

Gay Marriage – Should gay marriage be legal?

Congressional Insider Trading – Should insider trading by Congress be allowed?

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – What are the solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Obamacare – Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) good for America?

Paying College Athletes – Should colleges and universities pay college athletes?

President Bill Clinton – Was Bill Clinton a good president?

President Ronald Reagan – Was Ronald Reagan a good president?

Presidential Election, 2008 – Which candidate would make the best U.S. president?

Presidential Election, 2012 – Which candidate should be U.S. president in 2012?

Presidential Election, 2016 – The candidates and where they stand on the issues

Presidential Election, 2020 – 2020 Presidential Election Site

Prostitution – Should prostitution be legal?

School Vouchers – Should states have school voucher programs?

Tablets v. Textbooks -Should tablets replace textbooks in K-12 schools?

Teacher Tenure – Should teachers get tenure?

Under God in the Pledge – Should the words “under god” be in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance?

U.S. Drone Shot down by Iran – Was the U.S. drone shot down by Iran over international waters?

U.S.-Iraq War – Should the U.S. have attacked Iraq?

WTC Muslim Center – Is it appropriate to build a muslim community center (aka the ”ground zero mosque”) near the World Trade Center site?

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Natalie Leppard Managing Editor [email protected]

© 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved

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• Animal Testing
• Gun Control
• Banned Books
• Teachers’ Corner

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How To Write Enduring Issues Essay

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the task of combining historical documents and crafting a coherent essay, you’re not alone. The enduring issues essay format offers a clear path to navigate these challenges. This format guides you to explore timeless problems that have persisted throughout history, using specific source materials to illuminate their enduring nature. 

Sticking to this structure isn’t just about following instructions; it ensures your essay tackles a significant issue, showcases your analytical skills, and delivers a well-supported argument. So, grab your source documents, sharpen your pencils, and prepare to delve into the fascinating world of enduring issues!

Why Is It Important To Learn How To Write An Enduring Issues Essay

Enduring issues essays offer a powerful lens for examining the world around us. We journey through time by delving into historical documents that explore timeless problems. We witness societies across different eras grappling with issues like war, inequality, and the power struggle. This comparative analysis allows us to draw connections between the past and present, fostering a deeper understanding of the roots of contemporary challenges.

Moreover, these essays are pivotal in honing our critical thinking skills. We learn to dissect historical documents discerningly, identifying key points, evaluating potential biases, and extracting evidence to support our arguments. This process sharpens our ability to analyze information critically and form well-reasoned arguments, a crucial skill for academic success and beyond.

Ultimately, enduring issues essays equip us to be informed and engaged citizens. By understanding the historical context of ongoing challenges, we learn from the triumphs and failures of the past. This knowledge empowers us to contribute to solutions for the future, fostering a sense of agency and responsibility in tackling the complex issues that continue to shape our world.

How To Write An Enduring Issues Essay

The enduring issues essay might seem daunting, but with a clear roadmap, you can conquer it! Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved, along with examples to illustrate:

Step 1 Understanding The Enduring Issue

It is essential to understand an enduring issue. This problem has persisted throughout history and continues to be relevant today. Examples include war, hunger, inequality, and the balance between power and freedom. 

Your task is to research and write about the issue as accurately as possible. For example, you have documents about the Roman Republic, the French Revolution, and a modern news article on a recent conflict. All three touch upon the issue of power struggles and how they impact societies.

Step 2 Enduring Issue Essay Introduction

An enduring issue is a problem that has plagued humanity for a significant amount of time, persisting across different eras and societies. It’s a challenge that continues to resonate with us today. For this exploration, we’ll focus on the power struggle.

We’ll examine three key documents to demonstrate this issue’s enduring nature. The first document, the Roman Republic, sheds light on power struggles and how they impact societies. Document two, the French Revolution, delves into the battle for power and exemplifies the issue. Finally, the contemporary perspective comes from the homeless epidemic, which analyzes how power struggles have ongoing relevance. By examining these diverse sources, we can build a strong case for the enduring nature of power imbalance.

The enduring issue essay introduction should be between 4 and 5 lines. It should define your issue and thesis statement. For example, power’s dominance, a timeless issue, shapes societies across eras. We’ll delve into the Roman Republic’s power struggles and then witness the French Revolution, where abused power sparked change. Finally, we’ll explore homelessness, an issue with power imbalances. This journey exposes power’s enduring influence.

Step 3 Body Paragraphs

Dedicate each body paragraph to a single source document. Briefly summarize the document’s main arguments or events. Then, delve deeper by explaining how it exemplifies the enduring issue you’re exploring. To solidify your analysis, provide specific evidence from the document, such as quotes, details, or particular events. Remember to connect everything back to your thesis, demonstrating how each source strengthens your central argument about the enduring issue’s significance. 

For example, The Roman Republic exemplifies the enduring problem of power struggles. Documents detailing ambitious figures like Julius Caesar, who defied the Senate’s authority and crossed the Rubicon, illustrate this. This act of rebellion highlights how individual power grabs can destabilize a balanced system. Similarly, figures like Sulla and Marius, who used military might for political gain, showcase the destructive nature of unchecked ambition. These historical struggles reinforce our thesis on the enduring nature of power struggles.

Step 4 Concluding The Essay

Craft a powerful conclusion for your enduring issues essay. Briefly revisit your thesis and summarize how each source backed your claim. But don’t stop there! Extend the conversation by showing the issue’s relevance today. Briefly connect the historical examples to present-day situations or draw a broader lesson – perhaps about the cyclical nature of power struggles or the human capacity for conflict and cooperation. This leaves a lasting impression and underscores the issue’s enduring significance.

Unveiling enduring issues through historical analysis is a rewarding challenge. By following these steps, you’ll craft a powerful essay. But the story doesn’t end there! Consider how these historical struggles connect to the present day. Understanding the past empowers us to shape a better future. Now, dive into those documents and let history come alive!

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5 World Problems To Write About 

5 World Problems to Write About

• Climate Crisis: Right now, many news publications have been reporting on one of today’s most known issues: climate change. Affecting millions of individuals around the world,  the current climate crisis is a problem that many activists and scientists are trying to solve. Some people like Greta Thunberg have made it their mission to educate the public on what is going on and how to involve themselves. First, it is important to write about this issue because it has drastic consequences on human lives. For example, studies show that climate change will displace about 200 million people by 2050, leaving them with no home. Second, climate change also has repercussions on the planet itself. Sea levels have risen approximately eight inches in the past century, and the Earth’s surface temperature has risen almost 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit as well.
• Food Security:  Quite a lot of today’s agriculture relies heavily on quick and easy access to water; however, access to natural resources such as water has grown limited due to its exploitation for other purposes. The lack of food security has contributed to the sharp increases in world hunger as people are not meeting their dietary needs. According to the United Nations, approximately 925 million people around the world go hungry either because they cannot afford food or because it is just too scarce. People need education about food security from the news, as many personal choices, such as wasting food, contribute to the problem.
• Lack of Education:  Another important issue to write about is the lack of education that is so persistent in many low-income areas. Currently, more than 759 million adults are illiterate and do not properly understand the consequences of lacking education. Not only does it limit the number of job opportunities available in the future, but it also has drastic effects on future generations. Many organizations such as the Association for Childhood Education International have identified the source of the issue and are determined to alienate it in the coming years. By empowering children and adults to pursue an education, it hopes to shed light on its importance and help individuals grow.
• Gender Inequality:  As the world progresses, it is important for society to acknowledge the age-old issue of gender inequality. Consequences such as wage discrepancies and stereotypical gender roles have limited many women across the world from achieving their full potential. According to the World Economic Forum , it will take almost 108 years to fully solve this issue; however, it is important that people write about gender inequality more often and educate the public to speed up that time. By understanding the full scope of the problem, men and women everywhere will have the empowerment to take action and fight for equality.
• Global Poverty:  Finally, one of the largest world problems around the world is global poverty, affecting almost half of the world’s population. Global poverty, in general, has economic and social consequences. Not only can it be very dangerous for one’s health, but it also has dire effects on the environment and physical landscape. To add, poverty can negatively affect economic growth by limiting the amount of money available to invest and increasing crime rates. The Borgen Project has been a key player in writing on this issue, raising money and spreading awareness globally. It has also been very active in legislature, advocating for certain bills to alleviate global poverty. Writing on this issue can increase its urgency and push for more individuals to involve themselves.

It is important for writers and journalists across the world to report on these world problems that are most prevalent in today’s society. The world problems to write about above are some of the most urgent problems to address, affecting many politically, economically and socially. By reporting on these topics more frequently, people have the education and empowerment to take action. After all, action can only happen after awareness.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Environment Problems — World Problems

Essays on World Problems

Writing an essay about world problems is a great way to raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations about important issues. By addressing world problems in your essay, you can shed light on pressing issues and inspire others to take action.

When choosing a topic for your world problems essay, consider focusing on a specific issue that you are passionate about. Whether it's climate change, poverty, or social injustice, there are countless topics to explore. You can also consider different types of essays, such as argumentative, cause and effect, opinion, or informative essays, to present your ideas in a compelling way.

Argumentative Essay

For an argumentative essay on world problems, you can explore topics like the impact of globalization on the environment, the role of governments in addressing poverty, or the effects of social media on mental health.

Cause and Effect Essay

When writing a cause and effect essay, you can delve into topics such as the causes and consequences of deforestation, the relationship between poverty and access to education, or the effects of pollution on public health.

Opinion Essay

If you prefer writing an opinion essay, you can express your thoughts on topics like the effectiveness of international aid in addressing world problems, the role of individuals in combating climate change, or the importance of raising awareness about social issues.

Informative Essay

For an informative essay, you can provide valuable information on topics such as the impact of natural disasters on communities, the significance of sustainable development goals, or the challenges of providing healthcare in developing countries.

To give you a better idea of how to structure your world problems essay, here are a few examples. For instance, your thesis statement could focus on the urgency of addressing climate change, the need for global cooperation to combat poverty, the importance of advocating for human rights, the impact of technology on world problems, or the role of education in addressing social issues.

In your paragraph, you can start by providing background information on the chosen topic, present your thesis statement, and outline the main points you will address in your essay. For example, you can start by highlighting the severity of the issue, providing relevant statistics, and explaining why it's crucial to address the problem.

In your paragraph, you can restate your thesis, summarize the key points discussed in your essay, and emphasize the importance of taking action to address world problems. You can also encourage readers to get involved in initiatives related to the topic, raise awareness, and support organizations working to make a positive impact.

Overall, writing an essay about world problems allows you to contribute to important conversations, raise awareness, and advocate for positive change. By choosing a compelling topic and structuring your essay effectively, you can make a meaningful impact and inspire others to take action.

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GLOBAL AND LOCAL CONCERNS IN STUDENT WRITING: EMPHASIZING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME

Brad hughes, writing across the curriculum.

A key principle for teaching writing:

Research shows that students are often confused by what we—their writing teachers—want them to concentrate on in their writing and in their revisions. They may think, for example, that correcting semicolon mistakes is as important as anticipating and addressing counter-arguments or clarifying or strengthening the main point of their paper. And our comments on their writing too often lead students to make only superficial revisions to words and sentences, overlooking larger conceptual, rhetorical, and structural revisions that would most improve a paper. So as we design writing assignments, talk with our students about their writing, develop evaluation criteria, offer advice about revisions, and comment on and evaluate our students’ final papers, we need to find ways to communicate clearly with students about different levels of revision and about priorities for their writing and revising.

We can help signal priorities if we clearly differentiate between global and local writing concerns. In our assignments, comments, conferences, and evaluation criteria, we can help students by focusing first on conceptual- and structural-level planning and revisions before grammatical- and lexical-level revisions. By no means am I advocating that we ignore language problems in our students’ writing. Rather, I’m urging us to start our assignments, comments, and conferences by focusing on global writing concerns particular to that assignment—so that we and our students don’t overlook those; so that students get clear guidance from us about how to strengthen their ideas, their analyses, and their arguments; and so that students have papers worth editing and polishing. Then we can turn our attention—and our students’—to improving sentences, words, and punctuation.

Global Writing Concerns (GLOCs)

In the assignment, in comments, in discussions with students, and in evaluation criteria, focus first on whole-text issues such as ideas or content, focus, genre, argument, thesis, development, organization, clarity of purpose, awareness of audience. Asking questions like these can help us focus on this level:

Does the draft respond specifically and appropriately to the conceptual demands of the assignment?

Does the writer demonstrate a good understanding of the readings (data, field observations, lab experiment…) that s/he’s writing about?

Does the writer have something worth saying? Does the draft make points appropriately sophisticated (original, interesting, provocative . . .) for the assignment, the level of the course, etc.?

Does the draft have clear main points?

Does the draft match or fulfill the writer’s intentions?

Does the draft do justice to the writer’s ideas?

Is the draft effectively organized? Does it follow a logical sequence of points?

Are points adequately developed and explained?

Is there appropriate and sufficient evidence to support the main points?

Does the introduction effectively signal the topic, scope, and organization of the paper?

Are paragraphs unified and well developed

Local Writing Concerns (LOCs)

Then focus on more local concerns at the paragraph, sentence, and word levels:

Are there effective transitions between sections?

How can the style be improved?

Where do sentence or word problems interfere with the writer’s communicating clearly with readers? Or where are there muddy or confusing sentences?

Are there any grammatical errors?

How can the word choice be improved?

Are there punctuation errors?

Are there proofreading mistakes?

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Governing for the planet

Nation-states are no longer fit for purpose to create a habitable future for humans and nature. which political system is.

by Jonathan S Blake & Nils Gilman   + BIO

‘Everybody knows that pestilences have a way of recurring in the world,’ Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared to the World Health Assembly on 29 November 2021, quoting Albert Camus’s The Plague . ‘Outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics are a fact of nature,’ Tedros, the director-general of the World Health Organization since 2017, continued in his own words. ‘But that does not mean we are helpless to prevent them, prepare for them or mitigate their impact.’ Exuding confidence, he proclaimed: ‘We are not prisoners of fate or nature.’

The topic of this special session of the WHA – only the second one convened since the WHO was founded in 1948 – was to establish international negotiations to reach a global agreement on ‘pandemic prevention, preparedness and response’. The delegates passed a resolution directing negotiators to begin work on a pandemic treaty to be ready to present for approval by the 77th WHA in May 2024. But, days before the assembly meeting was due in Geneva, word leaked that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body had failed to meet the deadline. There would be no pandemic agreement.

It wasn’t for lack of trying. The diplomats, working 12-hour days, understood the importance of their task. Having just suffered through the COVID-19 pandemic, the stakes were – and are – exceedingly clear. ‘ COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated fundamental weaknesses in the global architecture for pandemic preparedness and response,’ Tedros explained . The only way forward after so much suffering, he urged, was ‘to find common ground … against common threats,’ to recognise ‘that we have no future but a common future.’ As the co-chair of the negotiations Roland Driece put it, reaching a global agreement was necessary ‘for the sake of humanity’.

D espite a broad consensus that everyone would be better off were we globally prepared, negotiations still stalled. The major sticking points appear in Article 12 of the draft treaty , ‘Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System’. Under this arrangement, countries would be required to rapidly share information about emerging pathogens, including samples and genetic sequences. But the Global South justifiably fears that their costly efforts at monitoring and information-sharing will be used to create tests, vaccines and therapeutics that get hoarded by the Global North. Negotiators from lower-income countries insist that the treaty includes guarantees for equitable access to any pharmaceutical developments, something that wealthier countries are hesitant to accept. ‘We don’t want to see Western countries coming to collect pathogens, going with pathogens, making medicines, making vaccines, without sending back to us these benefits,’ Jean Kaseya, the director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The New York Times .

Beyond political disputes over finance mechanisms, the equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments, and intellectual property rights, the reason for the failure to reach a global pandemic agreement boils down to the core conceptual feature of the contemporary international system: state sovereignty. Though the draft treaty is adamant in its respect for national sovereignty – it both reaffirms ‘the principle of the sovereignty of States in addressing public health matters’ and recognises ‘the sovereign right of States over their biological resources’ – nation-states have baulked at granting new authority to the WHO. Republicans in the United States Senate have demanded that the US President Joe Biden’s administration oppose the pandemic treaty, claiming it would ‘constitute intolerable infringements upon US sovereignty’. The United Kingdom government, likewise, has said it will support the treaty only if it ‘respects national sovereignty’.

In politics, there is no ‘world’; only states. For pathogens, there are no ‘states’; there is only the world

These concerns about sovereignty get to the molten core of the problem with this pandemic treaty, or really any pandemic treaty – indeed the entire multilateral system. The WHO, like every other arm of the United Nations, isn’t accountable to the world or even to world health but to the nation-states that are its members. As a result, things that would be good for ‘the world’ – like a global strategy to fight the next pandemic – often crash into firm convictions about the national interest as well as the hard-won, jealously guarded principle of national autonomy.

Tedros may believe that ‘the world still needs a pandemic treaty,’ and that it’s his mission ‘to present the world with a generational pandemic agreement,’ but he will again and again face the same problem: in politics, there is no ‘world’; only states. Compounding the problem is the fact that for pathogens, there are no ‘states’; there is only the world.

This basic mismatch between the scale of the problem and the scale of possible solutions is a source of many of today’s failures of global governance. Nation-states and the global governance institutions they have formed simply aren’t fit for the task of managing things such as viruses, greenhouse gases and biodiversity, which aren’t bound by political borders, but only by the Earth system. As a result, the diplomats may still come to agree on a pandemic treaty – they’ve committed to keep working – but, so long as the structure of the international system continues to treat sovereignty as sacrosanct, they will never be able to effectively govern this or other planetary-scale phenomena.

I n our quest for control over nature’s slings and arrows, we humans have dammed rivers and made war on microbes, turbocharged grain production and ventured into outer space. We’ve domesticated animals into companions, labour and food, and figured out how to turn the fossilised remains of ancient lifeforms into energy. We’ve constructed homes and cities, razed forests and grasslands, built berms and seawalls, all to keep the elements at bay and improve our own lives. As we did all this, we took account only of human needs and desires – or rather, of some humans’ needs and desires – and ran roughshod over everything else. What’s good for fungi, flora or fauna remains irrelevant, if not deliberately negated. From a certain point of view – one held mainly by the wealthy and powerful – it seems as if Man has conquered Nature, or at any rate is justified in trying.

These pretensions of mastery have cultural as well as technological origins. Culturally, we in the West, at least, have inherited a tradition of human exceptionalism rooted in the idea that human beings, uniquely, are made in God’s image and, as the Bible says, are meant to ‘have dominion … over all the earth’. Over millennia, human civilisations have developed the tools to enact that dominion – to use nature solely as our ‘instruments’, as Aristotle put it. Technologies, from the control of fire to writing to the internal combustion engine to CRISPR, have given humans immense power over other species and Earth itself. But too often our self-image produced by the interactions of our culture and our technologies has led to the belief that this power is unbound and that we have succeeded in taming nature.

There is no possibility of human thriving unless the ecosystems that we are part of thrive

An emerging scientific consensus, however, makes clear that not only have we not tamed nature, we can’t tame nature, for the simple reason that we are part of nature. Human beings are inextricably part of the biosphere, part of Earth. These insights emerge from rigorous scientific study, not mystical reflection, and reveal our place within the biogeochemical churn of this planet. A vast and expanding infrastructure of sensors across, above and below Earth, and the networks of software and hardware that process and interpret the mountains of data the sensors produce, have demonstrated, with an accuracy and precision unmatched by previous generations, that humans are embedded in this planet’s system of systems.

What this new and growing planetary sapience is revealing is systematic wreckage. Scientists have determined that human actions (really, some humans’ actions) have pushed Earth past the ‘safe operating space for humanity’ for six of nine ‘planetary boundaries’, including climate change, biosphere integrity and freshwater change. We now understand not only the damage that we are doing to planetary systems but the damage that we are doing to ourselves as elements of those systems. The Earth sustains us, not the other way around. There is no possibility of human thriving unless the ecosystems that we are part of thrive.

The realisation of our planetary condition may insult our narcissistic self-regard, but it also yields a positive possibility: that human flourishing is possible only in the context of multispecies flourishing on a habitable planet. The aim of habitability is meant to diverge from the now-dominant concept of sustainability. While the concept of sustainability treats nature both as distinct from humans and as existing for humans’ responsibly managed instrumental use, the concept of habitability understands humans as embedded in and reliant on the more-than-human natural world. Stripped of sustainability’s anthropocentrism, habitability focuses on fostering the conditions that allow complex life in general – including, but not only, humans – to live well. This vision of multispecies flourishing is at once generous and selfish. Expanding the circle of concern to include the multispecies menagerie is certainly more beneficent than current politics typically allows, but it is also absolutely about ensuring the survival of our species. What’s bad for them is, ultimately, bad for us. These goals – thriving ecosystems in a stable biosphere supporting human lives and nonhuman life – must be our new lodestar.

The central question of our time is: how can we achieve this?

T he term that scholars and policymakers initially proposed to make sense of this new knowledge is ‘global’. It is now common knowledge that Earth is experiencing global climate change, we just lived through a global pandemic, global biodiversity is at risk of its sixth mass extinction event, and this is an era of global economic, political and cultural interconnections. Yet this familiar language of the global papers over an important distinction. The word globe as it’s used in discussions of globalisation, observed the historian Dipesh Chakrabarty in 2019, ‘is not the same as the word globe in the expression global warming’. The globe of globalisation is a fundamentally human concept and category: it frames Earth from a human point of view. This globe is constructed for and by human intentions and concerns. Globalisation, the process of worldwide integration predicated on this perspective, is about the movement of people and their stuff, ideas, capital, data, and more.

The globe of global warming is a different object altogether. This concept and category – which we will now call the ‘planetary’ – frames Earth without adopting a human point of view. From the planetary, as opposed to the global, perspective, what stands out is the interlinked systems of life, matter and energy. This concept forces us to take on objects and processes that are much vaster and much smaller than we can easily comprehend, as well as timeframes far outside lived human experience. Trying to make sense of the ‘intangible modes of being’ captured by the concept of the planetary, as the anthropologist Lisa Messeri writes in Placing Outer Space (2016), is a struggle, but we have no choice. The globe of global climate change – the planet – impacts humans and is impacted by humans, but it existed before our species evolved and will be here long after our extinction.

In approaching problems such as climate change as global – that is, in a fundamental way, human – we have made a categorical mistake. For one, it suggests the goal for our action should be sustainability – an anthropocentric, global concept – rather than habitability – a multispecies, planetary concept. Moreover, the framing of problems as global suggests that they can be addressed with the tools we have at hand: modern political ideas and the architecture of global governance that has emerged since the Second World War. But planetary problems cannot. This helps to explain why decades of attempts to manage planetary problems with global institutions have failed.

The UN answers not to humanity nor the world, but the nations that united to join it

The failure to halt greenhouse gas emissions – the cause of planetary climate change – is a prime example. In June 1992, at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, the representatives of 154 nation-states signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), committing to ‘prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system’. The international agreement was hailed as a landmark step in global environmental governance, but the very text of the treaty reveals the source of its own impotence. Alongside its plea for ‘the widest possible cooperation by all countries’ toward avoiding the ‘adverse effects’ of climate change, the treaty reaffirms nation-states’ ‘sovereign right to exploit their own resources’, including, of course, fossil fuel resources. ‘The principle of sovereignty of States,’ the UNFCCC declares, is the bedrock of any ‘international cooperation to address climate change.’

The UNFCCC, which remains the primary global body tasked with curbing climate change, doesn’t respond to the atmosphere, nor to the planet it envelops. Like the WHO, it responds instead, and only, to its member states. The member states, meanwhile, respond to their human citizens (at least, ideally). No part of this chain of authority is concerned with the planet’s climate as a whole. In this, the UNFCCC is no different than any of the other institutions of global governance. The international system is built upon the foundation of the sovereign nation-state. The UN and its many parts and agencies – from UNICEF to the Universal Postal Union – answer not to humanity nor the world, but the nations that united to join it.

Though it is better than not to have international forums to foster dialogue and cooperation among nation-states, the contemporary global governance architecture does not overcome the territorially and politically fragmented structure of the nation-state system. In fact, global governance projects and reinforces nation-state politics at a worldwide scale. International politics isn’t ‘carried out for the sake of world interests,’ remarks the political philosopher Zhao Tingyang in All Under Heaven (2021), ‘but only for national interests on a world scale.’

Managing world-scale, or planetary, problems, however, requires acting for ‘world interests’. Thus planetary problems require solutions at the planetary scale. The scale of these problems is incommensurate with our current institutional capacity to govern them. Managing problems at the scale the planet, therefore, requires creating governance institutions at the scale of the planet.

T his doesn’t mean, however, that we’d be best served by a world government. To the contrary – the nature of planetary problems makes a single world state ill-suited for the task at hand. While fundamental characteristics of planetary phenomena operate at the scale of Earth, the consequences of these phenomena that we most care about occur at a local level.

Climate change, for instance, is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by specific tailpipes driving on specific roads, specific power plants operating in a specific territory, and so on. But once those rooted, place-based carbon compounds drift into the atmosphere, they become an undifferentiated part of the atmosphere’s chemical makeup. It is the overall concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that changes the climate. Ultimately, the reason climate change concerns us, however, isn’t because of its average global effects, but because of how a changing climate manifests in specific places. What matters is how rising temperatures, increased aridity or flooding impact regions, communities and households.

No single political form is adequate for the multiscalar nature of planetary problems

From a policy perspective, this is the fundamental structure of all planetary problems: they transpire across immense, unhuman geographies and timescales but their consequences play out in particular ways in particular places (shaped by the intersection of geographic, topographic, ecological, social, economic and political conditions, and more). Take, for example, the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic – which emerged from the dynamic relationship between human beings and viruses that has shaped our species since it first evolved – was driven by the movement of SARS-CoV-2 from body to body, a process that respects neither the borders between nation-states nor the boundaries between species – other animals, including cats and civets, are susceptible to the virus. As a result, the disease spread to every corner of the planet.

The concern with the contagious disease, however, was how it affected – and, though now oft ignored, continues to affect – communities, families and individuals. The abstract vastness of a planet-scale pandemic mattered to most of us when it shuttered beloved restaurants, kept families apart, and infected friends, family or us. This interplay between scales is a critical feature for the governance of planetary problems, from stratospheric ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol loading and space junk, to growing antibiotic resistance, biodiversity loss and anthropogenic genetic disruptions, to upended biogeochemical cycles.

What makes planetary problems so difficult to govern is that we need structures that can act at both the planetary scale and the hyperlocal scale. Nation-states are not fit for purpose. They can band together to form international organisations and they can delegate authority to subnational units (provinces, states, cities, etc), but as a political form, the nation-state is focused on that national scale. Issues that operate ‘above’ or ‘below’ the nation are peripheral to the state’s primary concerns.

The nation-state’s ill-suitedness is a major concern since it is the primary political institution today. But, in fact, no single political form is adequate for the multiscalar nature of planetary problems. What we need is plural forms of governance that can operate at all the scales necessary to tackle the problem.

M ultilevel governance is already the norm around the world. Policy decisions and implementation take place at multiple levels of government and other public authorities, from neighbourhood councils up through city governments to national capitals and international organisations. But there are two crippling flaws with the existing multilevel governance architecture for the globe. First, some of the necessary scales lack governance institutions. In particular, the current system is missing planetary governance institutions, institutions that are tasked with and capable of managing planetary challenges. Second, most smaller-scale, subnational governance institutions don’t have the authority or resources necessary to address local challenges in a way that satisfies and responds to constituent desires.

Both flaws in the current system stem from the same cause: national sovereignty. While governance responsibilities are distributed among many levels, ultimate authority at present sits with only one institution, the nation-state. As a result, global governance institutions and local governments are subordinate to sovereign nation-states. Nation-states can – and sometimes do – delegate authority to international and subnational institutions, but that authority is subject to a limit: it cannot interfere with whatever the nation-state deems to be its sovereignty. The result of this constraint is that local-scale issues often aren’t governed robustly, and planetary-scale issues rarely are.

Adequately governing these many scales requires two significant changes to the worldwide architecture of governance: introducing new scales of institutions and transforming how governance authority is distributed through the system.

To simplify matters, let’s consider three primary scales of governance: local, national and planetary. Each is designed to manage the appropriately scaled issues and challenges, and together they operate as a system. Our basic vision is a structure made up of well-resourced, high-functioning institutions at all scales, from the planetary to the local, capable of governing at all scales, from the planetary to the local.

A planetary health institution would act against infectious diseases at all scales, from local to planetary

The widest scale, the planet itself, requires the widest-scale institution: planetary institutions. These, in our vision, are the minimum viable body for the management of planetary issues. We contend that each planetary problem requires its own planetary institution to govern it. As a result, a planetary institution would have defined and restricted authority at the planetary scale over a specific planetary phenomenon.

Planetary institutions, therefore, are not world government. A world state would be a single, general-purpose governance institution with broad authority over the whole planet. What we envision is multiple, functionally specific governance institutions with narrow authority over particular issues. At the same time, however, planetary institutions are not contemporary global governance. Global governance institutions today operate as multilateral associations of sovereign nation-states, which ultimately represent the interests of their member states. Unlike the WHO and UNFCCC, planetary institutions should be more directly accountable to the interests of the planet as a whole.

An example of an institution that could actually properly manage aspects of ‘world health’ on behalf of the entire world might be called the Planetary Pandemic Agency. To be effective, this planetary health institution would need the capabilities and authority to act against infectious diseases anywhere on the planet. This requires monitoring of outbreaks and enforcement of preventative measures at all scales, from local to planetary – authorities that the WHO lacks. Such an agency, moreover, must have a planetary approach to health in the sense that it understands human health as interconnected with the health of animals, ecosystems and the Earth system. So, it must be planetary not only in terms of scale but in terms of a holistic vision: that protecting our health requires protecting the planetary whole. (To its credit, the draft pandemic treaty promotes ‘a One Health approach … recognising the interconnection between the health of people, animals and the environment.’) Rather than focusing on isolated toxicities and pathogens, a planetary health institution that lives up to its mandate must keep front of mind that infectious diseases emerge from the place of humans in biogeochemical and ecological systems.

The middle scale should be governed by nation-states tasked with managing the issues fit for their scale. Nation-states thus still have a role under our vision, but that role is much reduced from the present. Nestled in a broader multiscalar governance framework, nation-states will in fact likely be better equipped to succeed at the tasks and functions for which they are appropriate, namely, distributing and redistributing economic gains and losses. Economic governance – which is a political, not a technical, activity – has historically worked best at the national scale, where political institutions can facilitate collective life between the immense abstractness of the planetary and the place-based familiarity of the local.

We must redesign the entire architecture of how and where governance decisions are made

Local governance institutions, finally, should be empowered to develop and implement robust responses to local problems and demands. They should have the resources and authority necessary to pursue policies that are appropriate to local social, political, climatic and ecological conditions, as well as to adapt agilely as those conditions change. This would represent a sea change from the operations of most local governments today. It requires well-equipped local institutions capable of managing the shared challenges of their residents. One proposal for building the capacity of local institutions is to strengthen the formal and informal ties between subnational governments. That is, to build upon the success of city-to-city networks, such as the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (a network of almost 100 mayors of global cities committed to climate action), and establish new or augment existing transnational networks for exchange and cooperation among local governments.

Building and supporting governance institutions at all scales, from the smallest face-to-face communities to the entire Earth, provides the foundation for adequate governance at all scales. It addresses the critique made by Elinor Ostrom, a Nobel laureate in economics, of the widespread assumption among policymakers ‘that only the global scale is relevant for policies related to global public goods’. Her pathbreaking work demonstrated that that effective management of large-scale problems requires work by large-scale, medium-scale and small-scale bodies. This is what our proposed architecture sets out to provide. It offers a vision for one worldwide governance system, but not one with a unitary world governance led from one centre of power. Power, in our architecture, is dispersed among the units that need it to tackle specific problems.

Our takeaway from the revelation of humankind’s planetary condition is twofold. We need to establish new governance institutions at the scale of the planet that are able to manage phenomena at the scale of the planet. But that isn’t the only implication. We must redesign the entire architecture of how and where governance decisions are made. Dealing with planetary challenges requires both the possibility of planet-wide action and action at all other appropriate scales throughout the system. The complexity of life on this planet means that there is no one-size-fits-all institution. Rather, we must create institutional structures that foster flexibility, with multiple institutions for multiple scales, individually and collectively crafting effective governance for diverse populations seeking to thrive on one interconnected planet.

H ow can we organise such a complex system of governance? How should we decide which authorities should be allocated where? Our answer builds on the centuries-old principle of subsidiarity . The principle of subsidiarity states that in a multilayered governance system, larger-scale institutions shouldn’t intervene in a decision or task unless and until a smaller-scale institution cannot do it themselves. In other words, the authority to make decisions should be made at the smallest scale capable of functionally governing the issue at hand.

Subsidiarity is in direct opposition to the status quo principle for the allocation of authority, state sovereignty, which gives all authority to nation-states. To be sure, sovereign states can then decide to delegate certain authorities, if they wish, to international organisations, subnational governments or private actors, but the international system today puts nation-states in the driver’s seat. Every issue and function, regardless of whether states are well-suited to manage them, go to nation-states by default. Climate change, to take a pressing and archetypical planetary problem, is governed, in the end, by states. Even the 2015 Paris Agreement, the most important global climate accord, makes clear that the action comes from nation-states: ‘Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures, with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions,’ the diplomats wrote, leaving goal-setting and enforcement to each state.

By contrast, subsidiarity understands that while states are good for some things, they aren’t good for everything. States should have authority over the issues that fit them, but authority over other issues should move to institutions at other scales with a better fit. At the centre of the principle of subsidiarity is the message that in a diverse world there cannot be just one right answer.

Applying subsidiarity with our dawning recognition of our planetary condition generates a new principle for the allocation of authority: planetary subsidiarity. Planetary subsidiarity is the principle that we offer for allocating authority over an issue to the smallest-scale institution that can govern the issue effectively to promote habitability and multispecies flourishing. The principle provides a tool for assessing how to simultaneously address planetary challenges, such as pandemics and biodiversity, while at the same time maximising local empowerment.

Local officials should have authority over the how , not the how much

How might this principle apply in practice? Consider again the case of climate change. The first thing to acknowledge is that climate change is a quintessential planetary issue. Greenhouse gas emissions that take place anywhere have an impact everywhere. It doesn’t matter if carbon is burned in central Los Angeles or rural Laos, once it enters the atmosphere it has consequences for the entire Earth system. As a result, the smallest-scale jurisdiction that can effectively mandate climate mitigation must encompass the whole planet. Yet that doesn’t mean that a planetary institution tasked with governing carbon emissions would take charge of the entire process. Instead, a planetary climate governance institution would take only high-level decisions – about, say, the maximum permissible carbon budget for the planet each year – and then turn over the implementation to smaller-scale institutions. The planetary institution, in other words, makes only decisions that must be made at the planetary scale in order to be effective.

Nation-states would receive the planetary mandates on greenhouse gas reductions that must be met and then develop national policies for achieving them. Given the distributional consequences of these decisions across sectors and regions, the nation-state – which is the only political institution in history that has succeeded in meaningful economic redistribution – is best positioned to act. National politics, we believe, is the best site for hashing out questions like: should certain sectors or regions be compensated for losses? Or, who should pay for these changes?

After nation-states distribute the costs and benefits of climate mitigation across their society and economy, it should be up to local-scale institutions – regions, provinces, states, municipalities, villages, neighbourhoods, and the like – to determine the details of implementation. This is because local institutions are best placed to respond to local concerns, place-based affordances and constraints, and political, cultural, climatic and ecological conditions. It should not be up to localities, with particular economic interests or political preferences, to decide whether to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or by how much, but they should determine how to meet those reductions. Local officials – preferably working in networks with others facing similar challenges – should have authority over the how , not the how much . (Though this applies only to minimums; we encourage implementers to exceed their mandated reductions.)

Subsidiarity helps us to determine which of these institutional scales should have what authority over climate mitigation. It is a tool for aligning scales, functions and authority in an appropriate manner for promoting habitability and multispecies flourishing.

S hifting our conceptual toolkit from the global to the planetary will take time and great effort. But it is nothing compared with what it will take to transform our political system from one founded on the sovereign nation-state to one rooted in planetary subsidiarity. It would represent a revolution in the governance of the world – and we do not have a map for how to get there. Change must come the way it always comes, through new ideas and political struggle. Beyond that truism, however, we do not pretend to see a path for such a radical transformation of the basic structures of politics and governance.

In this, we find ourselves in good company. Even ideas that eventually succeeded in transforming systems of governance often took many decades and even centuries to be adopted. The idea behind the League of Nations (established in 1920) and the UN (established in 1945) lies with Immanuel Kant’s notion, from Perpetual Peace (1795), that ‘The law of nations shall be founded on a federation of free states.’ Forty years later, in his poem ‘Locksley Hall’ (1835), Alfred, Lord Tennyson could dream of ‘the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world’ where ‘the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in awe, / And the kindly earth shall slumber, lapt in universal law.’ But it took the cataclysm of the First and the Second World Wars to move this idea from the minds of philosophers and pages of poets to actual political institutions.

Crises, like world wars, are often the midwife for institutional change. Major changes to governance structures typically occur during or in the aftermath of disasters that push the existing institutional order to or past its breaking point. It’s a tragedy of politics that these changes generally come too late – that the crisis itself is what makes ‘impossible’ proposals finally seem not just reasonable but necessary. The science-fiction novel The Ministry for the Future (2020) by Kim Stanley Robinson offers one scenario where a devastating heatwave killing tens of millions of people leads to the establishment of a creative new governance structure. It isn’t difficult to imagine additional calamities for this planet.

We can’t predict what the galvanising catastrophe might be that brings about new systems of governance. We must focus our efforts instead on defining a clear perspective on what planetary governance could and should be. Holding such a vision in our minds may make it more possible to take advantage of the crisis that will all but inevitably arrive given the inadequacy of the current system. As we enter a period of not just geopolitical but geophysical uncertainty, calibrating our North Star – our vision of where we want to head – will be more important than ever.

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100+ Eye-Opening Social Issues Topics for Your Next Essay

In this article, we’ll share a massive list of social issues topics for your academic papers.

College students often struggle with choosing a topic worthy of this type of essay. Social issues are controversial and, thus, challenging to cover. This article is here to help you with the job. You’ll learn how to choose a good topic on social issues, how to write about them, and what social issue-related topics are worth covering this year.

And remember:

When in doubt, you can always share a “ write my essay ” request and get our experts to assist you with your writing tasks.

What Are Social Issues?

Social issues are problems affecting a large group of people within a society. They are states of affairs that negatively impact personal or social lives, and there is usually disagreement about their nature, causes, and potential solutions.

Top 5 current social issue niches:

• War. Do you know that 50+ armed conflicts are taking place around the world today? Not only do wars cause suffering and loss, but they also affect economies and social stability.
• Climate change. We already feel the effects (weather changes, sea levels rising, and natural disasters happening more frequently), so it’s time to act towards reducing our carbon footprint.
• Gender equality. Despite some progress being made in recent years, it remains a significant problem in many countries.
• Mental health / addiction. There’s still a stigma surrounding these issues, preventing people from seeking help and getting affordable treatment options.
• Income inequality. Only 1% of the world’s population owns more than half of the world’s wealth, a gap that leads to social unrest.

Talking about social issues is essential because they influence human rights and social progress. If you know how to write a narrative essay , you understand the power a story can have on minds, emotions, and decisions. So, in writing about social issues, we highlight the power of collective action and our shared responsibility to work towards justice, sustainable development, and positive change for the sake of peaceful coexistence.

How to Choose Good Social Topics for Essays?

How do you know that the social topics you plan to cover in your essay are worth discussing?

These are your three steps to take when choosing an essay topic:

• Spend time on research. Do you remember how to write a book title in an essay ? Check out some of those reputable and academically approved books to determine your area of interest and see if you have enough sources to use as references to support the claims in your essay.
• Consider trending topics. Choose current social issues for your paper: The audience is more emotional about them, and they’ll allow you to gain more recognition and responses.
• Add a personal touch. Write about issues that bother you personally: It will help you create an original essay with a unique perspective while engaging a broader audience.

How to Write About Social Issues

• Decide on a clear thesis on the social issue you’ll support and explore in your essay.
• Consider the audience. (How much do your readers know about your topic? Will they understand your point if you use specific terms? How involved are they in the issue?)
• Support your claims with evidence and examples. (For that, remind yourself how to write an argumentative essay .)
• Keep it simple. (Use the right words and clear language to express your point and explain what you mean. Do your best to avoid causing misunderstandings and confusing your readers.)
• Format the draft and cite your references according to the assigned citation style. (This is how to write an essay in APA format , for example.)
• Remember to edit and proofread your draft. (Ensure the message is clear, logical, and coherent; check for typos as well as grammatical and stylistic mistakes.)

Social Issues Topics: 11 Areas to Cover in Your Essays

Below is a massive list of social issues topics for your essays or other college papers. All are brand new and related to the prevailing social issues today. So, scroll down to the subcategory you are interested in — and choose a topic you’ll cover.

Environmental social issues topics

Let’s start with ecological and climate change-related topics. You could consider some of them when learning how to write a diagnostic essay , but these are fresh enough to discuss in your argumentative or critical papers as well.

• Renewable energy: How to lower carbon emissions
• Deforestation and its impact on global biodiversity
• The future of sustainable agriculture in combating climate change
• The ethics of geoengineering as a solution to climate change
• Climate change and its effect on global migration trends
• Environmental injustice: Climate change’s toll on marginalized communities
• The role of corporate responsibility in environmental sustainability
• Climate change education: Integrating ecological awareness into school curricula
• The effect of ocean acidification on marine life
• Sustainable urban development: Balancing growth and ecological preservation

War and peace topics

• How international organizations like the UN mediate and resolve conflicts
• The impact of war on mental health
• War and technological advancements: Dual-use dilemmas
• The influence of propaganda on modern warfare
• Child soldiers: Causes, consequences, and rehabilitation
• Economic implications of prolonged conflicts
• Women’s contributions to peacekeeping and conflict resolution
• Cyber warfare: The new frontier of global conflict
• The humanitarian crisis in war zones: Case studies and responses
• The post-war reconstruction and development of Ukraine

Topics on discrimination and prejudice

The ten social issues topics below will work best for your papers on discrimination and the different prejudices related to it.

• Systemic racism in criminal justice systems
• The impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation on community well-being
• Discrimination in healthcare: Barriers to access for marginalized groups
• Challenges and solutions to dealing with ageism in the workplace
• Cultural appropriation vs. cultural appreciation
• The impact of immigration policies on racial discrimination
• Religious discrimination in secular societies
• Discrimination in education: What’s the gap?
• The role of allyship in combating prejudice
• Gender bias in STEM fields

Humanity topics

• The ethics of autonomous weapons systems in warfare
• Human rights violations in modern supply chains
• The role of art and culture in promoting human rights
• Philanthropy and its impact on the alleviation of global poverty
• The right to privacy in the digital age
• Human trafficking: Causes, consequences, and prevention
• Genetic engineering and human enhancement: Ethical considerations
• The global refugee crisis: Causes and responses
• Education as a catalyst for fostering global citizenship
• Human rights and environmental justice

Essay topics on immigration

Due to the numerous military conflicts worldwide, we can’t ignore migration and immigration topics in our papers. Here are some ideas:

• How immigration affects host nations
• Cultural integration vs. cultural preservation among immigrants
• Technology’s role in streamlining immigration procedures
• The psychological impact of immigration on children
• The influence of media on the public perception of immigration
• Sanctuary cities: Policies and controversies
• The effect of immigration policies on family unity
• Skilled vs. unskilled immigration: Economic and social implications
• The role of international organizations in protecting migrants’ rights
• Climate change as a driver of migration

You should also check our Sociology Research Paper sample before writing an essay on any of the above topics. It will help you understand the nature and structure of this type of writing better.

Mental health / addiction topics

• Perspectives on and stigma attached to mental illness in different cultures
• The effectiveness of teletherapy in mental health treatment
• The connection between social media and anxiety disorders
• The role community plays in supporting addiction recovery
• Mental health resources in educational institutions
• The impact of work culture on employee mental health
• Genetic and environmental factors in substance abuse disorders
• Innovative approaches to treating PTSD in veterans
• How diet and exercise influence mental health
• The role of policy in addressing the opioid crisis

LGBTQ+ essay topics

To celebrate and praise Pride Month in June or give these social issue topics more publicity, try any of the titles below for your next essay:

• The legalization of same-sex marriage and its societal impact
• The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in media
• Challenges facing LGBTQ+ youths in educational institutions
• Health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community
• Advancing LGBTQ+ rights: The crucial role of allies
• Intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community
• The impact of religious beliefs on LGBTQ+ acceptance
• Transgender rights: Legal and social challenges
• The history and evolution of the Pride movements
• LGBTQ+ representation in politics

Violence-related topics

• The psychology of violent behavior
• Domestic violence: Causes, consequences, and prevention
• Evaluating the effectiveness of gun control legislation in reducing violence
• The role of media in perpetuating violence
• Violence in schools: Causes and prevention
• The impact of war on civilian populations
• Gang violence and community responses
• The effect of substance abuse on violent behavior
• Gender-based violence: Global perspectives and solutions
• The role of law enforcement in preventing violence

Social justice topics for essays

Why not try social issues essay topics related to social justice? For more practice or assistance before researching and outlining, check our writers’ Social Media Essay sample .

• The impact of economic inequality on social justice
• Criminal justice reform and social justice
• The role of education in promoting social justice
• Environmental justice: Addressing disparities in environmental health
• Social justice movements: Strategies and outcomes
• Healthcare inequities and social justice
• The intersection of technology and social justice
• The role of art and culture in social justice advocacy
• Social justice and labor rights
• Housing inequality and social justice

Human rights and equality topics

• The universal declaration of human rights: Successes and shortcomings
• Freedom of speech vs. hate speech: Balancing rights and protection
• How international organizations uphold human rights
• Human rights violations in authoritarian regimes
• Gender equality: Progress and persistent challenges
• The right to education: Barriers and solutions
• The impact of globalization on human rights
• Disability rights and inclusion
• Civil society’s influence on the progress of human rights 
• Human rights in the digital age

Social issue topics related to animal abuse

• Ethical dilemmas in using animal testing for scientific gain
• Factory farming and animal welfare
• The role of legislation in preventing animal cruelty
• Is there any connection between human violence and animal abuse?
• Wildlife trafficking: Causes, consequences, and solutions
• The ethics of zoos and aquariums
• Animal rights vs. cultural practices
• Addressing Pet Overpopulation: The Significance of Spaying and Neutering
• How climate change impacts animal habitats
• Promoting animal welfare through education and advocacy

Over to You

With so many brand new social issues topics handed to you on a plate, which one will you choose for your next essay?

Whatever your topic, remember to revise the final draft via plagiarism checkers and a reputable AI writing checker to ensure your essay looks professional and original.

Photo by Clay Banks from Unsplash

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What We Know About the Global Microsoft Outage

Airlines to banks to retailers were affected in many countries. Businesses are struggling to recover.

• Share full article

By Eshe Nelson and Danielle Kaye

Eshe Nelson reported from London and Danielle Kaye from New York.

Across the world, critical businesses and services including airlines, hospitals, train networks and TV stations, were disrupted on Friday by a global tech outage affecting Microsoft users.

In many countries, flights were grounded, workers could not get access to their systems and, in some cases, customers could not make card payments in stores. While some of the problems were resolved within hours, many businesses, websites and airlines continued to struggle to recover.

What happened?

A series of outages rippled across the globe as information displays, login systems and broadcasting networks went dark.

The problem affecting the majority of services was caused by a flawed update by CrowdStrike , an American cybersecurity firm, whose systems are intended to protect users from hackers. Microsoft said on Friday that it was aware of an issue affecting machines running “CrowdStrike Falcon.”

But Microsoft had also said there was an earlier outage affecting U.S. users of Azure, its cloud service system. Some users may have been affected by both. Even as CrowdStrike sent out a fix, some systems were still affected by midday in the United States as businesses needed to make manual updates to their systems to resolve the issue.

George Kurtz, the president and chief executive of CrowdStrike, said on Friday morning that it could take some time for some systems to recover.

How a Software Update Crashed Computers Around the World

Here’s a visual explanation for how a faulty software update crippled machines.

How the airline cancellations rippled around the world (and across time zones)

Share of canceled flights at 25 airports on Friday

50% of flights

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Bengalu r u K empeg o wda

Dhaka Shahjalal

Minneapolis-Saint P aul

Stuttga r t

Melbou r ne

Be r lin B r anden b urg

London City

Amsterdam Schiphol

Chicago O'Hare

Raleigh−Durham

B r adl e y

Cha r lotte

Reagan National

Philadelphia

1:20 a.m. ET

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Digging into the Philippines Collections at the Peabody Museum

Irene Peirano Garrison teaches “Doing Things with Latin: Syntax and Stylistics.”

Photos by Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

Finding modern issues in study of ancient world

Manisha Aggarwal-Schifellite

Harvard Staff Writer

Professor’s research while developing Latin course turns up surprising insights into political, gender, racial, religious identity

In 1888, the process of awarding the prestigious Bowdoin Prize began routinely: Harvard students anonymously submitted their best essays in English or translated into Greek or Latin in hopes of receiving the honor and impressive sum of as much as $100. Contest judges also assessed essays submitted by female students at the University’s “Annex” (later Radcliffe College), but the winners didn’t receive University recognition or funds — an outside donor supplied an award of $30.

By accident or subversion (the events were disputed in The Crimson ), the men’s and women’s papers were submitted together that year, and a classics essay called “The Roman Senate Under the Empire” by E.B. Pearson received top prize. It was quickly discovered that Pearson was actually Miss E.B. Pearson. The faculty swiftly ruled out her piece for contention, and the runner-up (a man) received $75 in her stead. Pearson received the $30 Annex prize, “thus paying $70 outright for the privilege of being a woman,” according to a Boston Post newspaper article from the time.

The incident was one of many surprising and thought-provoking discoveries in Harvard’s history of classics education for Irene Peirano Garrison while she developed the new Latin prose composition course, “Doing Things with Latin: Syntax and Stylistics.”

“Students at Harvard have learned to write in Latin since the founding of the University in 1636, and in planning the course I began by looking at the history of how, why, and to whom the Latin language, and specifically Latin composition, was taught at Harvard,” said Peirano Garrison, Pope Professor of the Latin Language and director of graduate studies in the classics.

Peirano Garrison wanted to include stories like that of Pearson and the gendered restrictions of the Bowdoin Prize along with more traditional aspects of classics pedagogy in the class, because “I realized that one could tell the history of the University, and even arguably of higher education, through the lens of how Latin was taught at Harvard.”

When she joined the Classics Department last January, Peirano Garrison learned that plans were underway to replace longstanding Latin composition courses “Latin H” and “Latin K,” which had been in place since 1948 and had a reputation for being difficult and technical. She saw an opportunity to build a composition syllabus that was “process-oriented, rather than outcome-oriented.”

“I had thought of Latin prose composition as a very old-fashioned exercise, but what I discovered is a complex and fascinating political history and one in which Latin instruction is deeply entangled with political, gender, racial, and religious identity,” she said. “It was important to me to give students opportunities to learn from writing in Latin as much as to learn Latin itself,” she said.

Like in a traditional composition class, students read and translated passages from authors including Cicero and Caesar. Unlike a traditional course, they kept personal journals of their thoughts on what they were learning. They also analyzed the style, syntax, and grammar of original works of antiquity and their English translations to see how texts upheld certain assumptions about identity and behavior.

“I had thought of Latin prose composition as a very old-fashioned exercise, but what I discovered is a complex and fascinating political history.” Irene Peirano Garrison, Pope Professor of the Latin Language

Peirano Garrison noted that many texts used phrasing and syntax that linked masculinity with strength, femininity with beauty, and enslavement with docility.

“Again and again, we saw how very technical and matter-of fact topics of grammar can be politically charged because of assumptions about the learner or the outcome of education,” she said.

That holistic learning focus took the class out of the classroom throughout the semester. Students visited the Old Burying Ground to read tombstone epitaphs for former Harvard presidents and composed an epitaph for the presidents’ wives, many of whom were not given honorary epigraph in Latin. Another trip took them to Sanders Theatre and Memorial Hall to read inscriptions engraved on the walls honoring Harvard students who died fighting in the Union Army during the Civil War. Those inscriptions served as a foundation for an assignment to write an inscription honoring lives lost to COVID-19. A trip to the Institute of Contemporary Art prompted students to write commentary on fashion designer Virgil Abloh’s style and Cicero and Quintilian’s writing on style in the visual and literary arts.

Students refer to Latin texts at Houghton Library. “I could not have done this class without the archivists and librarians,” said Peirano Garrison, pictured leading class.

Students also visited the Houghton, Gutman, and Schlesinger Libraries, and Harvard Archives to read Latin textbooks, student workbooks, Commencement addresses, and other materials from the last four centuries.

“I could not have done this class without the archivists and librarians,” said Peirano Garrison. “They showed me how this could be done and helped us gain access to amazing materials.”

In those settings, the class studied Latin translations written by W.E.B. Du Bois, analyzed classics research papers by feminist poet and Radcliffe student Adrienne Rich ’51, and read historical student works that debated the value of Latin education over the centuries.

“Doing Things with Latin” gave Dante Minutillo ’24, a classics concentrator, a new appreciation for the complexities of the history of education and Latin’s place in the Harvard experience.

“It’s easy to say that everyone at Harvard was really good at Latin in the past, and part of that was because they had a lot more practice. Or you could say that back then everyone respected Latin, and now everyone is criticizing it,” said Minutillo. “But if you actually look at it, there were debates even years ago as to whether Latin should even be taught. So it’s interesting to see how that’s more continuous than it sometimes seems.”

“It was really important to talk about practices of resistance and contestation that can be gleaned from and through the record of Latin education at Harvard,” said Peirano Garrison. “So many of the historical student works in Latin that we read touched on the very topic of education and its purposes. Those students then used the Latin class to question what they saw around them, as did some educators. I wanted my students to see how that happened so they can be attuned to the politics of their own classroom spaces.”

Peirano Garrison’s course is one of many offered in the Classics Department that engages with both ancient and contemporary questions, said David Elmer, Eliot Professor of Greek Literature and department chair.

“Although classics, as a field, is obviously rooted in the past, it speaks to the present in countless ways,” Elmer said. “Our course offerings are heavily shaped by the latest research of our faculty members, and every year we canvass our students to identify emerging areas of interest.”

Some of those avenues of interest are seen in the department’s spring offerings, including Elmer’s course “Classics, Race, and Power,” which covers race and oppression in the Greco-Roman world, and the Gen Ed class “Tragedy Today,” which is taught by Naomi Weiss, Gardner Cowles Associate Professor of the Humanities, and uses ancient Greek tragedy as a lens to investigate current sociopolitical issues including race, conflict, and immigration.

Peirano Garrison said students should, and can, engage with the classics and understand their role in shaping the political, cultural, and academic spaces in which they spend their time.

“Latin is everywhere on campus: on buildings, student notebooks, commonplace books, letters, Commencement speeches and exercises and more,” she said. “Latin also formed the backbone of Western education for centuries, and it’s important to approach this record of cultural hegemony with a questioning spirit, and within that to engage with Latin pedagogy as a political phenomenon.”

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