Referring to named countries, analyse how people’s participation in information and communications technology (ICT) networks is changing.

Examine how far the social and environmental costs of globalization can be reduced without also losing its benefits.

The focus here is changing participation. This could refer to people’s participation as either consumers of ICT services or producers eg call centre workers. Candidates should be able to provide one or two examples of trends, developments and/or patterns of adoption at the national scale. They may also offer an overview of the changing global “digital divide”.

• “Participation” by consumers takes many forms, from social media use to remittance transfers.
• Information networks may include broadband internet or mobile/smartphone access.
• Some answers may focus on the increased participation of India and the Philippines in TNC production networks (outsourcing and call centres).
• Some answers may focus on growth on informal ICT services eg new phone app start-ups in Kenya.
• Involvement in e-waste management is a legitimate focus.
• Explanation of changes is not required but can be credited, eg more companies providing citizens with internet access; “middle-class” consumer income growth in many countries; low wages in outsourcing countries.

Good answers may apply (AO2) a wider range of knowledge and understanding (AO1) in a well-structured way (AO4). One approach might be to systematically analyse changes at varying scales (eg provide a global overview and also one example of a changing national pattern, eg the rural–urban divide). Another approach might be to analyse changing social patterns of in inclusion/exclusion (eg for different income groups, women, the elderly).

For band C (4–6 marks), expect some weakly evidenced outlining of ICT use in one or more named countries, or an overview of the global “digital divide”.

For band D (7–8 marks), expect a structured, evidenced analysis that includes:

• either detailed changes/developments in ICT participation in two contexts
• or some variety of ways in which people participate (eg covers changing patterns of consumption and production of ICT services).

For band E (9–10 marks), expect both band D traits.

Please refer to Paper 3 HL markbands.

Credit all content in line with the markbands. Credit unexpected approaches wherever relevant.

Any aspect of environmental and social costs – and benefits – can be examined. Likely environmental themes include costs for the atmosphere, oceans or tropical rainforest. Social costs include worker exploitation or changes to society linked with the global growth of social media. Any action taken to tackle these costs needs weighing carefully against the benefits of global trade and development. 

Possible applied themes (AO2) include knowledge and understanding (AO1) of:

• climate change actions, possibly linked with issues such as the growth of food miles (air freight) [Guide 4] or the growth of polluting transport networks for people and commodities [Guide 2]
• growing environmental awareness fostered via NGOs [Guide 4]
• political (inter-governmental) responses to transboundary pollution [Guide 4]
• the need for global action to prevent loss of tropical rainforest (linked with timber resource use) [Guide 4]
• calls for the regulation of global agribusinesses, polluting industries and waste movements [Guide 4]
• recognition that a non-globalized lifestyle [Guide 7] is one that does not enjoy the benefits of economic interactions and flows [Guide 2]
• recognition of the many benefits resulting from the sharing of ideas, information and cultures [Guide 5], which might be jeopardized by anti-global measures [Guide 6/7].

Good answers may synthesize (AO3) three of these or other relevant themes in a well-structured (AO4) way.

Good answers may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) that systematically examines different aspects of globalization that do or do not need managing to reduce their costs. Another approach might be to examine effects at different scales (eg comparing local developmental benefits of industrialization with the global costs of carbon emissions). Another approach might be to examine costs and benefits from varying perspectives (“local sourcing” might be viewed as having more costs than benefits by a farmer who wants to export food globally).

Answers that explain the costs and benefits of globalization but do little to actually address the question directly – that is, how far can these costs actually be reduced/tackled without also losing benefits? – are unlikely to reach band D.

For band C (5–8 marks), expect weakly evidenced outlining of two or three relevant themes from the geography guide.

For band D (9–12 marks), expect:

• either a structured synthesis which links together several well-evidenced and well-focused themes from the geography guide
• or a developed, critical conclusion (or greater ongoing evaluation).

For band E (13–15 marks), expect both of these traits.

Please refer to Paper 3 HL markbands.