Views about IR paper in 2011?

[Fortune]

Dear members please share your views regarding IR paper in 2011. Regards

[mjkhan]

brother share your views about the paper as well.what is the highest score that we should expect from this subject or what is the highest inhistory of CCE that you came to know about?

and plz comment about the scope of this subject.does the examiner asks the questions by strictly remaining in the parameters of the syllabus or he/she(the examiner) can go beyond the syllabus especially in case of mcqz.i am putting up this question because the very name of it "international relations" shows vastness of this subject.

[usman khalid]

The scope of IR paper has broadened in recent years. It now constitutes many topics which are even not explicitly mentioned in the syllabus. The syllabus has not been updated for many years but developments in the field of IR continues to expand its contents. It may include all critical issues of the world. Some general type (International Affairs) questions are also asked in the paper. However, it does not mean that syllabus has become irrelevant. Many concepts like Nature and Scope of IR, Theories of IR, Power Politics, Balance of Power, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, International and Regional Organizations, World Wars, hot issues like Nuclear Proliferation, Global Warming, Terrorism and Extremism, are key topics on which questions are asked in the paper. MCQs may be asked on all these topics. Also leaders of the world nations, treaties(date of establishment, representative head, location of headquarter etc), important events (date of start of WW1, U-2 incident), major powers bilateral/multilateral pacts dates, IR books and authors names, date and venue of recent meeting of some major organization, any thing related to current affair and other syllabus topics may covered in MCQs.

[mani1]

I love IR. It was my first optional subject and the only subject which I started prepping 10 months before the commencement of exams. Needless to say it is very interesting subject but I had to drop it because of its lengthy course. I looked at the 2011 paper and it seemed a piece of cake as questions were generally broad in nature and were from expected topics.

[Fortune]

dear! It is undoubtedly true that IR is a lengthy subject and with the passage of time all developments have been introduced in papers without altering syllabus. It seems interesting, but those who consider it a piece of cake are at fault. We have to answer all questions being in parameters of international relations though questions may seem current issues. We are required to talk with regards to application of theories. So far as MCQs are concerned, there is no limitation. I came across a candidate who secured 72 marks in 2009 and also a very good friend of mine secured 65. He has passed 2010 so Allah knows better if he has made some improvement. I myself obtained 43 marks in 2009 and honestly speaking i was not well prepared, but in 2010 my score was 58.

[Call for Change]

IR paper was quiet easy and expected . My teacher suggested me to solve the paper in Realist perspective. So, i tried to link the current scenario with the realism, and quest of power etc.

[mani1]

Originally Posted by Fortune

dear! It is undoubtedly true that IR is a lengthy subject and with the passage of time all developments have been introduced in papers without altering syllabus. It seems interesting, but those who consider it a piece of cake are at fault. We have to answer all questions being in parameters of international relations though questions may seem current issues. We are required to talk with regards to application of theories. So far as MCQs are concerned, there is no limitation. I came across a candidate who secured 72 marks in 2009 and also a very good friend of mine secured 65. He has passed 2010 so Allah knows better if he has made some improvement. I myself obtained 43 marks in 2009 and honestly speaking i was not well prepared, but in 2010 my score was 58.

Thanks for your input but I still maintain my original point of view that it was very easy. And I know about all the theories etc. that need to be applied because I have gone through Prakash Chander and Goldstein both
The paper was way too easy compared to these books. Explains why people take IR lightly and resort to only 1 book or academy notes for preparation

[Fortune]

Originally Posted by mani1

Thanks for your input but I still maintain my original point of view that it was very easy. And I know about all the theories etc. that need to be applied because I have gone through Prakash Chander and Goldstein both
The paper was way too easy compared to these books. Explains why people take IR lightly and resort to only 1 book or academy notes for preparation

dear! It was a piece of cake for those who are well conversant with all theories. I also have made contribution in this respect by writing a comprehensive article on international relations' theories and their application for a UK based research academy and i earned reward in this respect. But my dear, question on nation-state was to be solved with reference to UNO and its contemporary relevance that might have confused candidates and the last question which demanded arguments for failure of policy or failure of diplomacy was also a tricky one. Many candidates answered it the way it is answered in current affairs paper, which was not desirable.

[kjay]

Originally Posted by Fortune

dear! It was a piece of cake for those who are well conversant with all theories. I also have made contribution in this respect by writing a comprehensive article on international relations' theories and their application for a UK based research academy and i earned reward in this respect. But my dear, question on nation-state was to be solved with reference to UNO and its contemporary relevance that might have confused candidates and the last question which demanded arguments for failure of policy or failure of diplomacy was also a tricky one. Many candidates answered it the way it is answered in current affairs paper, which was not desirable.

right. infact the question abt UNO was a bit confusing..and the ques of foreign policy and diplomacy was related to these tow topics of IR..they both interlinked as foreign policy is the guideline or policy towards other states..and diplomacy is the implementation of foreign policy..example was of pakistan and IR had to be taken side by side.

[HIRA ZAHRAH]

ir is not difficult at all. u just need to keep an intelligent eye over affairs and issues between the states.