IB Global Politics: The politics of natural disasters

So I've been remiss in getting this unit plan up for everyone to see. The Politics of Natural Disasters should cover roughly 6 weeks of coursework in the Power, Sovereignty, and International Relations portion in the IB Global Politics syllabus. This topic covers three natural disasters-Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti Earthquake of 2010, as well as well as Typhoon Haiyan. In addition, there's 2 games and three simulations interspersed throughout the flow of the unit. I also have to give special thanks to the small group of students who I have lunch with each Wednesday. The idea and selection of cases for this unit were the result of their interest in the subject (of course, the rest of the Year 1 students were also enthusiastic about studying this topic as well). This process reaffirms my belief about the amazing learning and work that can occur when you encourage students to have agency in their own learning.

	The Politics of Natural Disasters
Essential Question	In what ways, and with what effects, are responses to and effects of natural disasters politicized?
Key Concepts	power, sovereignty, legitimacy, interdependence, state, civil society, international organization, non-governmental organization, multinational corporation, global governance, cooperation, conflict
Learning Targets	You will be able to understand how various forms of power is distributed at various levels of global politics. You will understand how state power is operationalized and legitimized in global politics. You will understand the ways in which non-state actors such as international organizations, non-governmental organizations, multinational corporations, and others function in and influence global politics.  You will understand the nature and extent of the myriad of interactions amongst all actors and events in global politics.
Simulations & Games	Survival, Red Cross Emergency Response Unit, Stop Disasters, DS-30 (Veritas and Pulchra), Inside Haiti Earthquake
Assessments	Class debrief on cases: Hurricane Katrina, Haiti Earthquake, Typhoon Haiyan Team presentation, “The Blame Game” (Hurricane Katrina) Team presentation, “Cause and Effect” (Haiti Earthquake) Individual survey responses on Key Concepts Paper 1-type response (25 marks) Questions to be derived from extracts; taken from articles in bibliography Paper 2-type response (25 marks) “For what reasons, if any, are governments, international organizations, and/or non-governmental organizations responsible for caring for people citizens from disasters?” Individual responses to summary survey on the politics of natural disasters
Bibliography	Atkinson, J., Hicken, A., & Ravanilla, N. (2013, November 12). Politics and disaster aid in the Philippines. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2013/11/12/politics-and-disaster-aid-in-the-philippines/  Cruz, C., & Harlan, C. (2013, November 11). Philippines fears massive death toll as Typhoon Haiyan wreaks havoc. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/philippines-fears-massive-death-toll-after-typhoon/2013/11/10/2bd314f4-49dd-11e3-b87a-e66bd9ff3537_story.html  The Economist. (2013, November 16). Worse than hell. The Economist. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21589916-one-strongest-storms-ever-recorded-has-devastated-parts-philippines-and-relief  Gaviria, M., & Smith, M. (Writers). (2010, March 30). Frontline: the quake [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haiti/ Hapeman, K. (co). The effects of politics on natural disasters: lessons learned from Bangladesh. Unpublished manuscript, University of Denver, Denver. Retrieved December 12, 2013, from www.du.edu/korbel/criic/humanitarianbriefs/Katie_Hapeman1.docx. International Committee of the Red Cross. (2009). The ICRC: Its mission and work [Brochure]. Author. Retrieved from http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/icrc_002_0963.pdf   International Committee of the Red Cross. (1994, December 31). Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief (Rep.). Retrieved from http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/publications/icrc-002-1067.pdf International Committee of the Red Cross. (2013, May). Annual Report: 2013 (Rep.). Retrieved from http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/annual-report/icrc-annual-report-2012.pdf  Kurlantzick, J. (2013, November 11). Typhoon Haiyan. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2013/11/11/typhoon-haiyan/  Kurlantzick, J. (2013, November 13). Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines, the United States, and China. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2013/11/13/typhoon-haiyan-the-philippines-the-united-states-and-china/  Kurlantzick, J. (2013, November 18). Why was Vietnam better prepared than the Philippines for Typhoon Haiyan? Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2013/11/18/why-was-vietnam-better-prepared-than-the-philippines-for-typhoon-haiyan/  Olson, R. S. (2008). Toward a politics of disaster: Losses, values, agendas, and blame. In A. Boin (Ed.), Crisis management (Vol. 3). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Patrick, S. M. (Director). (2013, November 14). Disaster preparedness & relief: three things to know [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.cfr.org/disasters/disaster-preparedness-relief-three-things-know/p31858  Smith, M. (Writer). (2005, November 22). Frontline: The storm [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/storm/view/  Wright, J. (2013, November 20). Wherefore art thou ASEAN? Strategic Review. Retrieved from http://www.sr-indonesia.com/web-exclusives/view/wherefore-art-thou-asean
Flow	Facilitate and debrief “Survival”; 1 class period Watch, discuss, and debrief The Storm (Hurricane Katrina); 2-3 class periods Construct, present, and debrief “The Blame Game”; 1-2 class periods Facilitate, “I used to think but now I think” VT routine, watch Panorama-the ICRC in Action Worldwide; 1 class period Play and debrief “Red Cross Emergency Response Unit”; 1 class period Watch and debrief How to step up in the face of disaster; 1 class period Facilitate and debrief “DS-30”; 2 class periods Read and debrief “The effects of politics on natural disasters: lessons learned from Bangladesh”; 1 class period In class writing, Paper 2-type question; 1 class period Watch, discuss, and debrief The Quake (Haiti Earthquake); 2-3 class periods Construct, present, and debrief “Cause and Effect”; 1-2 class periods Revise Paper 2-type question; 1 class period.  Play and debrief “Inside Haiti Earthquake”; 1-2 class periods Facilitate, "Circle of viewpoints" VT routine to watch and debrief on “Disaster Preparedness: Three Things to Know”; 1 class period Play and debrief “Stop Disasters:’ 1-2 class periods In class reading, choice of articles on Typhoon Haitian; 1 class period Team presentation, “The effects of politics on natural disasters: Typhoon Haiyan”; 2-3 class periods In class writing, Paper 1-type question Summary survey and debrief on the politics of natural disasters; 1 class period