Canadian & World Studies · Grade 12

Active learning ideas

Non-State Actors & Global Influence

Active learning builds students' critical thinking about power beyond states by letting them experience real-world dilemmas. When students debate NGOs vs governments or analyze MNC case studies, they move from abstract theory to tangible evidence, making invisible influences visible in ways lectures cannot.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: International Relations and Global Governance - Grade 12
• ON: Civic Awareness and Engagement - Grade 12

• 45–90 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Role Play
• 90 min · Small Groups

Role Play: Global Summit Simulation

Students represent different non-state actors (e.g., Amnesty International, a major tech corporation, a climate action group) and a select few represent national governments. They negotiate a resolution on a simulated global issue, like plastic pollution or refugee crises.

Assess whether NGOs are more effective than governments in addressing global crises.

Facilitation Tip

During Debate Rounds, assign clear roles to students as NGO representatives or government officials and provide a shared rubric so they evaluate arguments based on evidence, not rhetoric.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Case Study Analysis
• 60 min · Small Groups

Case Study Analysis: MNC Impact

Groups select a multinational corporation and research its operations, supply chains, and documented influence on at least two national governments' policies. They present their findings, highlighting both positive and negative impacts.

Analyze how multinational corporations influence the policies of sovereign nations.

Facilitation Tip

For the Case Study Jigsaw on MNCs, group students by case study first, then mix them so each new group hears summaries from all cases before analyzing patterns together.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Formal Debate
• 45 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: NGO Effectiveness

Organize a formal debate with assigned roles arguing for or against the proposition: 'Non-governmental organizations are more effective than national governments in addressing global humanitarian crises.'

Explain how the internet has empowered non-state actors in international affairs.

Facilitation Tip

In the Role-Play Summit, give each negotiating team a one-page brief with non-negotiables and red lines to keep the simulation focused and prevent chaos.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 04

• Gallery Walk
• 50 min · Individual

Infographic: Digital Empowerment

Students research how a specific non-state actor has used the internet or social media to advance its agenda. They then create an infographic visually representing this influence and its outcomes.

Assess whether NGOs are more effective than governments in addressing global crises.

Facilitation Tip

For the Digital Campaign Analysis, require pairs to present screenshots with timestamps and message analysis to ground their evaluation in observable data.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should balance urgency with depth by focusing on cases students recognize, such as Médecins Sans Frontières or Amazon’s data lobbying. Avoid overgeneralizing; use timelines or policy flowcharts to show how non-state actors operate over time. Research shows that role-play and debate deepen understanding of power dynamics more than static readings or lectures.

Successful learning shows when students connect non-state actors to concrete outcomes, question assumptions, and justify positions with evidence. You will see them citing specific policies, campaigns, or crises to explain how influence shifts globally.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Debate Rounds, watch for students assuming NGOs act without bias.

  Use the debate preparation sheets to require teams to cite donor countries or corporate ties that influence NGO decisions, forcing them to confront evidence of partiality during rebuttals.

• During Case Study Jigsaw: MNC Influences, watch for students believing MNCs cannot override national laws.

  Have each jigsaw group compare MNC lobbying documents with resulting policy texts, such as GDPR changes after tech company pressure, to show direct corporate impact on sovereignty.

• During Digital Campaign Analysis: Pairs, watch for students thinking extremist groups need state support for global reach.

  Ask pairs to present data on viral posts, follower growth rates, and algorithmic amplification to demonstrate how digital tools alone enable rapid, state-free influence.

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Methods used in this brief

• Role Play
• Case Study Analysis
• Formal Debate
• Gallery Walk