Dear Readers,
Yesterday, we gave you the following practice topic for WAT – “The world is in social, economic and political turmoil. Any suggestions to improve.” This had appeared in the IIM Bangalore entrance in 2013. In this article, we will look at the correct approach for an essay on this topic and will also cover some important points which may be used in this essay.
Guidelines – How to Approach this Question
· Like most WAT topics, this is an opinion-oriented question. Given the subjective nature of the topic, the possibilities of the answer are vast.
· This is a test of your logical and creative thinking abilities. You can choose to discuss any major world problem, provided you support your view with substantial points, logic and data.
· First and foremost, it is important to understand the different aspects of the question. While the topic only asks for suggestions, there are no specifications for what the “turmoil” is. Thus, the ideal thing to do would be to list some major sources/causes of economic, social and political distress in the introduction and then expand on one or two root causes.
· You should pick only those problems on which you have the most knowledge because your suggestions will be dependent on them.
· This tactic would come in handy in an article of 200-300 words, one cannot possibly cover everything under the umbrella term of “turmoil”. This way, you will have mentioned all the primary problems, and by elaborating a few, your knowledge will be highlighted.
What to Write in the Answer
Here are some points which you can use in your answer:
· Introduction: You can start by saying how the world is in perpetual turmoil because of various social, economic and political factors/causes. Poverty, income inequality, intolerance, terrorism and lack of economic growth can be some of the causes that you mention in the introduction.
· Main Body: The body of your essay will comprise of two parts – elaborate on the definition of the causes of global turmoil, and present remedies to tackle them. You may start with a line like “While the above are some of the significant causes of turmoil, the most important cause is (or the two most important causes are) _____.” After this, explain why/how this is the most important cause. Next, present your suggested remedies.
· In this article, we are discussing two causes and covering some sample points with respect to these. You may choose a different cause/factor and provide apt solutions accordingly.
· Income Inequality: Out of all the socio-economic problems present in today’s world, income inequality has perhaps had the most impact. This is a worldwide issue and even the stronger economies (most prosperous countries) like Singapore (recent riots by people of Indian origin), western European nations, US, etc. face problems, including rioting and violent protests (apart from peaceful protests) due to this. Here, you can cite the recent Oxfam report according to which the richest 62 people of the world own as much wealth as the poorest half of the global population (the Oxfam report also stated that the richest 1% of the world’s population owns as much wealth as the remaining 99%). This alone is proof of how unequal the distribution of wealth is. Using this as the basis, you can follow up with different points about how the gap between the rich and the poor keeps on widening and as a result, the quality of life available to the poor keeps on worsening, etc. You can also use the Human Development Index data which listed India at the 130th spot in the world, below even some African countries.
· Solutions: The root of economic and social transformation is education and thus, the government should direct its resources towards education-related reforms. Additionally, financial aid and skill-based training should be provided so that the poorer sections can become skilled and financially self-reliant faster. The government has a number of programmes for these purposes (like Skill India). However, some of these government schemes are unable to make impact on the grass-root level because most people are unable to access them. If the outreach is improved, rural population can be greatly benefited and can move out of poverty easily. Similarly, microfinance should be encouraged so that rural communities can help one another and start building small businesses and networks amongst themselves.
· Terrorism: One of the biggest problems of today’s era, terrorism has time and again destroyed many parts of the world. Recently, four Indians were arrested in Syria for trying to join the ISIS, which reflects on how wide terrorism’s reach is. Terrorism also leads to crisis in extreme cases. No part of the world has been spared of acts of terror in recent times – Peshawar school attack, Sydney siege, Charlie Hebdo attacks, Boston Marathon bombing, etc. Terrorism has become one of the biggest causes of unrest. Popular culture has also depicted the middle-East and Asia in the same light – movies and television repeatedly show people from these areas as terrorists. Such factors only deepen the crisis.
· Solutions: The elementary measure to curb terrorism would be to make patrolling and information gathering stronger. Better policing strategies need to be devised so as to minimise chances of a terror attack. There needs to be focus on the intelligence gathering units in our country. Making them better would help in faster detection of suspicious activities. Increased cooperation between security agencies is also needed. Hitting the terrorist camps right at their bases would also eliminate the dangers. Stronger border security is also pivotal. In the recent attack at Pathankot, for instance, statements have been made that it could have been prevented had the International Border been better protected. If infiltrations are halted by tightening security, major attacks can be averted.
· Conclusion: Whichever problem(s) you discuss, a logical conclusion should follow. It should summarize the main points of your essay and reiterate the important remedies. You may end your essay with an optimistic quote/ motivational line for greater impact. For example, you may end with something like, “If these measures are implemented then India can certainly become the place that Rabindranath Tagore wrote about – Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high …”
The next topic is – “It is advisable to raise the legal drinking age limit to 25 years for responsible drinking.” (IIM Ahmedabad, 2013)
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