BCS Written International Affairs study guide
BCS Written International Affairs · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The International Affairs paper is one of the optional subjects in Bangladesh's BCS written examination, taken by candidates who have cleared the preliminary screening and the viva stage that follows the written tests. It suits candidates aiming for the foreign service cadre or for administrative posts where diplomacy, trade, and multilateral negotiation dominate the workload. The BCS Written International Affairs study guide has 8 sections and about 2,329 words.
01International Relations: Theories, Concepts and Contemporary Issues
Theories are lenses, not doctrines. Candidates must distinguish realism (states as unitary rational actors pursuing power and security under anarchy; balance of power, security dilemma, self-help), liberalism (cooperation through institutions, interdependence, democratic peace, absolute gains), constructivism (anarchy and interests are socially constructed through norms and identity), and critical/Marxist approaches (IPE structures, dependency, world-systems).
304 words, about 2 min02Foreign Policy of Bangladesh and Bilateral Relations
Bangladesh's foreign policy is constitutionally anchored in Article 25: respect for sovereignty and non-interference, peaceful settlement of disputes, and support for oppressed peoples. The guiding maxim is "friendship to all, malice to none" , associated with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, plus "Look East" diversification and economic diplomacy.
313 words, about 2 min03International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy
Know the six principal organs (General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council - now suspended, International Court of Justice, Secretariat). Distinguish recommendatory GA powers from the SC's binding Chapter VII authority.
281 words, about 1 min04International Law, Treaties and Diplomatic Practice
Article 38 of the ICJ Statute lists sources: treaties, custom, general principles, judicial decisions and teachings as subsidiary means. Custom requires state practice plus opinio juris ; persistent objectors are exempt.
328 words, about 2 min05Global Governance, Security and Peacekeeping
Global governance is the sum of institutions, regimes, norms and networks managing transboundary problems without central authority. Know the difference between governance and government , the role of regimes (Krasner), transnational advocacy networks, public-private partnerships, and the fragmentation/forum-shopping problem.
279 words, about 1 min06International Political Economy, Trade and Development
IPE studies the interaction of states and markets. Know mercantilism/economic nationalism , liberalism (comparative advantage, Ricardo), structuralism/dependency (Prebisch–Singer thesis, import substitution), and critical/neo-Gramscian approaches.
294 words, about 1 min07Regional and Global Affairs: South Asia, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe, Africa, Americas
Characterised by India's preponderance, Pakistan's balancing, small-state hedging (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives), and China's growing footprint. Know SAARC stagnation, BIMSTEC's rise, BBIN connectivity, Kashmir, Afghanistan spillover, and the Indian Ocean as a strategic theatre (QUAD, IORA).
250 words, about 1 min08Contemporary Global Challenges: Climate Change, Migration, Terrorism, Human Rights
Know the UNFCCC (1992), Kyoto Protocol (1997), Paris Agreement (2015) with NDCs, the 1.5°C target, common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), climate finance (USD 100 billion pledge, Green Climate Fund, loss and damage fund agreed at COP27), and adaptation versus mitigation. Bangladesh's role: Climate Vulnerable Forum, adaptation innovation, delta planning.
280 words, about 1 min