GISS IB students at the Marcel Dirsus talk at NSW Parliament on 20. May
A selection of our IB students together with Mr. Cordes, Frau Hessling and their History and Economics subject teachers (Herr Goossens und Frau Broehl-Foster) were privileged enough to meet the author at a session at the NSW Parliament where he introduced his book, that has been recognised as one of the ‘Books of the Year’ by The Economist..
Dirsus presents in his book a comprehensive framework for understanding why even seemingly invincible autocrats eventually lose their grip on power. The book challenges the common perception that dictatorships fall primarily through dramatic popular revolutions, instead highlighting the often subtle internal dynamics that precede their collapse.
One of the book's most striking arguments is that tyrants rarely fall due to external pressure alone. While international sanctions and diplomatic isolation can weaken authoritarian regimes, Dirsus convincingly demonstrates that the seeds of collapse are typically planted within the power structures themselves. Through detailed case studies, he illustrates how even the most entrenched dictators become vulnerable when their support networks begin to fracture.
For our IB students seeking to make sense of complex global events, the book and Marcel Dirsus presentation offered a framework that moves beyond headlines to examine the structural forces that shape political outcomes. It encourages critical thinking about power dynamics and reminds us that even the most formidable-looking regimes contain inherent vulnerabilities. (Frau Broehl-Foster)
Have you ever wondered if there are recognisable signs that indicate the end and disintegration of authoritarian regimes?
The German author and political scientist Marcel Dirsus has attempted to give an answer to this question in his book How Tyrants Fall: and How Nations Survive.
GISS IB Schüler/Innen beim Marcel Dirsus Vortrag im NSW Parlament am 20. Mai
Eine Auswahl unserer IB-Schülerinnen und -Schüler hatte zusammen mit Herrn Cordes, Frau Hessling und ihren Fachlehrern für Geschichte und Wirtschaft (Herr Goossens und Frau Broehl-Foster) das Privileg, den Autor bei einer Sitzung im NSW-Parlament zu treffen, wo er sein Buch vorstellte, das von The Economist als eines der „Bücher des Jahres“ ausgezeichnet wurde.
Dirsus stellt in seinem Buch einen umfassenden Rahmen vor, um zu verstehen, warum selbst scheinbar unbesiegbare Autokraten schließlich ihren Griff nach der Macht verlieren. Das Buch stellt die gängige Auffassung in Frage, dass Diktaturen in erster Linie durch dramatische Volksrevolutionen zu Fall kommen, und hebt stattdessen die oft subtile interne Dynamik hervor, die ihrem Zusammenbruch vorausgeht.
Eines der auffälligsten Argumente des Buches ist, dass Tyrannen selten allein durch äußeren Druck zu Fall kommen. Zwar können internationale Sanktionen und diplomatische Isolation autoritäre Regime schwächen, doch Dirsus zeigt überzeugend, dass der Grundstein des Zusammenbruchs in der Regel in den Machtstrukturen selbst liegt. Anhand detaillierter Fallstudien veranschaulicht er, wie selbst die gefestigtsten Diktatoren verwundbar werden, wenn ihre Unterstützungsnetzwerke zu zerbrechen beginnen.
Unseren IB-Schülern, die sich einen Reim auf komplexe globale Ereignisse machen wollen, bieten das Buch und Marcel Dirsus Vortrag einen Rahmen, der über Schlagzeilen hinausgeht und die strukturellen Kräfte untersucht, die politische Ergebnisse formen. Es regt zu kritischem Denken über Machtdynamiken an. (Frau Broehl-Foster)
Haben Sie sich jemals gefragt, ob es erkennbare Zeichen gibt, die das Ende und den Zerfall autoritärer Regime anzeigen?
Der deutsche Autor und Politikwissenschaftler Marcel Dirsus hat versucht, in seinem Buch: How Tyrants Fall: and How Nations Survive eine Antwort auf diese Frage zu geben.
The Creativity, Activity, Service Program is one of the core components of the IB Diploma Program.
All IB students have to be involved in creative, physical and service experiences, and projects in a local, national or international context for at least 18 months. The CAS Program is about the education of the IB students beyond the classroom and the emphasis is on learning by doing.
It encourages students to share their energies and talents while developing awareness, concern, and the ability to work cooperatively with others.
We regularly feature various experiences and projects in the Gutenberg Post to provide insight to our school community what CAS Experiences and CAS Projects our IB students are involved with.
Ulrike Miehle, CAS Coordinator
CREATIVITY ACTIVITY SERVICE PROGRAM
fundraising for a girl & her world
On the 18th of May GISS held their annual flee market where we as a group of year 11 students got involved by running the fairy floss stall.
Our task was to offer a sweet treat to visitors and raise funds both for our school and, as part of our IB CAS experience, for our school charity, a Girl and her world.
We viewed this opportunity as a great way to get involved in our community and help a charity that we are passionate about where 60% of our sales go towards this. Volunteering at this event counts towards the service aspect of the CAS program and was a fun and enjoyable experience for us all. - Year 11
