F1IS 5640 - Critical Geopolitics

This course offers an introduction to critical geopolitics, a scholarly undertaking that takes ‘geopolitics’ as its object of analysis. Geopolitics is a specific discourse, a specific

mindset, a specific politics that consider space and its material components (physical and human geographies, primary resources, etc.) to be the necessary determinants of foreign policy and international politics. Yet, as noted some 30 years ago by Gearóid Ó Tuathail (1994: 259): “Geopolitics is not an immanently meaningful term but a historically ambiguous and unstable concept”. The aim of this course is, through interdisciplinary readings and discussion, to help participants develop analytical tools to deconstruct ‘geopolitics’ and understand how this discourse and mindset influence international relations today. As a research seminar, the first part of the course will be dedicated to introduce participants to the core concepts of critical geopolitics and to explore its analytical relevance not only in foreign policy or international politics texts but also via concrete objects such as maps, boardgames and videogames, movies and tv series, etc. The second part of the course concentrates on the autonomous researches produced by the participants.

Learning Outcomes:

Identify and discuss key notions and analytical framework in critical geopolitics;

Connect complex analytical frameworks to international political and everyday life events, popular culture and evaluate their relevance;

Develop and write a research paper;

Evaluate and synthesize a complex set of literature.

Professional Skills

Research and analysis;

Critical thinking;

Investigation;

Written and oral communication.

None

Beyond the feedback provided during the mid-term presentations and the final colloquium, written feedback will be provided for the mid-term assignment within 7 working days to enable participants to improve their research papers. Ahead of the colloquium, an online individual discussion on the research papers will take place in the second half of April to check on the participants’ advancement in their research.

1 literature review (approx. 3000 words) & 1 research paper (approx. 6000 words);

the literature review is worth 30% and the research paper 70% of the overall mark. The literature review is due on 13 March 2025, and the research paper is due on 25 May 2023.

In Class Presence: 24 hours a semester in 6 sessions of 4 hours

Online learning activities: 7 hours a semester (preparation and presentation of research topic)

Reading and Preparation for Class: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 95 hours a semester (25 hours for the literature review, 70 hours for the research paper).