Geopolitics
dalgan@gsu.edu.tr
Content
Objective
The aim of this course is to provide a critical perspective on the historical development of geopolitical thought. This course aims to question the relationship between geography, knowledge, and power within the framework of different geopolitical schools.
Course Content
This elective course questions the impact of geography on politics based on the basic concepts and theories in the discipline of geopolitics. This relationship between geography and politics is concerned with how geopolitical imaginations are formed and how these imaginations have shaped politics throughout history. In this context, this course analyzes the relationship between geography, knowledge, and power within the framework of periods such as imperialism, expansionism, the Cold War, and the new world order. The course which consists of two main parts, classical geopolitics and critical geopolitics, first examines classical geopolitical theories and world political history from the 20th century to the present. Secondly, critical geopolitical approaches examine the power relations constructed by classical geopolitics and how these relations shape the geopolitical imagination in minds.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, the student will have a conceptual and theoretical background on the discipline of geopolitics, will provide a critical view of classical geopolitical theories, and will be able to interpret current political issues from a geopolitical point of view.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Geopolitics course will be discussed with map illustrations and case studies by drawing a conceptual and theoretical framework over classical geopolitical theories and critical geopolitical approaches. In this context, predetermined weekly readings in the weekly schedule of classical geopolitical theories and critical geopolitical approaches will be discussed. In order to prepare for the course, the student must do the weekly readings and be present in the class.
References
Gearoid O. Tuathail, Introduction to Imperialist Geopolitics, Geopolitics Reader, pp. 15-24
Karl Haushofer, “Why Geopolitik?”, Geopolitics Reader,pp.33-35. + Karl Haushofer, “Defense of German Geopolitics”, Geopolitics Reader, pp.40-43.
George F. Kennan, “The Sources of Soviet Conduct”, Geopolitics: An Introductory Reader, pp. 103-107.
Yves Lacotste, “An Illustration of Geographical Warfare: Bombing the Dikes on the Red River”, Geopolitics: An Introductory Reader, pp. 122-128.
Gearoid O. Tuathail, Introduction to New World Order Geopolitics, Geopolitics Reader, pp. 103-113.
Simon Dalby, Environmental Geopolitics in the Twenty-first Century, Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, pp. 3-15.
Jennifer Hyndman, Towards a Feminist Geopolitics, The Canadien Geographer, pp. 210-219.
Weekly Contents
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: Content, Objectives and Method of the Course |
| 2 | Stages of Geopolitical Thought: Concepts, Schools, and Three Ages of Geopolitics |
| 3 | Imperial Geopolitics |
| 4 | Second World War Geopolitics |
| 5 | Cold War Geopolitics (1): USA vs. USSR |
| 6 | Cold War Geopolitics (2): France |
| 7 | Mid-term exam |
| 8 | New World Order Geopolitics |
| 9 | Critical Geopolitics: Concepts and Schools |
| 10 | Critical Geopolitics Studies: On the Environmental Geopolitics and Feminist Geopolitics |
| 11 | Geopolitics in Turkey (1): Transformation of the Geopolitical Imagination in Foreign Policy |
| 12 | Geopolitics in Turkey (2): Where is Turkey in the World? |
| 13 | Paper Proposals |
| 14 | Paper Proposals |
Assessment System
| Activities | Number | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 1 | 10 |
| Contribution of final exam to overall grade | 1 | 40 |
| Total | 2 | 50 |
| Activities | Number | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 1 | 10 |
| Presentation | 1 | 20 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 1 | 20 |
| Project | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 50 |
Relation of Proficiency
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 1 | Understanding the major theories, concepts, foundations, and methodologies used in the study of politics. | X | ||||
| 2 | Identifying the structure and operation of the political system in Turkey and other political systems in the world. | X | ||||
| 3 | Identifying and gathering information from credible primary and secondary sources; analyzing and synthesizing the acquired knowledge. | X | ||||
| 4 | Generating and testing empirically hypotheses about political processes, institutions, mechanisms and relationships. | X | ||||
| 5 | Designing, conducting and interpreting the results of original research in accordance with the scientific and ethical principles by using basic research methods. | X | ||||
| 6 | Showing awareness and sensivity towards issues related to democracy, human rights and social peace. | X | ||||
| 7 | Appraising the sources of societal conflict and how they can be resolved by political means. | X | ||||
| 8 | Examining critically the nature of change in the global political community, and the complex character of processes such as globalization. | X | ||||
| 9 | Taking a role in a teamwork in political science and general fields of other related disciplines. | X | ||||
| 10 | Following publications in foreign languages and communicating with the colleagues in the international environment by using French which is the language of education in Galatasaray University and English, the compulsory foreign language. | X | ||||
| 11 | Using required level of information and communication technologies. | X | ||||
ECTS
| Activities | Number | Period | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Hours | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Working Hours out of Class | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignments | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Presentation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Workload | 0 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 | 0.00 | ||
| Credits ECTS | 0 | ||