Knowledge: Advanced understanding of the major channels through which space and geography connect to international politics and of the evolution of geopolitics from the classical pre-World war II doctrines to contemporary empirical approaches.
Abilities acquired at the end of the course: High degree of confidence in dealing with theoretical and advanced empirical research in international relations; Critical evaluation of scholarly literature.
Capacity to apply the knowledge acquired: Conduct basic research on the links between space, geography and international politics; Present pieces of research with appropriate technical and oral skills.
The course will focus on the relationships between space, geography and international politics. It will address classical geopolitical theories and doctrines as well as new approaches to the study of space and politics, including empirical studies of the links between international wars and regime changes; the rise of China; Russian power politics in twenty-first century international system; the social and political consequences of climate change.
Students will have to take a 90-minutes written exam with multiple-choice questions and open questions on all readings. Students must demonstrate knowledge of the topics covered in the course and the ability to organize and present this knowledge using the terminology and concepts of the field of study correctly; the ability to critically analyze issues relevant to the field; the ability to use the knowledge acquired to analyze the connections between ideas, regime types and geography in contemporary international politics.
Tabella docimologica di valutazione
Insufficiente
Valutazione negativa dovuta a gravi errori concettuali, comprensione frammentaria o nulla degli argomenti trattati, incapacità di applicare le conoscenze, gravi lacune e mancanza di autonomia.
18–22
Valutazione sufficiente o più che sufficiente dovuta a conoscenza elementare degli argomenti, presenza di alcuni errori, capacità di affrontare solo compiti semplici o guidati, livello base di autonomia.
23–25
Valutazione discreta dovuta a comprensione soddisfacente degli argomenti, capacità di applicare correttamente le conoscenze a contesti noti e di affrontare gli esercizi in modo autonomo con qualche imprecisione, con un soddisfacente livello di autonomia e competenza operativa.
26–28
Valutazione buona o molto buona, dovuta a solida comprensione teorica della disciplina, capacità di collegare concetti, risolvere problemi e proporre analisi critiche, di svolgere compiti complessi in modo autonomo, preciso ed efficace, con un buon livello di autonomia e competenza operativa.
29–30 e Lode
Valutazione eccellente o ottima, dovuta a conoscenze complete, approfondite e ben strutturate, capacità di operare in modo autonomo e flessibile, anche in contesti complessi o nuovi, di utilizzare il linguaggio disciplinare in modo appropriato, preciso e articolato, di evidenziare capacità critiche, originalità e rigore nell’esposizione e nell’applicazione.
La Lode è attribuita a elaborati o prestazioni che si distinguono per brillantezza e originalità, anche al di là delle aspettative curricolari.
Topic 1 - Introduction; The birth and expansion of “human space” and political power Sloan, G. (2017), Geopolitics, Geography and Strategic History. London, Routledge: chapter 1. Diamond, J. (2005). Guns, Germs and Steel. London, Vintage Books: chapters 4, 5, 10, 14. Christian, D. (2011), Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History. Berkeley, University of California Press: chapters 9, 12. Topic 2 - Classical geopolitical theories: Sloan, G. (2017), Geopolitics, Geography and Strategic History. London, Routledge: chapter 2. Mackinder, H. (1904), “The Geographical Pivot of History” The Geographical Journal 23(4): 422-444. Mahan, A. T. (1890), The Influence of Sea Power upon History 160-1783. Boston, Little Brown: chapter 1. Herwig, H. (2013), “Geopolitik: Haushofer, Hitler and Lebensraum”, in Gray, C. and Sloan, G. (eds.), Geopolitics, Geography and Strategy. London, Routledge, pp. 218-240. Topic 3 - Cold War and post-Cold War geopolitical theories: Sloan, G. (2017), Geopolitics, Geography and Strategic History. London, Routledge: chapter 6. Kennan, G. (1947), “The Sources of Soviet Conduct” Foreign Affairs 25 (July): 566–82. Lippmann, W. (1987) “The Cold War” Foreign Affairs 65 (4): 869–884. Huntington, S. (1993), “The Clash of Civilizations?” Foreign Affairs 72(3): 22-49. Fukuyama, F. (1989) “The End of History?” The National Interest 16 (Summer): 3-18. Topic 4 - New approaches to power politics: International wars and internal regimes: Gunitsky, S. (2017), Aftershocks. Great Powers and Domestic Reforms in the 20th Century. Princeton, Princeton University Press: chapters 1, 2, 4, 6. Topic 5 – Twenty-first century great powers’ geopolitics: The rise of China: Beckley, M. (2023), “The Peril of Peaking Powers. Economic Slowdowns and Implications for China’s Next Decade” International Security 48(1): 7-46. Kardon, I. B, and Leutert, W. (2022), “Pier Competitor. China’s Power Position in Global Ports” International Security 46(4): 9-47. Carmody, P. and J. Wainwright (2022) “Contradiction and Restructuring in the Belt and Road Initiative: Reflections on China’s Pause on ‘Go World’” Third World Quarterly 43(12): 2830-2851. Petry, J. (2023), “Beyond Ports, Roads, and Railways: Chinese Economic Statecraft, the Belt and Road Initiative and the Politics of Financial Infrastructures” European Journal of International Relations 29(2): 319-351. Topic 6 – Twenty-first century great powers’ geopolitics: The awakening of Russia: Mearsheimer J. (2014), “Why the Ukraine Crisis is the West’s Fault” Foreign Affairs 93(5): 77-89. McFaul M., Sestanovich S., and Mearsheimer J. (2014), “Faulty Powers: Who started the Ukraine Crisis?” Foreign Affairs 93(6): 167-178. D’Anieri P. (2019), Ukraine and Russia. From Civilized Divorce to Uncivil War. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: chapter 1. Hale H. and Lenton A. (2024) "Do Autocrats Need a Foreign Enemy? Evidence from Fortress Russia" International Security 49(1): 9-50. Evangelista M. (2024) "A “Nuclear Umbrella” for Ukraine? Precedents and Possibilities for Postwar European Security" International Security 48(3): 7-50. Topic 7 – Natural resources, climate change, conflict and cooperation: Ross, M. L. (2015), "What Have We Learned about the Resource Curse?", Annual Review of Political Science 18: 239-259. Le Billon, P. (2019), "Diamond Wars? Conflict Diamonds and Geographies of Resource Wars", Annals of the Association of American Geographers 98(2): 345-372. Koubi, V. (2019), "Climate Change and Conflict", Annual Review of Political Science 22: 343-360. Selby, J., Dahi, O., Frohlich, C. and Hulme, M. (2017), "Climate Change and the Syrian Civil War Revisited" Political Geography 22: 343-360. Dinar, Shlomi, David Katz, Lucia De Stefano, and Brian Blankespoor. (2015), "Climate change, conflict, and cooperation: Global analysis of the effectiveness of international river treaties in addressing water variability." Political Geography 60: 232-244. Koubi, V., Spilker, G., Schaffer, L. and Bernauer, T. (2016), “Environmental Stressors of Migration: Evidence from Vietnam” World Development 79(3): 197-210. ALL READINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON MOODLE