Module GEOG3581: TERRITORY AND GEOPOLITICS

Department: Geography

GEOG3581: TERRITORY AND GEOPOLITICS

Prerequisites

• Any Level 1 or level 2 GEOG module.

Corequisites

• NONE

Excluded Combination of Modules

• NONE

Aims

• To enable students to learn about the relationship between territory and geopolitics in a variety of contexts
• To provide historical and theoretical background to the understanding of territorial issues and contemporary geopolitics
• To provide students with an understanding of contemporary disputes and agreements concerning territory, borders and geopolitics

Content

• Concepts of territory
• Ancient Greece
• Ancient Rome
• The Middle Ages
• The Renaissance
• Early Modern Europe
• Birth of the Nation-State
• Colonialism
• Borders, Frontiers and the Politics of Map-Making
• The Birth of Geopolitics
• Imperial Geopolitics
• German Geopolitics and the idea of Mitteleuropa
• Cold-War Geopolitics
• The Geopolitics of Security
• The War on Terror

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of the notion of territory and contemporary geopolitics
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of territorial issues, their representation, and their influence on politics
• Use case study material effectively in relation to learning outcomes 1 and 2

• Critically assess and debate a number of current perspectives within political geography and geopolitics

• To show an understanding of the history of the concept of territory
• To critically appraise the development of ideas of geopolitics
• To relate these to conceptual debates in Geography
• Demonstrate a range of communication skills, including planning an effective and well argued essay, and developing ideas in written work

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures will provide necessary breadth of coverage, overview and study guide required by the aims and objectives. These will be supported by additional reading lists, which will enable the student to build on information provided in the lectures
• Seminar discussions following the lectures will provide students opportunity to discuss and develop ideas covered in the lectures
• Presentations will allow students to demonstrate their knowledge with reference to particular disputes or agreements over territory and geopolitics, as well as improve key skills
• The 1.5 hour unseen examination will enable students to demonstrate their ability to critically evaluate the historical development of the notion of territory, some contemporary issues surrounding territory and geopolitics and demonstrate their knowledge of case studies
• The essay will enable the students to examine and to write about an issue of interest to them in depth

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

3 x sides A4 analysis of a contemporary geopolitical issues

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University