esade

Geopolitics (2235.YR.004322.3)

General information

Type:

 BAS

Curs:

 1

Period:

 S semester

ECTS Credits:

 6 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group Teacher Department Language
Year 1 Jordi Molina Alsina Derecho ENG
Year 1 Gabriel Garroum Plà Esade ENG

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

This course introduces the participants to key concepts, theories and perspectives of today's global and regional geopolitics. It aims to provide the students with a wide-ranging approach to these topics and other related fields (geography, history, philosophy) in order to duly portray contemporary world politics, its background and its key drivers. The syllabus also examines the main challenges and opportunities of states and international society. It also highlights the need to further evolve global governance and the associated hurdles forward.

Course Learning Objectives

· Understanding the basic concepts, theories and views gravitating around the term 'world politics' and its evolution over time.
· Becoming familiar with the key players, agendas and grand strategies that are shaping today's global and regional affairs.
· Analyzing the key current political, economic and social trends that are impacting daily global affairs.
· Exploring the historical and philosophical roots of today's world order
· Examining world politics and geopolitics with greater knowledge and judgement

CONTENT

1. Content

The syllabus details a total of 20 sessions, with two class sessions per week (2 hours each) Class topics: 1. Introduction · Politics, Government and the State 2. Evolution of the State and the International Order (2 sessions) 3. State challenges, Global challenges and Global Governance 4. Ideologies 5. Democracy vs. Autocracy · Populism 6. The US 7. China 8. Europe 9. Russia / Central Asia 10. India 11. Japan & the Koreas 12. Introduction to The Middle East (1) 13. Introduction to The Middle East (2) 14. Saudi Arabia vs Iran: The Sunni-Shia Divide 15. LatAm 16. Africa 17. Team Presentations (Session 1) 18. Team Presentations (Session 2) 19. Team Presentations (Session 3)

2. Syllabus content

The syllabus has a total of 20 sessions. Two classes per week (2 hours each)
Some of the class content will be provided by guests professors.

Class topics:

1. Introduction · Politics, Government and the State
2. Evolution of the State and International Order (2 sessions)
3. State challenges, Global challenges and Global Governance
4. Ideologies
5. Democracy vs. Autocracy · Populism
6. The US
7. China
8. Europe
9. Russia / Central Asia
10. India
11. Japan & The Koreas
12. Introduction to The Middle East
13. Saudi Arabia vs Iran: The Sunni-Shia Divide
14. LatAm
15. Africa
16. Team Presentations (Session 1)
17. Team Presentations (Session 2)
18. Team Presentations (Session 3)

The order of classes will be subject to the availability of guest speakers. The content of some sessions and its means and methodology (classroom, online) can vary due to geopolitical/geoeconomic breaking news events during the course and/or prescription or recommendations by governmental authorities.

Teamwork presentations will complete syllabus content and further develop the participants skills and abilities.

Methodology

Methodology & key attendance considerations
· Class sessions include lectures, news analyses, fire-chats and debates.
· Students are expected to share their views, comments and questions.
· Throughout the subject, faculty will suggest and/or upload to Moodle articles and books for students to prepare or complement key topics. Students are also expected to conduct independent research to enrich class discussions.
· Smartphones must be switched off in class; laptops are welcome except during the last three sessions (team presentations).
· Students must maintain the proper attitude in class at all times.
· Team presentations will develop subject content and further develop the participants' skills and abilities.

Skills and abilities linked to this subject:
· Critical thinking
· Interdisciplinary analysis
· Holistic thinking
· Teamwork
· Presentation and writing skills

Assessment criteria

The syllabus final grade will be calculated as follows:

Written exam: 60% (at the end of the term - no mid-term exam)

Teamwork: 30% (due in November)

Participation and attitude: 10%. In normal circumstances, each student will get at the end of the term a grade of ?A', ?B' or ?C'. ?A' students will be those that make consistent and relevant contributions in class as well as positive/proactive attitude (A grade=9); ?B' students will be those that make some contributions in class as well as positive/proactive attitude (?B' grade=7,5); ?C' students will be those not participating (?C'= 6) or those which attitude/behaviour has not met the expected standards in class (i.e.

Exceptionally, if the attitude/behavior is consistently below the expected standards in an academic environment, a ?D' will imply a grade of 4 and the case will be discussed with the Academic Director to properly address the situation.

Importantly, to pass the syllabus you have to achieve at least a 5 in the written exam, the teamwork and the participation/attitude grade.

According to the Law Faculty regulation students must attend at least 80% of the session to have the right to take the written exam, in order to be able to take the retake exam attendance must be at least 50%.

Bibliography

Recommended reading:
· Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall. Simon & Schuster.

Optional reading:
· World Order by Henry Kissinger. Penguin Press.
· The World. A Brief Introduction by Richard Haas. Penguin Press.
· The Post-American World. Release 2.0. by Fareed Zakaria. W. W. Norton & Company.

Further background for specific themes:

· The globalization of world politics by J. Baylis, S. Smith and P. Owens. Oxford University Press.
· Global Politics by Andrew Heywood. Palgrave MacMillan.

Additionally, faculty will suggest other articles and more optional books to reinforce key concepts.

Timetable and sections

Group Teacher Department
Year 1 Jordi Molina Alsina Derecho
Year 1 Gabriel Garroum Plà Esade

Timetable Year 1

From 2023/9/6 to 2023/11/8:
Each Wednesday from 10:45 to 13:15. (Except: 2023/9/20 and 2023/11/1)
Each Monday from 8:00 to 10:30. (Except: 2023/9/11, 2023/9/25 and 2023/11/6)

From 2023/11/8 to 2023/11/29:
Each Wednesday from 10:45 to 13:15.
Each Monday from 8:00 to 10:30.

From 2023/12/12 to 2023/12/18:
Each Monday from 9:15 to 12:30.
Each Monday from 12:30 to 13:15.
Each Tuesday from 9:30 to 12:30.

Monday 2024/2/5 from 9:15 to 12:30.