Geopolitics (19CI15148)

General information

Type:	OB	Curs:	1	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	4 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Sec: A	Angel Saz Carranza	Dirección General y Estrategia	ENG
Sec: A	David Murillo Bonvehí	Ciencias Sociales	ENG

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Sec: B	Angel Saz Carranza	Dirección General y Estrategia	ENG
Sec: B	David Murillo Bonvehí	Ciencias Sociales	ENG

None

None

Lectures (it incloudes group presentations and debate): 27 hours
Preparation at home: 60 hours

We live in an age of interdependence and increasing globalization of business and markets. Currencies, goods and services criss-cross frontiers and are sensitive to international events. Cross-border mergers are becoming frequent. The revolution in technology and communications has eliminated the inconvenience of distance.

In such an environment, it is desirable for MSc participants to understand the ramifications of global events, to learn to analyze the complexities that exist in other parts of the world and to cope with them if the need arises in the future. This course will endeavor to help participants to understand prevailing trends in geopolitical arenas, to think more in a global context and to try to anticipate future developments.

Two main axes will cover this course. The first one will concentrate on constructing a solid framework for understanding international relations. At this point we will face and try to answer these questions: What is geopolitics? What is power and legitimacy and what role do they play in the field of international relations? We will then think and reflect upon the work of major geopolitical scholars: Is there anything like a grand strategy for international relations? How are identity, race and religions shaping current geopolitical events? Which are the predominant powers in today¿s world and where are they leading it? Can we establish or even predict the appearance and fall of new global leaders?

The course¿s second axis revolves around the geopolitics of global governance. Specific issues dealt with are: the institutional architecture of global governance, present and future of the EU as a relevant geopolitical actor, the ECB and the euro crisis and finally the geopolitics of energy.

The objectives of this course are to give business aspirants a solid perspective on the prevailing international situation and so to be able to:
- Present a general vision of the new arrangement of the international system and its actors from 1989 onwards
- Evaluate some of the techno-economical, sociopolitical and cultural consequences that stem from the above mentioned changes
- Introduce the main attempts to construct new paradigms to understand the driving forces in the international environment
- Identify key trends in the geopolitical arena, mainly from a European perspective
- Think strategically in the light of these developments

1. WEEK: 1-HOW TO SEE THE WORLD. WHAT IS GEOPOLITICS The cartographic illusion Geopolitics. Definitions, theories and political use A globalization framework List of Geopolitical paradigms: 1989-2001 Group Presentation: (No presentation on this day. Presentations Sign Up) Reading on political realism: Bacevich, A. (2005): "The realist persuasion". The Boston globe. November 6, 2005 (3 pages)

2. WEEK: 2-A BRIEF HISTORY OF GEOPOLITICS. FROM IMPERIALIST GEOPOLITICS TO THE COLD WAR A brief history of geopolitics The Cold War (1945-1989) Changes in the international system: Architecture, power, states and new actors (1945-2001) Group Presentation: NATO vs. Shangai Cooperation Organization: The making of a new prospect enemy Readings on global governance: -Wallerstein, I. (2004): ¿The Modern World System as a Capitalist World Economy.¿ In Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli, eds.(2008): The Globalization Reader, Third Edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing. (Chapter 6) (pp.55-61) -Syklair. L. (2002): Sociology of the global System. In Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli, eds.(2008): The Globalization Reader, Third Edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing. (Ch.7) (62-69) -Keohane, R. and Nye J.(2000): Realism and Complex Interdependence. In Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli, eds.(2008): The Globalization Reader, Third Edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing. (Chapter 8). (pp.70-78)

3. WEEK: 3-SETTING THE GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL CONTEXT: US LEADERSHIP CHALLENGED The Modelski Model of World Leadership Fukuyama and the power of ideologies Neocons and the Bush Doctrine (2001-2008) Group Presentation: From Operation Enduring Freedom to the Iran crisis. A geopolitical overview of the Middle East Readings on the history of geopolitics: -Mackinder, H. (1904). The geographical pivot of history. In O"Tuathail, G., S. Dalby and P. Routledge (eds.). 2003. The Geopolitics Reader. New York: Routledge Press. pp. 27-31. -Haushofer, K. (1942). Why Geopolitik? In O'Tuathail, G., S. Dalby and P. Routledge (eds.). 2003. The Geopolitics Reader. New York: Routledge Press. pp. 40-43. -Hitler, A. (1942): Eastern orientation or Eastern policy. In O'Tuathail, G., S. Dalby and P. Routledge (eds.). 2003. The Geopolitics Reader. New York: Routledge Press. pp.43-47 -Ohmae, K. (1995): The End of the Nation State. In Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli, eds.(2008): The Globalization Reader, Third Edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing. (pp.223-228) (6pp)

4. WEEK 4: -SETTING THE GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL CONTEXT: WAR AND CONFLICT IN THE NEW CENTURY World vs.US military deployment & Spending Cyberwars The war for rare earth Geopolitics of food and demography Group Presentation: The WEF Global Risks Report 2012. An overview of geopolitical risks Readings on ideology in US foreign policy: -Fukuyama F. (1989): The end of the history? In Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli, eds.(2008): The Globalization Reader, Third Edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing. pp. 107-115 (9 pp) -Barnett, T. (2003): The pentagons'new map. In O'Tuathail, G., S. Dalby and P. Routledge (eds.). 2003. The Geopolitics Reader. New York: Routledge Press. (pp.151-154) (5 pp) -Perle, Richard (2003): 'Thank God for the death of the UN'The Guardian. 2003 -Kristol, I. (2003): The neoconservative persuasion. The Weekly Standard. Aug 25, 2003, Vol. 8, No. 47 (4 pages)

5. WEEK: 5-GEOPOLITICS OF/AND IDENTITY. NATIONS, CULTURE AND CIVILIZATIONS Huntington and the clash of civilizations Nationalism and the clash of identities Europe, identities and nations Group Presentation: Is there a European identity? Readings on war and conflict: - mClinton, H. (2011): America¿s Pacific century. Foreign Policy. NOVEMBER 2011 Issue (10 pp) - US Department of Defense (2012): Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense (14 pp) - Bumiller E. & Shanker T.(2012): Obama Puts His Stamp on Strategy for a Leaner Military. New York Times. January 5, 2012 (3 pp)

6. WEEK: 6-THE DEFINITIVE TRIOMPH OF GEOECONOMICS? (I) THE WORLD MOVES EAST The geopolitics of emotions Geoeconomics State Capitalism Group Presentation: The new US foreign policy turns East. A map of geopolitical risks in Asia Readings on identities: -Huntington, S. (1993): The Clash of Civilizations? In Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli, eds.(2008): The Globalization Reader, Third Edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing.. pp.39-47 (9 pp) -Said, E. (2001): The Clash of ignorance. In O'Tuathail, G., S. Dalby and P. Routledge (eds.). 2003. The Geopolitics Reader. New York: Routledge Press. (pp.146-150) (5 pp) -Barber, B. (1992): Jihad vs. McWorld. In Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli, eds.(2008): The Globalization Reader, Third Edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing. pp.32-38. (8 pp) -Bin Laden, O. (2002): Letter to America. In O'Tuathail, G., S. Dalby and P. Routledge (eds.). 2003. The Geopolitics Reader. New York: Routledge Press. (pp.265-269) (5 pp)

7. WEEK 7.- THE DEFINITIVE TRIUMPH OF GEOECONOMICS? (II) THE GEOPOLITICS OF CHINA Culture, identity and inner conflicts in China Chess vs. Go game: A reading on China's foreign policy The geopolitics of China Group Presentation: China's soft power: reality or mith? Readings on geoeconomics: -Luttwak, E. (1999): Turbo-Capitalism: Winners and Losers in the Global Economy. New York: HarperCollins Pub. Ch.7. 127-151 pp (25pp) -Nye, J. (2010): The Future of American Power. Dominance and Decline in Perspective. Foreign Affairs. Novembre 2010 (12 pages)

8. WEEK: 8-EU ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE AND THE EURO CRISIS Group Presentation: The ECB and the euro Readings on Europe and the euro: - Grieco, Joseph M. and G. John Ikenberry. "State Power and the Promotion of National Interests through Economic Integration." In Grieco & Ikenberry, 2003: esp. 149-158. - Panorama of the EU [15 pages] http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/79/en.pdf - CASE: setting up the EFSF [10 pages]

9. WEEK 9- THE GLOBAL QUEST FOR ENERGY SUPPLY Group Presentation: Highlights of the World Energy Outlook 2011 Readings on energy: - Carlos Pascual. The Geopolitics of Energy: From Security to Survival Brookings Institution [16 pages] - The New Energy Order: Managing Insecurities in the Twenty-first Century. By David G. Victor and Linda Yueh. January/February 2010. Foreign Affairs. [7 pages] - Baker Institute: National Oil Companies, [19 pages]

10. WEEK: 10- EXAMINATION

Sessions will combine an introductory lecture, a group presentation and a debate on the readings.

A certain amount of reading will be compulsory for each class. All readings for the course will be available on the website of the course. Accordingly some questions (called 'threads') will appear on the website of the course to help guide the reading.

Plagiarism:
Please read and familiarize yourself with the statement on plagiarism available on ESADE¿s website. If you are still uncertain as to what constitutes plagiarism please do not hesitate to contact the professor. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and may lead to failure of the course.

ASSESSMENT BREAKDOWN

The following works will provide an introduction to the theoretical part of the course:
Agnew, J. 2003. Geopolitics: Re-Visioning World Politics. London: Routledge.
Dodds, K. 2007. Geopolitics: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Flint, C. 2006. Introduction to Geopolitics. New York: Routledge.
Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli, eds. 2008. The Globalization Reader, third edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing.
Murillo, D. (2015). From Walmart to Al Qaeda. An interdisciplinary approach to globalization. GreenLeaf
O'Tuathail, G. and S. Dalby. 1998. The Geopolitics Reader. New York: Routledge Press.
Steger, M. 2009. Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Group	Teacher	Department
Sec: A	Angel Saz Carranza	Dirección General y Estrategia
Sec: A	David Murillo Bonvehí	Ciencias Sociales

Group	Teacher	Department
Sec: B	Angel Saz Carranza	Dirección General y Estrategia
Sec: B	David Murillo Bonvehí	Ciencias Sociales