Geopolitics

Grupo	Profesor	Departamento	Idioma
Year 1	Jordi Molina Alsina	Derecho	ENG
Year 1	Gabriel Garroum Plà	Esade	ENG

Contribución de la asignatura al programa

This course introduces the participants to key concepts, theories and perspectives of today's world politics and geopolitics. It aims to provide the students with a wide-ranging approach to these subjects 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.

Objetivos de aprendizaje de la asignatura

· Understanding the basic concepts, theories and views gravitating around the term ?world politics' and its evolution over time.

· Getting 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 world order

· Approach world politics and geopolitics with greater knowledge and judgement

Contenidos

1. Content The syllabus has a total of 20 sessions. Two classes per week (2 hours each) 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 (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.

1. Content

The syllabus has a total of 20 sessions.
Two classes per week (2 hours each)

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 (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.

Metodología

Methodology & key attendance considerations

· Class sessions include lectures, news analysis, fire-chats and debates.

· Students are expected to bring their views, comments and questions.

· Throughout the syllabus, articles and books will be suggested and/or uploaded to Moodle to prepare or complete key topics. Students are also expected to conduct research to enrich class contents.

· Smartphones must be switch-off in class, laptops are welcomed except in the last three sessions (teamwork presentations).

· Attitude in class must be proper at all times.

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

Skills and Abilities linked to the syllabus

· Critical thinking

· Inter-disciplinary analysis

· Holistic thinking

· Teamwork

· Presentation and writing skills

Criterios de evaluación

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/behavior 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%.

Bibliografía

Essential 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, across the syllabus, articles and more optional books will be suggested to reinforce key concepts.

Tipo:	BAS	Curso:	1	Periodo:	S semestre
Créditos ECTS:	6 ECTS

Geopolitics (2235.YR.004322.3)

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