Advanced Geopolitics (2235.YR.014061.1)

General information

Type:	OPT	Curs:	2	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	3 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 2	Jordi Molina Alsina	Derecho	ENG

This course furthers the learning of ?Geopolitics' of the first year syllabus. It dives and explores the key geopolitical theories, doctrines and associated Foreign policies that have shaped the contemporary world. This course builds up on ?Geopolitics' and mostly concentrates in the main geopolitical dynamics since the XIX century until nowadays. It pays particular attention to the European Imperial Rivalries since the 1870s, WWI (1914-18), the Interwar Period (1919-1939), WWII (1939-1945), The Cold War (1947-1991), the consequences of the 9-11 attacks of 2001, the Iraq invasion of 2003 and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

· 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.

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3. Content The syllabus has a total of 10 sessions, of 2 hours each. Key geopolitical blocks addressed : 1. European Imperial Rivalry and WWI (1871-1918) 2. Interwar Period and WWII (1919-1945) 3. The Cold War (1947-1991) 4. From 11-9 (Berlin Wall) to 9-11 (NYC Attacks) 5. US Geopolitics today 6. China Geopolitics today 7. EU Geopolitics today 8. Russia Geopolitics today 9. The War in Ukraine 10. Central Asia Geopolitics today 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.

· 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.

Suggested/optional reading and backgrounders:

· Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger. Simon & Schuster.

· The Deluge, 1916-1931. By Adam Tooze. Penguin Press.

· The Cold War. A New History. By John Lewis Gaddis. Penguin Press.

· The Post-American World. Release 2.0. by Fareed Zakaria. W. W. Norton & Company.

· A World In Disarray by Richard Haas. Penguin Press.

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

Group	Teacher	Department
Year 2	Jordi Molina Alsina	Derecho