Geopolitics (2225.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

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.

· 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

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 & 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

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

Group	Teacher	Department
Year 1	Jordi Molina Alsina	Derecho