GG3280 Geopolitics

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

The school will operate a ballot system.

Planned timetable

Tues 2pm-5pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof J P Sharp

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof Jo Sharp

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Geopolitics is the study of the ways in which geography shapes the historical unfolding of international politics. This module will introduce students to the different ways of theorising and practicing geopolitics. It will start by introducing the classical foundations of the concept before moving on to alternative formulations including discursive, feminist and materialist approaches, and those who seek to queer the international. We will draw upon different conceptual approaches to make sense of historical and contemporary political events, such as the Cold War, “War on Terror” and the COVID pandemic.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS GG2011 AND PASS GG2012 OR PASS SD2001 AND PASS SD2002 OR PASS GG2013 AND PASS GG2014 AND PASS SD2100 OR PASS SD2005 AND PASS SD2006 AND PASS SD2100

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar (x 10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

285

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Contextualise and evaluate the foundations of classical geopolitics
  • Provide an account of the persistence of classical geopolitics
  • Explain the emergence of “critical geopolitics”
  • Discuss and assess alternative formulations of geopolitics
  • Draw upon geopolitical theories to make sense of historical and contemporary political events.