FSS:MVZ402 Geopolitics - Course Information

MVZ402 Geopolitics: theory and case studies

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

doc. PhDr. Břetislav Dančák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Kristýna Dyková (seminar tutor)
doc. Mgr. Petr Ocelík, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
doc. Mgr. Jan Osička, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)

Guaranteed by

PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.

Timetable of Seminar Groups

MVZ402/01: Thu 10:00–11:40 exP52, B. Dančák
MVZ402/02: Thu 12:00–13:30 U34, B. Dančák
MVZ402/03: Thu 12:00–13:30 U34, B. Dančák

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• International Relations (programme FSS, N-MS)

Course objectives

At the end of the course students should be able to analyze international relations on the basis of theory of geopolitics; the students will be taught in geopolitics from its first using by R. Kjellen to the present; students should understand the main differences between individual schools of geopolitical thinking and should be able to apply methods of geopolitics.

Syllabus

• I. Introduction. Course and evaluation description.
• II. Geopolitics and political geography.
• III. German „Geopolitik“.
• IV. F. Ratzel, K. Haushofer – „Lebensraum“ and the rights for the natural political boudaries.
• V. Anglo-Saxon „Geopolitics“ - H. Mackinder nad Heartland.
• VI. A. T. Mahan – dichotomy between land and sea power.
• VII. Reading week.
• VIII. N. Spykman – Rimland. Mid-semester test.
• IX. French geopolitical thinking.
• X. Russian geopolitical thinking – A.P.Tsygankov.
• XI. Case study – SSSR.
• XII. Case study - USA.

Literature

• Geopolitical traditions : a century of geopolitical thought. Edited by Klaus Dodds - David Atkinson. London: Routledge, 2000, xvi, 392. ISBN 0415172497. info
• Krauthammer, Ch.: The unipolar moment revisited. The National Interest, Winter 2002/03
• Tsygankov, A., P.: Mastering Space in Eurasia: Russian Geopolitical Thinking after the Soviet Break-Up, Communist and Post-Communist Studies, Vol. 35, No. 1. (2003)
• Hartshorne, R.: Recent Developments in Political Geography I. American Political Science Review, Vol. 29, No. 5 (Oct. 1935)
• Schnitzer, E., W.: German Geopolitics Revived, Journal of Politics, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Aug. 1955)
• Geopolitics, geography and strategy. Edited by Colin S. Gray - Geoffrey Sloan. 1st pub. London: Frank Cass & Co., 1999, 289 s. ISBN 0-7146-8053-2. info
• No end to alliance : the United States and Western Europe : past, present, and future : Nobel Symposium 105. Edited by Geir Lundestad. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998, x, 268. ISBN 0333740807. info
• HUNTINGTON, Samuel P. The clash of civilizations and the remaking of world order. 1st ed. New York: Touchstone book, 1997, 367 s. ISBN 0-684-81164-2. info
• FUKUYAMA, Francis. The end of history and the last man. London: Penguin Books, 1992, xxiii, 418. ISBN 0-14-013455-7. info

Teaching methods

The teaching is based on lectures and seminars. Students should take active part in debates in seminars and classes, students prepare position papers on each seminar.

Assessment methods

Gradeing is based upon the continuous point evaluation throughout the course, thus it is vital the actively participate on the seminars and pass the mid-semester and the final writing test; The course grade consists of the following parts: active participations on seminars, position papers, essay, written mid-semester test and final written exam test.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught annually.

Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

• MVZn4006 Modern geopolitics: theory and case studies
  !MVZ402 && !NOW(MVZ402)  

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2011, recent)
  
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