MVZ402 Geopolitics: theory and case studies

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Břetislav Dančák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Žaneta Vencourová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Břetislav Dančák, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 9:45–10:30 U42
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
MVZ402/01: Thu 10:30–11:15 U42
MVZ402/02: Thu 17:00–17:45 U43, Ž. Vencourová
MVZ402/03: Thu 17:45–18:30 U43, Ž. Vencourová
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
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. Classical Geopolitics: Haushofer vs. Mackinder
  • III. Classical Geopolitics: Mahan and Spykman
  • IV. Neoclassical Geopolitics: Kennan, Kissinger, Brzezinski, Gray
  • V. Reformulation of Geopolitics: Critical and Popular Geopolitics
  • VI. Reformulation of Geopolitics: Metageography
  • VII. Reading week.
  • VIII. Case Study: Theory of Hegemonic Stability Application
  • IX. Case Study: Geopolitical Position of the U. S. in the Contemporary World
  • X. Case Study: Geopolitics of the E. U.
  • XI. Case study: Geopolitics of Russia
  • XII. Case study: Geopolitics of China
  • XIII. Case study: Geopolitics of Turkey
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, written mid-term tests 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
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2017, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2017/MVZ402