University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 9

Semester: 2

Availability restrictions: The school will operate a ballot system.

Planned timetable: Tues 2pm-5pm

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-requisite(s): 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

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar (x 10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours: 30

Guided independent study hours: 285

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 100% coursework


Re-assessment: 100% coursework

Personnel

Module coordinator: Professor J P Sharp
Module teaching staff: Prof Jo Sharp
Module coordinator email js314@st-andrews.ac.uk

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.