GEOPOLITICS AND SECURITY

Daniel F. Velez V.
Email: daniel.velez@correo.usa.edu.co
Class hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Academic Period: 2021 - II
Credits: 3
Language: English
Academic Intensity: 4 class hours and 5 hours of individual work

I. INTRODUCTION

This course seeks to make an approach to the main geopolitical and security issues
faced by Governments, taking into account the three main elements of the geopolitical
analysis: geography, politics and strategy. This course demands particular dedication to
reading classical and contemporary authors, to adapt an interdisciplinary approach to the
study of global issues, and to analyze geopolitical and security problems of our days.
Likewise, research and active participation in classes, taking into consideration
international politics, will be essential for the achievement of the course objectives.

II. OBJECTIVES

The general objective of the subject is to assimilate theoretical contents on

geopolitics and security, which allow to assume critical and propositional positions
in the face of the international political reality of our days.

Throughout the course, students will achieve the following specific objectives that
will mark the way to achieve the general objective:

• Learn and understand the fundamental concepts of geopolitics and security.

• Identify and understand the main theorical approaches of classical geopolitics
proposed by the academic schools, in a historical perspective.
• Learn analytical models used in security studies and contemporary political
order.
• Assume positions in the main contemporary debates about global challenges
and geopolitical tensions.
• Design and propose innovative solutions for global problems.
IMPORTANT: At the beginning of the course, students must commit to comply
with the provisions of the course program. However, the syllabus (as well as the
required readings) can be modified throughout the semester, as long as the teacher
informs the students in good time.

III. EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

To achieve the objectives of the course, students will seek to develop the following
competences:

• Cognitive competence: Critical thinking, learning, permanent updating, and

understanding skills in the area of study and profession.
• Procedural competence: analysis, planning, communication, use of
technologies, formulation and managing of projects, application of
knowledge, and research skills.
• Attitudinal Competence: decision-taking, teamwork and problem-solving
skills, with a socially responsible attitude and with ethical commitment.

At the end of the course, students who have met the objectives will have assumed the
following skills: assertive communication, ability to analyze and synthesize, critical
reading, ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, learning autonomy,
ability to research, study planning, and active participation.

IV. METHODOLOGY

For the student to achieve the highest level of learning, lectures are combined with
the discussion of texts, current international affairs and practical cases. For the
development of the study plan, different activities will be carried out aimed at
meeting the objectives of the course, including:

 Lectures: the teacher will present the topics, explain the theoretical concepts
and motivate the students, raising problems related to geopolitics and
security.
 Reading Assessments: there will be control of the readings requested for the
class by means of a questionnaire (open and /or closed).
 Group work: the teacher will form several working groups, which must
choose a topic to analyze security and geopolitical issues. There will be three
kinds of activities:
• An infographic: students will choose one specific topic related to
geopolitics, an make an infographic explaining it. Then, they will
present and share the infographic to the class.
 • Duration of the presentation: 3 to 6 minutes.
• Recommended software: Canva.
• A video: students will choose one specific topic related to geopolitics,
an make a video explaining it.
Duration: 3 to 6 minutes.
Recommended software: Adobe Spark.
• Policy Seminar: at the end of the semester, students will research an
international policy to respond to one security issue of their choice.
They must analyze this policy, explaining its: history, justification,
elements and impact. At the end, the group must give a policy
recommendation.
• Time to present: 15 minutes.
• Format: slides of any kind.
 Class discussions: group discussions will be held on topics discussed in class
and material delivered by the teacher.
 Reading and discussion of texts: periodically the teacher will propose the
reading of a text related to the syllabus, and each student must read it
critically and then discuss its content.
 Attendance and participation in academic events: eventually the professor
will invite the students to attend and participate in virtual academic events
related to the course, organized by the University or another public or private
institution.

V. EVALUATION

The following resources are used to evaluate the learning process:

First quarter:
 First exam: August 31 (60%).
 Group work (30%).
 Reading controls and participation (10%)

Second quarter:
 Second exam: October 12 (60%).
 Group work (30%).
 Reading controls and participation (10%)

Third quarter:
 Final exam: November 23 (60%).
 Group work (30%).
 Reading controls and participation (10%)
 VI. STUDY PLAN
# Date MODULE THEMATIC DESCRIPTION SUPPORT MATERIAL
Welcome
Course presentation Dodds, K. (2007). Geopolitics: a
July 27 Introduction to very short introduction. Oxford,
1 Introduction 1.1. Essential elements of geography
and 29 geopolitics UK: Oxford University Press, pp.
1.2. The relationship between geography and power 1-17
1.3. The concept of geopolitics
2.1. The birth of geopolitics
2.2. Geopolitics of the ancients: Persia and Macedonia Sloan, G. (2017) Geopolitics,
Geopolitics in 2.3. Geopolitics of Imperial China
August 3 geography and strategic history.
2 historical
and 5 2.4. Geopolitics of the Roman Empire Geopolitical Theory. Routledge,
perspective
2.5. Mercantilism and modern imperialism Abingdon, UK, pp.1-19
2.6. The Concert of Europe
3.1. The role of the international system
3.2. The role of domestic politics Kelly, P. (2016). Classical
Modern 3.3. German geopolitik
August 10 Classical Geopolitics: A New Analytical
3 Geopolitical
and 12 Geopolitics 3.4. The Anglo-American School Model. Stanford University
Theory
3.5. The French School Press. Pp.70-82
3.6. Critical Geopolitics
4.1. Geopolitics of WW I Documentary: Apocalypse: The
4.2. Geopolitical context of WWII Second World War At:
Geopolitics and 4.3. Technology and geopolitics in WWII https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
August 17
4 Geostrategy in h_LwdbFDuH0&list=PLQv7ILzUxt
and 19 4.4. Land power and geostrategy in WWII 5Y-G-r0zg2hVcuwg7jgHkKk
the World Wars
4.5. Naval Power and geostrategy in WWII
4.6. Air Power and geostrategy in WW II Choose one (1) of the episodes.
 5.1. The Grand Chessboard
5.2. Geopolitical Doctrines of the Cold War Hamda, Tebra (2020).
Geopolitics and 5.3. Insurgency and counterinsurgency geostrategies
August 24 Containment as Foreign Policy
5 Geostrategy in
and 26 5.4. MAD: nuclear power and geopolitics Doctrine in Two United States.
the Cold War
5.5. Cold War geopolitical tensions from 1946 to 1963 Université Paris-Est, pp. 30-60
5.6. Cold War geopolitical tensions from 1963 to 1999
Aug 31 -2 Review Session - First Exam
6.1. Geopolitics in the Post-Cold War World Order
6.2. The Copenhagen School Huntington, S. (1993). The Clash
The Geopolitics 6.2. Clash of Civilizations Theory
of Civilizations? In: The Clash at
6 Sep 7 and of the New
6.3. Western geopolitical interests and blocs 20, Foreign Affairs, 2010, pp. 3-
9 World Order
6.5. Russian geopolitical interests and blocs 27
6.6. China's geopolitical interests and blocs
7.1. Institutional Perspective of Armed Conflicts Cohen, et al (2020). Geopolitical
7.2. Political Economy of Armed Conflicts Trends and the Future of
Political
Warfare.
Contemporary instability and 7.3. Geopolitical tensions in Asia
7 Sep 14 Geopolitics geopolitical 7.4. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East
and 16 Chose at least one (1) of the
tensions 7.5. Geopolitical tensions in Africa following chapters: II, III, IV, V,
7.6. Geopolitical tensions in Latin America VI, VII
8.1. Economic geography
8.2. The Development-Security Nexus
8.3. Geopolitics of international trade Troxell, J. (2018).
Politics and
8 Sep 21 Geoeconomics. Military Review,
Geoeconomics 8.4. The resource curse
and 23 pp. 6-22
8.5. Geopolitics of natural resources
8.6. Geopolitics of renewable energy
 9.1. Contemporary geostrategic doctrines
9.2. Peacekeeping and interventionism Documentary: The future of
9.3. Military Strength in the World modern warfare: How technology
Contemporary
9 Sep 28 is transforming conflict. At:
geostrategy 9.4. New weapons of the 21st century
and 30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?
9.5. Cyberwarfare v=TmlBkW6ANsQ
9.6. Spatial geostrategy
Oct 5 and
Recess Week
7
Oct 12
Review Session - Second Exam
and 14
10.1. Massive destruction weapons
10.2. Terrorism Ferreira, S., Pérez, R., &
Traditional risks 10.3. Transnational organized crime
Rodrigues, T. (2015).
10 Oct 19 to International
10.4. Drug trafficking Globalization and International
and 21 Security
10.5. Migration crisis Security. Chapters 10 and 11.
10.6. Maritime insecurity
11.1. Cyber security
International
Non-traditional 11.2. Climate change
Security 11.3. Planetary boundaries and the Anthropocene
risks to World Economic Forum (2021).
11 Oct 26
International 11.4. Energy security The Global Risks
and 28
Security 11.5. Epidemics and pandemics Report. Pp. 5-28
11.6. Population growth
12.1. Security as freedom Paris, R. (2001). Human Security
International 12.2. Economic Security: employment, poverty and Roland Paris Paradigm Shift or
12 Nov 2 and
Human Security inequality Hot Air? International Security,
4
12.3. Food safety Vol. 26, No. 2 (, pp. 87–102
 12.4. Security and health
12.5. Personal and community safety: gender and
ethnicity
12.6. Political security
13.1. Gender and geopolitics
13.2. Spatial geopolitics: the new race
13.3. Geopolitics of Industry 4.0. Geostrategic Business Group
The future of
13 Nov 9 and (2020). 2021 Geostrategic
geopolitics 13.4. Media and geopolitics
11 Outlook.
13.5. The future of global governance
13.6. Geopolitics and Security in Postmodernity

14 Nov 16 Seminars
and 18

Nov 23
15 Review Session - Final Exam
and 25
VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Cohen, et al (2020). Geopolitical Trends and the Future of Warfare.
Cohen, S. B. (2014). Geopolitics: the geography of international relations. Rowman
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Hamda, Tebra (2020). Containment as Foreign Policy Doctrine in Two United
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Huntington, S. (1993). The Clash of Civilizations? In: The Clash at 20, Foreign
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Kaplan, R. D. (2009). The revenge of geography. Foreign Policy, 172.
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