1.

It is obvious, at least in this topic, that political geography has developed as largely
Eurocentric and Anglophone discipline. Our group attributes this development to two
factors: its Western-led conceptualization and intellectualization and the
Wester/European actualization of the ideas of the discipline. These two factors, at least to
us, make political geography a discipline heavily influenced by Western thinking and it is
worthy to at least give a glimpse on these two.
2. Western-led Conceptualization and Intellectualization
 The Western-led conceptualization and intellectualization of the field led to the
creation of most of its relevant concepts, ideas, and theories that are introduced
and promoted by Western thinkers.
 For instance, almost all of the geopolitical ideas and theories we try to discuss
tonight, like Friedrich Ratzel’s lebensraum or the idea of nationalist superheroes,
originated from European or Western perspectives.
 The domination of the Western approach in this discipline is largely dependent
with the writing of history. The West wrote history before like their territories,
their people, and experiences are the only relevant historical information in the
world. This kind of approach to history contributed to the creation of their
geopolitical perspectives which now dominates the conversation on the said field.
 One could easily put the blame to the Western-based structures of the academy
that studies this field which makes it difficult at time to diverge from this default
path. However, we should also consider (the close border situation of Europe, as
opposed to Asia, which prompted them to at least create manuals and theories as
to geopolitics would be approached) the effect of Western imperialism towards
the propagation and domination of these Western geopolitical ideas.
 (Going outside of Europe, we have the example of “Kautilya’ …….which
therefore proves how Europe and the West maybe the source of these theories, but
the Global South particularly in Asia is the database for geopolitics – where the
practical and real life actions occurred, sometimes making the theories a reality or
even consequently creating new theories.)
 The Western influence in our education, for example, shows that it is almost
inevitable for us to encounter their ideas and theories, except of course if there is a
 ban on the teaching of those ideas and theories which is highly unlikely in our
today’s world.
3. Western Actualization
 Knowledge is power, we know that. The Western world realized that. As the West
explored and learned the world, they have used their accumulated knowledge as a
tool to make them more powerful.
 The imperialist activities of powerful Western states, at least back then, can be
considered as their way of realizing or actualizing the ideas and theories they
propose and discuss in the discipline.
 For instance, Ratzel’s idea of “lebensraum” or “living space”, intended or not,
provides a scary justification for the horrific activities of Nazi Germany
specifically in expanding its territory and eliminating millions of Jews living in
Europe.
 Now, we are not discounting the geopolitical experiences and ideas coming from
other parts of the World. Those are also relevant especially today where
globalization is the new norm. However, because of the historic actualization or
application of geopolitical theories and ideas done by the West, the study and
discussion of political geography has become, mainly, Western-centric.
 If there come a time, probably when China and Asia remove the power of the
West, that other group of states dominates the world, maybe that will be the time
that the discipline will become free from the Western-centric geopolitical
perspective and usher in a new perspective.
4. Now, we will reiterate once more: Geopolitics is a discipline dominated by Western
knowledge and perspectives. There should be a continuing study on how to go beyond
the Western domination and put into the mainstream the knowledge and perspectives of
those not part of the Western world. But of course that is easier said than done.