Module Details

Module Code: MGMT8075
Title: Geopolitics around the Globe
Long Title: Geopolitics around the Globe
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 2 - 2020/21 ( January 2021 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 3450 - Business & Management
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: This module examines modern geopolitics as a method of understanding the theories and
practices of world politics today. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the geographical
template of Soviet East versus American West was replaced by an international polycentric
geopolitical system with major, regional and intermediate powers. This module looks at
some of these regions, their geography and recent history and their economic and political
interests in the world, whether in neighbouring powers or distant superpowers.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Critically discuss the development of geopolitics from the Cold-War to the post-Cold War periods and how these historical periods have influenced differently various regions of the world.
LO2 Explain the factors that have transformed Europe into a full political partner, alongside the US and other superpowers.
LO3 Critically assess how the Cold War period and its aftermath has shaped the influence Russia has had with Europe (mainly Eastern Europe) and on the other side with Asia to set its strategic supremacy.
LO4 Critically analyse the internal and external factors (geographical, historical and geopolitical) that have made China and other countries from Eastern Asia an indisputable powerful region.
LO5 Critically research the four pillars of the United States' power base (economics, military, politics and ideology) that have shaped their foreign policies with neighbouring countries, Mexico and Canada, but also with trading partners, for example China, EU and Japan.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
The Cold War and its consequence for world politics
This section examines the development of modern geopolitics by expanding on the Cold War and the post-Cold War periods. The latter is particularly relevant when dealing with geopolitics as it represents a time when countries' economies and politics increasingly seemed to depend on advantageous alliances to a world economy no longer totally dominated by the previous superpowers, namely the US and the USSR.
European geopolitics
This section centres on Europe as a geopolitical system and the factors that have enabled the region to become a full geopolitical partner along the lines of the US. Among these factors, this section centres on the region's utter desire to balance national interests with a unified economic, political and social framework; the dismembering of the Soviet Union, thus freeing Europe's military and political energy; the European corporate and financial sectors as promoters of the global market economy and the decrease of US power in world affairs.
Russia in Europe and Asia
This section delves into how Russia has evolved from a Soviet past of national self-sufficiency to a hybrid political system. It examines Russia's strategic dominance over important parts of its periphery (East and South East Europe, the Trans-Caucasus and Central Asia) and the different factors that have influenced this strategic supremacy; geographical proximity, close lines of transportation and communication, energy wealth and historical and cultural ties.
China as a world superpower
This section explores China as an indisputable power of East Asia and indeed the world. It examines the factors (external and internal) that have contributed to the emergence of China as a world superpower: its geography; its powerful military machine; the economic and business shift from the north and interior to the coastal region (the so-called "Golden Coast of China"), attracting more foreign investment and trade opportunities and the weakening of US and Russian influence in world affairs.
The US: its influence beyond national borders
This sections assesses some of the changes that the United States has gone through demographically, economically and politically to better ascertain its geostrategic outlooks and foreign policies. This section looks at these foreign policies with neighbouring countries, Mexico and Canada but also with trading partners, for example China, EU and Japan.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 50
Timing Week 9 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Project on one of the countries covered in the module.
Learners are required to critically review the historical,
geographical, economic, geopolitical and business factors
that affect this country's alliances with neighbouring countries.
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 50
Timing Week 13 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5
Assessment Description
Presentation on a geopolitical region covered in the
module (other than the region covered in the project), critically reviewing the
historical, geographical, economic, geopolitical and
business factors that affect this region's alliances with
distant superpowers and other regions dealt with in the
module.
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact No Description Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description Every Week 2.00 2
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact No Description Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 6.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 6.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Cohen, Saul Bernard. (2014), Geopolitics : The Geography of International Relations, 3rd. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, [ISBN: 9781442223493].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Dodds, Klaus J.. (2004), Global Geopolitics : A Critical Introduction, Taylor & Francis Group, [ISBN: 9780273686095].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Nguyen, Nicole. (2020), 10. On geopolitics and education: Interventions, possibilities, and future directions., Geography Compass, Vol. 14 Issue 9, p.p1-11.
Supplementary Article/Paper Resources
  • Lukyanov, Fyodor; Soloviev, Alexander.. (2019), The Curse of Geopolitics and Russian Transition., Social Research, Vol. 86 Issue 1, p.p147-.
  • Vujakovic, Peter. (2020), The map is the story: the U-shaped line in western news media coverage of the geopolitics of the South China Sea., International Journal of Cartography, Vol. 6 Issue 2, p.p179-.
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_BIBLA_8 Bachelor of Business (Honours) in International Business with Language 8 Elective