MGMT8065 - Geopolitics

Module Details

Module Code: MGMT8065
Title: Geopolitics
Long Title: Geopolitcs
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2024/25 ( September 2024 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 10
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 and the associated impact on global economy, food, and energy. 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 powers (US, China, EU, Russia, Japan), regional powers (Iran, Turkey, Australia) and intermediate powers (India, Brazil). The relative stability and peace experienced in the first two decades of the 21st Century has been challenged in recent times. This module looks at some of these regions, their geography, recent history, and their economic and political interests in the world. The module also explores recent developments in those regions and analyses what the future geo-political makeup of the world may look like, and what that might mean for the stability of economics, food, and energy.
 
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 and economies of the world.
LO2 Assess what the world looks like today and identify who are the new powers shaping the future of the world and the associated opportunities and threats this has on global markets, economies, currencies and food & energy stability
LO3 Explain the factors that have transformed Europe into a full political partner, alongside the US and other superpowers and assess the most recent fractures and looming threats to the union and single currency
LO4 Explore different regions including Russia, South America, Southeast Asia and the Middle-East to understand their evolution, historic challenges and influence on global geo-politics and economics.
LO5 Critically discuss the impact geopolitics has on international business and the supply of money, food, and energy
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. We discuss the US Dollar as the world reserve currency, explore differences in fiscal policy between regions, and assess what the new cold-war looks like.
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 like the US. and what the future holds for the union. This section also looks at EU expansion, centralisation of fiscal decision making and assesses the impact of more countries leaving the Union
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 Southeast Europe, the Trans-Caucasus, and Central Asia) and the varied factors that have influenced this strategic supremacy, geographical proximity, close lines of transportation and communication, energy wealth and historical and cultural ties.
South America, Mexico and its Geopolitcs
This section centres on South America as an independent geopolitical region with ties to the US, Europe and the Asian-Pacific Rim. It focuses primarily on US Historical interests, Argentina as an example of how economies and currencies can collapse, and analyse other countries in the region (i.e. Mexico and Venezuela), along with grooming of various states by outside actors.
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. It explores recent shifting attitudes towards China and developments in the onshoring by the US and Europe of critical manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure.
The Middle-East geopolitical mosaic
This section looks at the evolution of the Middle East and ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, and what this may mean for global geo-politics, stability in the region and international alliances. We will also explore what some states are doing to diversify away from overreliance on energy (oil).
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 30
Timing Week 7 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5
Assessment Description
10 Min Presentation on one of the countries covered in the module. Learners are required to critically review the historical, geographical, economic, geopolitical, and business factors that shape this country and assess the country’s future economic outlook
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 70
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5
Assessment Description
Written Report on a geopolitical region covered in the module critically reviewing the historical, geographical, economic, geopolitical, and business factors that affect this region's alliances with others including an assessment of the future economic outlook of that region.
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 Delivery of content and material underpinning learning outcomes Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Supplementary learner research, reading and study Every Week 11.00 11
Total Hours 14.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 14.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Delivery of content and material underpinning learning outcomes Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Supplementary learner research, reading and study Every Week 11.00 11
Total Hours 14.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 14.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Black, Jeremy. (2015), Geopolitics and the Quest for Dominance, Indiana University Press, [ISBN: 9780253018731].
  • Elmo Fennern. (2021), The Importance Of Geopolitics, 1. Independently Published, US, [ISBN: 9798528102030].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Klaus Dodds. (2014), Geopolitics, 2nd Ed.. Oxford University Press, USA, p.177, [ISBN: 9780199676781].
  • John Rennie Short. (2021), Geopolitics, 1. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, p.336, [ISBN: 1538135396].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Granieri, Ronald J. (2017), Rethinking Geopolitics: Rebuilding Alliances, Foreign Policy Research Institute by Elsevier Ltd, Vol. 34 Winder 2017.
  • Sparke, Matthew. (2018), Globalizing capitalism and the dialectics of geopolitics and geoeconomics., Environment & Planning A., Mar2018, Vol. 50 Issue 2, p.484.
Supplementary Article/Paper Resources
  • MÄKINEN, SIRKE. (2017), Professional Geopolitics as an Ideal: Roles of Geopolitics in Russia. ., International Studies Perspectives., Aug2017, Vol. 18 Issue 3, p.p288-.
  • Ferretti, Federico. Geographies of internationalism: Radical development and critical geopolitics from the Northeast of Brazil., Political Geography, Mar2018, Vol. 63.
  • Clark, Jessie Hanna. (2016), The "Life" of the State: Social Reproduction and Geopolitics in Turkey's Kurdish Question, Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Sep2016, Vol. 106 Issue 5.
  • Browning, Christopher S. (2018), Geostrategies, geopolitics and ontological security in the Eastern neighbourhood: The European Union and the ‘new Cold War’, Political Geography, Jan2018, Vol. 62.
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_BIBAV_8 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Business with Aviation Studies 10 Elective