Geopolitics (IR312) Course Detail

Course Name Course Code Season Lecture Hours Application Hours Lab Hours Credit ECTS
Geopolitics IR312 Area Elective 3 0 0 3 4
Pre-requisite Course(s)
N/A
Course Language English
Course Type Elective Courses
Course Level Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery Face To Face
Learning and Teaching Strategies Lecture, Discussion.
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
  • Asst. Prof. Dr. Özgün Tursun
Course Assistants
Course Objectives Together with the end of the Cold War, we have been witnessing a renewed interest in geopolitics. In the first half of this course, we are going to critically examine the classical works of Kjellen, Ratzel, Mackinder, Mahan, Haushofer and Bowman. In the second half, we are going to study the itinerary of geopolitics in the post-Second-War era emphasizing the developments after the Cold War. Finally, we will attempt at applying this knowledge to Turkey and her neighbors.
Course Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • To acquire fundamental conceptual and theoretical background in geopolitics.
  • To become familiarized with the political geography.
  • To develop key skills in: studying, understanding and discussing conceptual and theoretical issues; applying concepts and theories in the analysis of foreign policy; writing and presenting analyses on specific matters; and participating in group discussions.
Course Content The classical works of Kjellen, Ratzel, Mackinder, Mahan, Haushofer and Bowman; the itinerary of geopolitics in the post-Second-War era; the developments after the Cold War; Turkey and her neighbors.

Weekly Subjects and Releated Preparation Studies

Week Subjects Preparation
1 Introduction to the Course None
2 How Political Geography is made Agnew (2002), Chapter 2
3 The Historic Canon Agnew (2002), Chapter 3
4 Revival Agnew (2002), Chapter 4
5 Terms in their times: Political geography and geopolitics Parker (1998), Chapter 1 and 2
6 War and the fall of Geopolitik Parker (1998), Chapter 3 and 4
7 Micro, meso and macro: Scales of political analysis Parker (1998), Chapter 6 and 7
8 Midterm Exam None
9 Great spheres: The multipolar world Parker (1998), Chapter 8 and 9
10 Geopolitical order Agnew&Corbridge (1995), Chapter 2
11 Geopolitical Discourse Agnew&Corbridge (1995), Chapter 3
12 The Territorial Trap Agnew&Corbridge (1995), Chapter 4
13 Geopolitics in a Changing World Agnew&Corbridge (1995), Chapter 4
14 Stabilizing Borders: The Geopolitics of National Indentity Construction in Turkey Kim Rygiel, “Stabilizing Borders: The Geopolitics of National Indentity Construction in Turkey,” in Rethinking Geopolitics, eds. Gearoid O Tuathail and Simon Dalby.
15 Eurasianism and Geopolitics in Russia Lasha Tchantouridze, “After Marxism-Leninism: Eurasianism and Geopolitics in Russia”, in Geopolitics: Global Problems and Regional Concerns, ed. L. Tchantouridze, 167-90.
16 Final Exam None

Sources

Course Book 1. Geoffrey Parker, Geopolitics, Past, Present and Future, (London: Pinter), 1998.
2. John Agnew, Making Political Geography, (London: Arnold), 2002.
3. John Agnew and Stuart Corbridge, Mastering Space: Hegemony, Territory and International Political Economy, (London: Routledge), 1995.

Evaluation System

Requirements Number Percentage of Grade
Attendance/Participation 1 10
Laboratory - -
Application - -
Field Work - -
Special Course Internship - -
Quizzes/Studio Critics - -
Homework Assignments - -
Presentation - -
Project - -
Report - -
Seminar - -
Midterms Exams/Midterms Jury 1 40
Final Exam/Final Jury 1 50
Toplam 3 100
Percentage of Semester Work
Percentage of Final Work 100
Total 100

Course Category

Core Courses X
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

The Relation Between Course Learning Competencies and Program Qualifications

# Program Qualifications / Competencies Level of Contribution
1 2 3 4 5
1 Acquiring the skills of understanding, explaining, and using the fundamental concepts, theory and methodology of international relations X
2 Having an interdisciplinary perspective that combines other related disciplines X
3 Having adequate knowledge about the history of international relations and being able to examine international actors, events and historical processes X
4 Acquiring the ability of analytical thinking, critical analysis and developing rational argument X
5 Acquiring the ability to make analytical interpretations about the contemporary global issues; the current and future positions of regional and international actors X
6 Being able to use professional English to transfer her/his knowledge about the international relations using verbal, written and visual communication methods effectively X
7 Understanding the importance of several topics such as professional ethics, sustainability, environmental awareness, social responsibility, cultural, social and universal values; being able to manifest and analyze the legal results of these issues X
8 Being able to analyze the issues by using the qualitative and quantitative research techniques of international relations X

ECTS/Workload Table

Activities Number Duration (Hours) Total Workload
Course Hours (Including Exam Week: 16 x Total Hours) 16 3 48
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 2 16 32
Presentation/Seminar Prepration
Project
Report
Homework Assignments
Quizzes/Studio Critics
Prepration of Midterm Exams/Midterm Jury 1 5 5
Prepration of Final Exams/Final Jury 1 15 15
Total Workload 100