We are living through what many claim is a rebirth of Geopolitics. Indeed, it would seem that, as a discipline, Geopolitics has come back in full swing, not because of the deterministic elements that the forefathers of the field held as paramount, but precisely because of its holistic and macro approach to understanding developments across the world. Today to speak of Geopolitics is much more than simple considerations of access to navigable rivers, warm water ports, or even ideas of World Island Domination. Today to speak of Geopolitics is to understand the complex fabric of dynamics in a wide array of fields from Finance and Economics to History and Geography, but also of Philosophy, Technology, and even Religion.

Since time immemorial, humanity has had to deal with the harsh realities of conflict and war, of opposing interests and competing ideas. In a world dominated by competition and conflict, how do states behave towards one another? What influences their behavior?

In this course, students will gain an understanding of major themes in the field of international relations, with a focus on geopolitical analysis. The student will gain the capacity for both historical analysis and conceptual thinking.

Professionals today face a challenge as a result of precisely one of the reasons that has made the 21st century the epitome of economic and social wellbeing, overspecialization. While the modern specialist professional allowed for a significant increase in efficiency, this also prompted a certain loss of strategic macro vision across the board. Today, more than ever, professionals must be capable of taking a macro perspective if they are ever to participate in strategic decision-making processes.

Ultimately, this course will allow the student to formulate a sound analysis of the reasons and causes of major global events which will, in turn, shed light on the complexities and characteristics of the modern international arena.

International History and International Relations are inexorably linked to the study of Geopolitics. This survey course will cover major themes and topics such as the relation between war and peace, to the major developments in International History, giving the student a profound understanding of the methods employed in empirical research and conceptual thinking.

This course aims to provide the student with a solid theoretical and practical understanding of Geopolitics to make sense of current developments in international politics. During this semester we will take a helicopter view of world affairs to be able to understand the different variables and dynamics that shape our geopolitical landscape. With a holistic approach to the study of international relations, we will see how History, Economics, Finance, Geography, Culture, and Religion all come to play a part in shaping developments in the international arena.