This eight-week seminar (two credits) demonstrates the importance of geography to international politics, economics, national security, and strategy. It introduces students to the geographic and geopolitical factors that have shaped the field of world politics. It is required for all M.A. degree candidates.*
The course explores how geography has helped influence aspects of world history and how it is likely to do so in the future. After discussing the relationship between physical geography and strategy, the course covers physical geography, maritime geography and the geography of space. It concludes by examining geopolitics - the analytical method that stresses the importance of geography and in determining national interests and international relations.
Students should have read a strategic atlas, such as the one on the required reading list, prior to the start of class.
*Students with a proficiency in geography may test out of the course.
Required Texts
