CRITICAL GEOPOLITICS

Тип: Нормативний

Кафедра: європейських та регіональних студій

Навчальний план

СеместрКредитиЗвітність
10Іспит

Лекції

СеместрК-сть годинЛекторГрупа(и)
1016доцент Зінько І. З.МВЄ-51

Практичні

СеместрК-сть годинГрупаВикладач(і)
1016МВЄ-51

Опис курсу

The aim of the course is to deepen the knowledge of the students, future masters of international relations, on a system of foreign-policy relations within the Black Baltic Sea region, the main vectors of foreign policy of the states of the region, the key factors influencing the formation and implementation of their foreign policy priorities. The course focuses on the main trends and peculiarities of international cooperation among the countries within the region, and with the third countries as well. The place and the role of major international actors in the system of interstate relations in the region are highlighted. An important aim of the course is to deepen knowledge about the regional system of international security, the latest trends and principles determining security situation in the Black Baltic Sea Region, the conceptual and institutional framework for ensuring regional security.

Learning outcomes (in English

  • To deepen the knowledge of the nature and trends in the foreign and security policy in the Black Baltic Sea Region;
  • To develop the knowledge of the foreign policy priorities of the Black Baltic Sea Region states, their foreign policy strategies;
  • To understand the security system of the Black Baltic Sea Region, its development in dynamics; to develop the knowledge of the mechanisms and rules which determine functioning of this system;
  • understand the modern security challenges and threats in the Region; their sources and possible ways of solving;
  • To develop ability to identify political, security, diplomatic risks for stable development of the Black Baltic Sea Region;
  • To analyze possible scenarios for development of foreign policy and security of the Region;
  • To develop knowledge on the expansion of the security and foreign policy agenda in the Region, the importance of ecological, energy and information dimensions of security and foreign policy;
  • To deepen the knowledge and understanding of the major international actors’ influence upon the security and foreign policy in the Black Baltic Sea Region;

The course “Critical Geopolitics” provides an opportunity to newly rethink and consider the area of the Baltic-Black Sea region through the prism of ideology, national stereotypes and political culture, as well as taking into account the current inter-ethnic and inter-denominational relations and cultural interaction of countries and peoples. In addition, some of the established positions of traditional geopolitics about the mutual position of states, borders, natural resources, energy potential are taken into account, considering modern scientific and technological progress and new forms of communication. Special attention is paid to the geopolitical aspects of environmental protection, the participation of NGOs, gender issues, etc.

General structure of the course

The course consists of 32 hours of class work: 8 lectures (16 hours) and 8 seminars (16 hours).

Lectures:

  1. Critical geopolitics as an instrument of contemporary understanding of international relations. Regional dimension of critical geopolitics.
  2. The role of international organizations in the development and implementation of critical geopolitical tools in the Baltic region.
  3. Globalization as a megatrend of world development and its peculiarities in the Baltic region.

4. Natural-resource and ecological cut of critical

geopolitics in the Baltic and Nordic regions.

  1. National pattern of the country, its peoples, neighboring countries, and the Baltic region.
  2. Ideology and geopolitical culture in the countries of the Baltic region.
  3. Ethnicity and religion in geopolitical processes in the Baltic region.
  4. Non-state factors shaping the geopolitical situation in the Baltic region.

Seminars:

  1. Nordicity: New Opportunities and New Restrictions.
  2. The EU’s Northern Dimension Policy as a prototype of the use of critical geopolitics.
  3. Migration peculiarities in the Baltic region.
  4. The phenomenon, challenges, threats and restrictions of energy geopolitics in the Baltic region.

5. National geopolitical traditions and stereotypes (Part 1)

  1. National geopolitical traditions and stereotypes (Part 2)

7. National minorities as a factor of geopolitical processes in the Baltic region.8. The role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in geopolitical processes in the Baltic region.

Prerequsites, courses needed to be passed before attending the course

Politics of the Historical Memory, Foreign and Security Policy in the Baltic-Black Sea Region, Regional Studies, Regionalism in the BBSR.

Prerequsites, courses suggested to be passed before attending the course

Political Map of the World, The EU in International Relations, the EU in the Baltic- Black Sea Region.

Student’s required skills and competences

the ability to analyse social and political development in the Black and Baltic Sea region;

–           the ability to understand historical, political, legal and cultural developments of the chosen specialization in Baltic and Black Sea regional studies and the issues discussed in the scientific debate in and about the region;

–           the ability to find solutions to future dilemmas in the region, solve problems and evaluate potential consequences of the choices;

–           the ability to recognise how developments across a range of disciplines shape the distinctive character of Baltic and Black Sea region;

–           the ability to integrate theoretical, empirical and methodological knowledge acquired during the course;

–           the ability to apply critical thinking and skills of normative evaluation of the core problematic issues of BBRS within the framework of the transdisciplinary curriculum.

  • The learning process involves active and cooperative participation of the students.
  • Lectures highlight the fundamental principles determining foreign policy of the Black Baltic Sea Region states as well as security system of the region.
  • Systemic understanding of the Black Baltic Sea Region is to be developed during the seminar sessions.
  • There are discussions on the topics related to the foreign policy and security priorities of the Black Baltic Sea Region states.
  • Students are supposed to work individually and in groups to provide research projects and presentations on foreign and security policy of the Black Baltic Sea Region states, their cooperation and controversies in their policies.
  • Written essays are foreseen as well as oral presentations with developed argumentation of personal student’s position on acute international problems concerning the Black Baltic Sea Region.

 

Рекомендована література

  1. Gundar J. King, David E. McNabb Baltic States: Transforming Governance, Social Welfare, and Security in Northern Europe Routledge, 2014.
  2. Andrey Makarychev, Alexandra Yatsyk. Borders in the Baltic Sea Region: Suturing the Ruptures. Springer, 2016 – 271 р..

Ijabs, Ivars.  The Baltic Sea region: hard and soft security reconsidered. Journal of Baltic Studies,

  1. . 49. 1-3.
  2. Agnia Grigas. The Politics of Energy and Memory between the Baltic States and Russia. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2013. – 220 р.
  3. Johan Strang. Nordic Cooperation: A European region in transition. Routledge, 2016. – 210 р.
  4. Yiftachel O. Nation-building and the Division of Space: Ashkenazi Domination in the Israeli «Ethnocracy» // Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. – 1998. – Vol. 4. No. 3. – P. 33-58.
  5. Jarkko Saarinen & Alix Varnajot. The Arctic in tourism: complementing and contesting perspectives on tourism in the Arctic. Polar Geography. Volume 42, 2019. Issue 1. P. 109-124.
  6. Kristine Kern. Governance For Sustainable Development in the Baltic Sea Region. Journal of Baltic Studies .Volume 42, 2011, P. 21-35.

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