Political Geography

About

This course will examine the ever-evolving relationships between space, people and power – or territory, nation and state. Over the past 350 years the territorial nation-state has become the dominant actor in world politics. The development of this role, specifically looking at the origins of the state and the concept of territorial right, will be central to the course.

Course leader

Robert Warren is an English-American political science graduate originally from Manchester, UK.

Course aim

The course will be taught over one semester, running 2 hours and 45 minutes a week for 14 classes. There will be two formal exams (mid-term and final), an in-class presentation, and one research paper to be submitted.

The course material will be transmitted in the form of in-class lectures, assigned readings, documentary film, in-class discussions and student presentations.

This course is broken into two parts. The first part of the course will take place in a lecture format, where new concepts will be introduced and readings and exercises assigned. The second part of the course is designed in a seminar format, where participants will discuss and debate the ideas and readings from the previous week.

Assessment of the course is based on participants’' contributions during the seminar and a final paper of 1500-2000 words that will be prepared as a group work at the end of the course on topics chosen by the groups.

Fee info