Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Geography
Teaching staff
Introduction
Behind every armed conflict or diplomatic dispute there are conflicting interests, power struggles, and strategic balances that shape the course of the world. This course analyzes the main sources of current geopolitical tension—from open wars to technological disputes—with a special focus on the role of the European Union and the global impact of major international actors.
Through six thematic blocks, the course addresses the conflicts, actors, and interests at stake, promoting critical analysis, contrasting narratives, and the rigorous use of data and sources. The aim is to provide students with the tools to contextualize global events and apply them to journalism with perspective.
Pre-course requirements
No previous requirements
Objectives
The aim of “Geopolitics” is to provide students with critical analysis tools to understand the main international conflicts and dynamics of the present. Through case studies, the course seeks to identify actors, causes, and consequences, with special attention to the role of the European Union and tensions between global powers. The course promotes an independent and critical perspective that allows students to contextualize current international events and apply this knowledge to journalistic work.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 02 CG - The ability to learn and act an autonomously and responsibly
- 04 CG - The ability to organise time and workspace
- 08 CG - The ability to reflect and memorize.
- 10 CG - Knowledge and mastery of bibliographic repertoires
- 11 CG - Knowledge and mastery of different research resources
- 18 CE - Ability to detect newsworthy events
- 34 CE - Knowledge and mastery of issues related to the physical, human and social geography of the human being
- 42 CE - The ability to integrate the contributions of the environment
Learning outcomes of the subject
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the main current international conflicts, identifying actors, origins, causes, and consequences.
- Evaluate the role of the European Union and other global powers in shaping the international order.
- Contrast narratives and media representations of global politics.
- Apply conceptual frameworks of geopolitics to the journalistic analysis of current events.
- Develop a critical and cross-cutting perspective that allows for the contextualization of international phenomena in different areas of information.
Syllabus
Block I. American politics: myths and realities
- Myths and truths of the U.S. political system, a laboratory of global trends
- From the American dream to white hegemony: race, immigration, and inequality
- Polarization and identity politics: from domestic to international
- USA and wars: from Iraq and Afghanistan to Ukraine and Gaza
Block II. Ukraine, Russia, and the new European East
- Origins of the conflict in Ukraine: from the USSR to Crimea
- Russia’s foreign strategy and the response of the USA, the EU, and NATO
- Global impacts: energy, food security, cybersecurity, and disinformation
- New Cold War or restructuring of the blocs?
Block III. Gaza and the Middle East
- Origins of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and legitimacy frameworks
- Geostrategic role of Israel and its relationship with the USA and the EU
- Regional repercussions: Iran, Egypt, and Gulf countries
- Media representations and narrative construction
Block IV. Asia and multipolar competition
- China and strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific: defense, technology, and alliances
- India as an emerging power: regional interests and global ambitions
- Turkey between East and West: strategic ambiguity and regional projection
- Technological geopolitics: from mobile phones to cars, up to microchips
Block V. Latin America and global power
- Colonial legacy: vanished cultures and structural inequality in international relations
- Presence of China, the USA, and the EU in Latin America: cooperation, trade, and influence
- Migration dynamics and border control as a pillar of foreign policy
- Media representations and disputes over the global South narrative
Block VI. Africa on the international agenda
- Africa, the perfect map: delineation and fragmentation of a continent
- The African strategic board: security, natural resources, and new alliances
- Own initiatives: regional integration, Pan-Africanism, and continental diplomacy
- Influence contest: China, Russia, the USA, Europe, and new actors on the continent
Teaching and learning activities
In person
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | ECTS CREDITS |
| Lectures. In lectures, lecturers/professors not only transmit content or knowledge, but also, and above all else, attitudes, motivation, skills and values, etc. They also ensure that participants can express their opinions and arguments to the other students. | 1,8 |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
FIRST CALL
-
40 % exam
- 40 % project (20 % written part + 20 oral presentation)
- 10 % tests on current news
- 10 % class participation
FOLLOWING CALLS
- Exam 80 %
- Project and presentation 20 %
GENERAL QUESTIONS
- It is necessary to attend 80% of the classes in order to be able to sit the first exam.
- The Faculty's regulations regarding spelling and plagiarism will be strictly observed.
- 1 point less per spelling mistake (paper)
- 0.5 per spelling mistake (exam)
Bibliography and resources
- Timothy Snyder (2018). The Road to Unfreedom. New York: Tim Duggan Books.
- Rashid Khalidi (2020). The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine. New York: Metropolitan Books.
- Fareed Zakaria (2008). The Post-American World. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
- Achille Mbembe (2017). Critique of Black Reason. Durham: Duke University Press.
- Jorge Castañeda (2010). América Latina y el mundo: De la economía política al consenso de Washington. México: Random House Mondadori.