Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Geopolitics

Geopolitics
6
16221
3
First semester
OB
Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish,

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

None. 

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.

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

Bibliography and resources

Timothy Snyder (2019). El camino hacia la no libertad. Barcelona: Galaxia Gutenberg.
Rashid Khalidi (2021). La guerra de los cien años contra Palestina. Madrid: Capitán Swing.
Achille Mbembe (2016). Crítica de la razón negra. Barcelona: NED Ediciones.

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