Political Geography

This course will examine the geopolitical forces impinging on global politics, while treating regions and countries of the world that are significant from a Canadian perspective. We explore the earth's physical features, natural resources, environmental conditions, climate, population characteristics, and economic forces. The course relates these to the conduct and status of political entities such as nation-states and international institutions, as well as religious, ethnic, gender, and ideological groups. We start with an historical overview of reflections on geopolitics from the discipline's beginnings in the late 19th century, through the Cold War, and up until the current post-Cold War era. From there, we turn our focus to specific issues such as America's superpower status, Canada's relations to the world, the environment, energy, and terrorism. The course ends with a study of the Middle East, Africa, southern Asia, Europe, Russia, Latin America and the Caribbean.