IRE201 Arctic Geopolitics

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Barbora Halašková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 13:30–15:00 U43
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have a good command of English – a minimum of B2 level (CEFR) or equivalent – in order to follow the course. Students should be able to understand oral presentations as well as the main ideas of academic texts on different topics. Students are encouraged to engage in class discussions. Additionally, students will actively participate in the simulation game. At the end of the semester students will be asked to produce a clear, detailed text (essay-position paper) on an assigned topic.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course provides students with the opportunity to obtained a sound knowledge about the geopolitics, state of, and importance of the Arctic region.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  • recognize the concept of ‘geopolitics’ within the International Relations Theory and its relevance for assessing the politics of the Arctic
  • identify some of the most important dynamics which shape this region and potential factors for conflicts in the Arctic
  • explain the importance of the Arctic region to various stakeholders and their strategies toward the region
  • discuss the environmental changes that are taking place in the Arctic and challenges/opportunities which the climate change presents
    • Syllabus
    • 1. Introduction to the course / defining the Arctic
    • 2. Geopolitics and its relation to theories of international relations
    • 3. Historical perspectives to the North
    • 4. The effects of climate change in the Arctic – challenges and opportunities
    • 5. Interests and strategies of the Arctic states I. – the U.S. and Canada
    • 6. Interests and strategies of the Arctic states II. – the Russian Federation
    • 7. Interests and strategies of the Arctic states III. – Denmark and Norway
    • 8. Interests and strategies of the Arctic states IV. – Finland, Sweden and Iceland
    • 9. Arctic Outsiders – China’s Arctic Strategy and the EU’s Arctic Strategy
    • 10. The Arctic security landscape – challenges old and new
    • 11. The legal-political conflicts in the Arctic – boundaries and territorial claims
    • 12. Arctic Council / regional governance structures and regional cooperation / NGOs and Indigenous peoples
    • 13. Arctic simulation game (Model Arctic Council)
    Literature
      required literature
    • LE MIÈRE, Christian and Jeffrey MAZO. Arctic opening : insecurity and opportunity. Abingdon: International institute for strategic studies, 2013, 179 stran. ISBN 9781138776692. info
    • BYERS, Michael and James BAKER. International law and the Arctic. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2013, xviii, 314. ISBN 9781107470903. info
    • HOUGH, Peter. International politics of the Arctic : coming in from the cold. First published. London: Routledge, 2013, xvi, 154. ISBN 9780415669283. info
    • Arctic security in an age of climate change. Edited by James Kraska. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011, xxvii, 312. ISBN 9781107006607. info
    Teaching methods
    Class sessions will include lectures by the course lecturer, academic discussions, guest lectures (Arctic Window – short video conference calls with experts from different Arctic states), written assignment (essay-position paper) and group work (Arctic simulation game). Students are expected to actively participate in the lectures: do the required readings for each class; come with notes and questions for the lecturer and other students; actively engage at class activities; actively and responsibly participate in the Arctic simulation game. The simulation game serves to improve the ability of students to work with and present data on a given topic and to improve presentation and negotiation skills.
    Assessment methods
    COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
    To complete the course and be eligible for a passing grade, the student is required to complete all of the assigned work. The student must:
  • Be present and actively participate at all lectures (min. 80%)
  • Submit an essay-position paper (length 3000-3500 words).
  • Prepare for and actively participate in the Arctic simulation game
  • Pass a written exam. The final exam is composed of lectures and required reading.
    GRADING:
  • 20% active participation in class activities, discussions of the readings (max. 20 points)
  • 20% essay-position paper (max. 20 points)
  • 20% active participation in simulation game (max. 20 points)
  • 40% final exam (max. 40 points). A minimum of 60 points is required to pass the course.
    • Language of instruction
    English
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Study Materials
    The course is taught annually.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
    • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2017, recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2017/IRE201