MEB403 Energy Security and Geopolitics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2013
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Břetislav Dančák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Hedvika Koďousková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Břetislav Dančák, 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
Thu 14:00–15:40 U42
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course analyzes geopolitics as one of the first major theories of the international relations dealing with relationship between political power and geography of space. After completing the course, students will understand the methodological roots of this theory, which drew inspiration from geographic determinism and social Darwinism. They will be able to explain the definition of geopolitics since its first usage to the present. They will be able to define basic differences between representatives of classical geopolitics - between representatives of the German "Geopolitik" on one side and representatives of Anglo-Saxon "Geopolitics" on the other side, understand assumptions of neoclassical representatives and fundamentals of reconceptualization of geopolitics. Students will be able to apply acquired knowledge on particular case studies, which will be related to geopolitical aspects of uneven distribution of energy resources and energy consumption in the world. General energy security trends will be analyzed with respect to global energy consumption growth and to the areas where the largest percentage of imported energy sources come from. Geopolitical implications of developed countries and growing Asian economies dependency on energy resources located outside their territory will be explored as well as their related policies.
Syllabus
  • 1) Introduction to the course 2) Clasical geopolitics: Haushofer vs. Mackinder. 3) Clasical geopolitics: Mahan and Spykman. 4) Neoclasical geopolitics: Kennan, Kissinger, Gray, Brzezinski. 5) Reconceptualization of geopolitics: French school, critical and popular geopolitics. 6) Reeding week. 7) Reconceptualization of geopolitics: environmental geopolitics. 8) The geopolitical aspects of uneven distribution of energy resources and energy consumption in the world. 9) Case study: geopolitics of Central Europe from energy security perspective. 10) Case study: geopolitics of the USA from energy security perspective and the phenomenon of new technologies. 11) Case study: geopolitical implications of Chinese energy consumption growth. 12) Case study: geopolitical position of India from energy security perspective. 13) Case study: geopolitics of the Russian federation.
Literature
  • Energy security and global politics : the militarization of resource management. Edited by Daniel Moran - James A. Russell. New York: Routledge. vi, 252. ISBN 9780415579667. 2009. URL info
  • MARKETOS, Thrassy N. China's energy geopolitics : the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Central Asia. New York: Routledge. 167 p. ISBN 9780415586177. 2009. URL info
  • KLARE, Michael T. Rising powers, shrinking planet : the new geopolitics of energy. 1st Holt paperback ed. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 339 s. ISBN 9780805089219. 2009. info
  • Natural gas and geopolitics : from 1970 to 2040. Edited by David G. Victor - Amy Jaffe - Mark H. Hayes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. xxv, 508. ISBN 9780521082907. 2006. info
  • The new economy of oil : impacts on business, geopolitics, and society. Edited by John V. Mitchell. London: Earthscan. xiii, 286. ISBN 1853837962. 2001. info
Teaching methods
Readings serve to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge students acquire during lectures; position papers improve the ability of students to summarize particular issue and to evaluate it critically; seminar classes involve discussions and require active participation; electronic tests lead to continual preparation.
Assessment methods
Tests, final written test; composition of position papers; active participation in class.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2013, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2013/MEB403