Geopolitical Tuesdays II 2100-MON-GEW2
The seminar is conducted in English. Part of the classes (about 4-6 meetings) will be held with the participation of researchers from French universities (guests).
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with selected issues of geopolitics in Europe and in the world, to show different research approaches explaining the essence of these processes and phenomena and to discuss their impact on events in Europe and the world. Invited lecturers from French universities will participate in the classes.
The seminar is part of a network of debates taking place, among others, at Columbia University, EHESS, ESSEC, LUISS, SciencesPo Paris, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Paris IV Sorbonne, Universidade Lisboa and Universitatea din Bucureşti. These debates enable students to contact prominent researchers from France. Some course topics will be inspired by articles on geopolitical news from the online magazine "Le Grand continent".
"Geopolitical Tuesdays" is a proposal to build intellectual, political and scientific debate on a continental scale.
The first seminar will have an introductory and organizational character. The presentation of the project will be followed by a lecture by an invited guest. Then six more meetings will take place.
The seminar is designed to:
1. Present the knowledge needed to pass the course.
2. Familiarize the student with basic information on:
- geopolitics issues discussed,
- French approach to geopolitics.
The following range of topics will be implemented under the subject:
1. Security and Defense Policy in Europe
2. Central Europe - challenges for democracy
3. Indo-Pacific zone
4. Covid-19 pandemic
5. Geopolitics of the Baltic Sea Region
6. Industry and defense policy in Europe
Seminar = 15 hours
Individual preparation for classes (literature in English) = 40 hours.
Preparation for conducting one class by students (in English) = 20 hours.
Preparation for writing an essay (in English) = 60 hours.
Total = approximately 120 hours of student work.
Dates of meetings:
1. 23.02.2021 Amb. Tomasz Orłowski: „Challenges connected to the concept of European defense from the Polish position. Understanding and misunderstandings”
2. 09.03.2021 dr Amelie Zima (Université catholique de Lille), prof. Andrzej Szeptycki (WNPiSM UW): „From enemy to ally. The accession of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic to NATO”
3. 23.03.2021 Maciej Bukowski (UJ): „Climate change as a pressuring factor for the international security system”
4. 20.04.2021 prof. Frederic Grare (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), prof. Isabelle Saint-Mezard (French Institute of Geopolitics, University of Paris VIII), Delphine Allès (Inalco): „France, the Other Indo-Pacific Power”
5. 11.05.2021 Amb. Adam Kułach: „Djibouti - a tiny playground and a crossroad of multiple global and regional interests”
6. 25.05.2021 Roman Krakovsky (Université de Genève): „Right-wing parties in Central Europe: between success and failure in ere of Covid-19 pandemic” (to be confirmed)
7. 08.06.2021 Paola Mattei (4EU+, Milan University): „The challenges of democracy for central Europe in the face of the pandemic"
Type of course
Learning outcomes
After completing the seminar, the student will obtain:
Knowledge that allows:
1. complete the understanding of selected geopolitics concepts.
2. learn selected approaches to geopolitical research.
Skills allowing:
1. explain selected geopolitical problems.
Attitudes allowing for:
1. Recognizing the advantages of analyzing actuality in the modern world based on academic knowledge and a broader intellectual view based on in-depth reflection.
Assessment criteria
Attendance (permitted absence from 1 classes per semester), active participation in the discussion, essay in English at the end of the semester referring to one of the subjects of the seminars (6 pages). The essay will be assessed by one of coordinators.
Students are expected to read designated materials in English prior to the start of each class and be ready to submit comments and / or questions in discussions.
Active participation in discussions during classes or in a discussion forum on the UW Come platform.
Essay: the deadline for submitting the essay is 25th of May 2021. The essay should contain 6 pages in English, the structure of a scientific work, ie contain thesis, research questions, references to theory or empirical data. The lecturers will assess the correctness of the argument and the narrative style. The work should contain footnotes and a scientific bibliography. The essay should be related to the topic of the meetings. The work will be checked as part of the university's anti-plagiarism program. The work should be sent by e-mail to one of the course coordinators.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: