- RSS feed 
- Twitter 
Welcome to ExploringGeopolitics, the website that seeks to humanise geopolitical thought.
In this column, you find a short discussion regarding insights of the first 90 contributors, and, further down the page, introductions to the main sections.
The centre column shows the most popular contributions, the right one the most recent.
The website started in January 2009 and this month, we welcome the 90th contributor. I would like to seize this opportunity to express my gratitude to all contributors for their support and enthusiasm.
But what is the essence of geopolitics? Let's ask a couple of experts who have contributed.
Simon Dalby, for example, argues that "I don’t define geopolitics! It’s a term that refers to numerous modes of linking space and power, not a thing to be reduced to a stable definition."
Colin Flint says something similar: "So how should we define geopolitics, in the contemporary world and with the intent of offering a critical analysis? Our goals of understanding, analyzing, and being able to critique world politics require us to work with more than one definition."
Is it wrong that there is no widely accepted definition of geopolitics? No, it is not. Actually, the same holds true for all concepts that human beings have created: terrorism, nationalism, and so on.
Virginie Mamadouh's view in this regard reflects the spirit of ExploringGeopolitics well: "There is no definition that would do justice to the diversity of the approaches geopolitics covers and there is no need for a single definition. That is part of the fun."
Let me finish by recommending her contribution that clearly explains 'the many faces of geopolitics':
Virginie Mamadouh: Geopolitics in the 2000s
Looking ahead, I will continue to do my best to keep the website stimulating, enlightening and thought-provoking. So if you miss a particular topic here, please let me know, and I will see what I can do!
If you are a first-time visitor, you may wonder: what are the seven sections of the website about?
To start, the Geopolitical Concepts, Traditions and Trends section looks into geopolitical theories and concepts, and contains the annual review.
Moreover, the Geopolitical Scholars sections hosts the Geopolitical Passport series that offers specialists an opportunity to give their views on this discipline. The interviews address issues such as books and the geopolitical future.
The Geography, Politics, International Relations section with a broad range of topics such as Cartography, Nationalism and Territory.
The Energy, Water and Resource Scarcity section provides a good insight into the views of experts in the field regarding strategic resources.
Furthermore, the contributions in the Africa and Europe/The Americas, Asia and The Middle East sections focus specifically on a country or region.
Finally, the Academic Support section provides information about geopolitical Master programs, other courses and conferences. It further offers advice on research design and teaching materials.
Contributions about timely issues such as Iran, Kashmir and Western Sahara are currently much in demand. Jason Dittmer's high position is related to his contribution's presence on universities' reading lists.
William Worster: Sovereignty - two competing theories of state recognition (1)Leonhardt van Efferink: The definition of geopolitics (2)
Nathalène Reynolds: Jammu-Kashmir conflict - history, identities and resolution (7)
Federico Bordonaro: Rediscovering Spykman (4)
Jason Dittmer: Popular geopolitics, culture and representations (6)
Gérard Dussouy: International Relations, realism and liberalism (3)
Ian Klinke: Five minutes for critical geopolitics: A slightly provocative introduction (8)
Donald Abelson: Think tanks - definition, their influence and US foreign policy (9)
Jamie Scudder: Territorial integrity 1 - modern states and the international system (11)
Alex Chitty: Western Sahara - territorial dispute, self- determination and the UN (10)
Mahdi Ahouie: Iran's foreign policy objectives, security concerns and global position (14)
Timothy Boon von Ochssée: Mackinder and Spykman and the new world energy order (4)
Saul Cohen: Great powers, shatterbelts, gateways, geostrategic regions (15)
Matthew Hannah: Information Age, Collective Action, Self-Determination, Citizenship (NEW)
Marietta König: Georgia - Abkhazia, South Ossetia and conflict resolution (NEW)ICGS Geneva: Geopolitical Analysis of International Relations
Maastricht University: Country Risk Analysis
Colin Flint is Professor of Geography and Associate Head. In this interview about the second edition of "Introduction to Geopolitics", he elaborates on the book, the definition of geopolitics, geopolitical codes and more:
Colin Flint: structure-agency, identity, peace networks, geopolitical codes/visions
Bastiaan van Apeldoorn is currently Reader in International Relations at the VU University Amsterdam.
In this interview, he discusses the interaction between politics and economics, for example between US foreign policy and its economic interests:
Bastiaan van Apeldoorn: US imperialism, neoliberal globalisation, capitalism
In this skills-training you will learn how write a country risk report:
Maastricht University: Country Risk Analysis
More on "Political Geography and Critical Geopolitics Preconference 2012":
Goethe Universität Frankfurt a.M.: Political Geography-Critical Geopolitics (2012)
