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Geopolitical Traditions

Section Overview

All Pages in this Section

Interviews

Publications

External Links

Introduction and recent updates

Introduction

The section "Geopolitical Traditions" looks into the views of contemporary geopolitical scholars. Moreover, theories and concepts from leading figures from the past are also discussed.

This section answers questions such as:

  • What definitions of geopolitics do exist?
  • How do geopolitical scholars think about their discipline?
  • What are the main features of Spykman's work? And of Russian geopolitical thought?

Like in other sections, you also find pages with external links to useful publications and websites.

Geopolitical Passport Mark Bassin

February 2010

picture Mark Bassin

Mark Bassin is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Birmingham. His research interests include geographies of nationhood and national identity and geopolitics and the role of space and territory in contemporary political ideologies.

Mark Bassin's Geopolitical Passport

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"The end of the Cold War saw a great efflorescence of interest in geopolitics, and I believe this will grow greater in coming decades. This interest is directly linked to the break-up of the static bi-polar arrangement of global politics and the re-emergence of Great Powers and the multi-lateral disputes between them. This new global scene will insure the relevance of a geopolitical perspective well into the future."

Geopolitical Passport Frédéric Lasserre

February 2010

picture Frédéric Lasserre

Professor Frédéric Lasserre obtained his PhD in Geography at the University of Saint Etienne and works at the Department of Geography of Laval University in Quebec. He is specialised in geopolitical thought, water and the Arctic:

Frédéric Lasserre's Geopolitical Passport

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"I think that, contrary to several political scientists, space and territory are not going to lose importance, quite the contrary. Border issues remain strategic; chokepoints in transportation retain their relevance. However, the world is increasingly multipolar: more countries will be competing and cooperating to have access to markets, resources and security. This can be done in a competition mode, but this is not necessary, for there is room for cooperation."

Geopolitical Passport Stéphane Rosière

February 2010

picture Stéphane Rosière

Stéphane Rosière holds a PhD in Geography and is Professor at Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne. Moreover, he is member of the Steering Committee of the Commission on Political Geography of the IGU/UGI and editor-in-chief of the online journal L'Espace Politique:

Stéphane Rosière's Geopolitical Passport

Stéphane Rosière

"After all, we geopoliticians must not forget that we were the tools of imperialism (Haushofer, Spykman and so on). We have a debt vis-à-vis mankind, in this perspective we have to deconstruct the domination discourses and spatial logics to allow emancipation and spatial justice."

Geopolitical Passport of Joe Painter

January 2010

picture Joe Painter

Professor Joe Painter (Durham University) obtained a BA at University of Cambridge and a PhD at The Open University. His research interests include geographies of the state and citizenship and urban politics and governance. In this interview, professor Painter discusses among other topics North-South and East-West relations, socio-technical networks and political anthropology.

Joe Painter's Geopolitical Passport

Book cover Joe Painter

"We also have to attend to the differences between geopolitics as an academic endeavour (the study of geopolitics) and geopolitics as a political activity (the practice of geopolitics) as well as to the continuous interaction between the two. Geopolitics is concerned with the difference space makes to politics."

Recommended contributions

Saul Cohen's Geopolitical Passport

November 2009

picture Saul Cohen

Professor Saul Cohen is University Professor Emeritus at Hunter College and the City University of New York. He obtained his PhD at Harvard University and is specialised in geopolitical theory and political geography. He has written extensively about political and economic geography, Israel and Middle East geography:

Saul Cohen's Geopolitical Passport

Geopolitics: the Geography of International Relations

"The 21st will be the Global Century, not the American or Chinese. The complexity of the system requires the leadership of all the major and regional powers to keep the world in balance. As first among equals of the Great States, the U.S., in partnership with the E.U. will be challenged to apply its military and economic power to international affairs with wisdom and consistency, while mindful of the limitations, as well as the responsibilities inherent in the exercise of power."

Geopolitics in the 2000s

September 2009

Virginie Mamadouh

Virginie Mamadouh (Associate Professor at University of Amsterdam) takes a fresh look at her 1998 article "Geopolitics in the nineties: one flag, many meanings." She further writes about the research agenda of contemporary geopolitics:

Geopolitics in the 2000s - Virginie Mamadouh

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"Despite, or rather thanks to, its diversity, geopolitics has remained a powerful tool to study territorial conflicts and other spatial politics, more in particular international relations and global governance."

On the merits of Spykman's work

May 2009

picture Bordonaro

Dr Federico Bordonaro of the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (Italy) discusses the theoretical and analytical work of Nicholas Spykman:

Rediscovering Spykman - Federico Bordonaro

"Spykman’s in-depth analysis of geography’s political-strategic significance constitutes an excellent introduction to the methodology of geopolitics."

The ideas of Harold&Margaret Sprout

May 2009

photo Criekemans

David Criekemans (University of Antwerp) publishes a paper about the work of Harold and Margaret Sprout. This couple analysed the relationship between ‘territoriality’ and foreign/international politics:

Where ‘geopolitics’ and ‘foreign policy analysis’ once met: the work of Harold and Margaret Sprout and its continued relevance today - David Criekemans

"What are the consequences of the distinction between the ‘operational’ and the ‘psychological’ milieu for the study of foreign policy?"

Critical-Classical Geopolitics

January 2009

Ian Klinke

What role do space, identity, vision and state play in geopolitical concepts? Ian Klinke (University College London) explains the difference between critical and classical geopolitics:

Five minutes for critical geopolitics: A slightly provocative introduction - Ian Klinke

"Although not exactly hip and trendy, geopolitics is very much on the agenda these days. Often sloppily defined, geopolitics tends to be employed as a tag that lends authority to politicians, journalists and academics."

The many definitions of geopolitics

January 2009

picture of editor

Wondering what geopolitics is about? The editor interprets ten definitions of geopolitics from respected sources, looking for similarities and differences:

The definition of geopolitics - Leonhardt van Efferink

"Since the coining of the concept of geopolitics by the end of the nineteenth century, power (influence, politics) and space (territory, soil) have played a crucial role in the definitions of geopolitics."