Checking date: 10/07/2020


Course: 2020/2021

Geopolitics of the Americas
(17783)
Geopolitics and Strategic Studies (Plan: 387 - Estudio: 346)
EPC


Coordinating teacher: HIDALGO TRENADO, MANUEL

Department assigned to the subject: Social Sciences Department

Type: Electives
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Requirements (Subjects that are assumed to be known)
Introduction to Global Geopolitics; Methods and techniques of geopolitical and strategic analysis.
Objectives
In addition to the general competences, common to other subjects of the Master's Program, this course aims in particular to provide students with the ability to understand and analyze the most important geopolitical and geostrategic elements and themes of the Americas. The most relevant specific learning outcomes of the subject include: - The ability to interrelate and synoptically understand the different elements and geopolitical and geostrategic phenomena specific to the entire American continent. - An understanding of the main political, social, demographic, economic, and cultural trends that are transforming the Americas. - The ability to apply theories and methodologies of regional analysis of a general or systematic nature to the understanding of the spaces and dynamics under study. - The ability to situate and relate the geopolitical and geostrategic dynamics of the Americas with the global geopolitical architecture.
Description of contents: programme
Topic 1. Introduction to the Americas: contemporary concept, historical evo-lution, and geopolitics. The two Americas: North America (Canada, USA and Mexico) and Latin America (Central America, Caribbean and Southern Cone). Topic 2. The geographic and territorial dimension of North America: implications of a regional and geopolitical nature. Topic 3. Domestic factors in North America: political system, economy, tech-nology, society, demography, culture. Topic 4. Trade, Investment, Migrations, Security and Integration in North America. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Topic 5. USA as a global superpower and of the Americas. Social, demographic, political and economic transformations of the United States under the Trump Administration. Topic 6. Projection and strategy of the USA for the two Americas. The external projection of Canada and Mexico in Central America, the Caribbean and the Southern Cone. Topic 7. Geopolitics and geostrategy of North America regarding external actors: the European Union, China and Russia. Topic 8. Contemporary Latin American political and geopolitical geography. Topic 9. Geopolitical Economy of Latin America. Topic 10. The organization of contemporary space in Latin America Topic 11. Space, power, movements and communities Topic 12. Brazil as a regional power Topic 13. Geopolitical conflicts in Latin America Topic 14. Role of external actors in Latin America. Latin America in the world order. Perspectives in the Americas.
Learning activities and methodology
The subject combines theoretical and practical aspects. The lecture sessions present the essential theoretical aspects of the course, while the practical activities will focus on the discussion of selected materials, the realization of exercises related to topics exposed by the professors, as well as individual or group presentations. In addition, the completion of a final work will allow students to apply the theoretical-methodological content of the subject to the analysis of specific geopolitical issues of the Americas. The tutorials will be face-to-face at a fixed time; also by appointment. Additionally, the student may make inquiries via email. ----TEACHING SYSTEM FOR 2020-21 UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS--- In accordance with the teaching model approved for 2020-21, under normal conditions the Master in Geopolitics and Strategic Studies will be taught On Campus (Face-to-Face classes). In order to ensure the prevention and social distancing measures in classrooms. the courses with a number of students enrolled higher than the capacity of the classroom will have a Weekly Rotating System for the face-to face classes combined with synchronous online teaching system. All students must have the necessary equipment to follow classes remotely (device with internet connection). Due to the restrictions in the use of computer rooms on Campus it may be necessary to take your own computer equipment for its use in the classroom. * Students that cannot attend to On Campus classes at the beginning of the academic year, due to difficulties or delays obtaining their visas, border closures, or similar issues, will be able to follow classes in a Synchronous Online Teaching system until they are able to arrive to On Campus classes.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination 0
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 100

Basic Bibliography
  • Roy, J. (ed.). ¿A New Atlantic Community: The European Union, the US and Latin America¿. Miami-Florida European Union Center, Jean Monnet Chair. 2015.
  • Barton, J. R. . A Political Geography of Latin America. Routledge. 1997.
  • Bremmer, I. . Superpower: Three Choices for America's Role in the World. Penguin. 2015.
  • Brzezinski, Z. . The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives. Barnes & Noble. 1997.
  • Cohen, S. B. . Geopolitics. The Geography of International Relations. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc.. 2009.
  • Friedman, G. . The Next 100 Years: A Forecast of the 21st Century. Random House . 2009.
  • Hillman, R. S. y D¿Agostino, T. J. (eds.) . Understanding Contemporary Latin America, 4ª ed.. Lynne Rienner Publishers. 2011.
  • Horwitz, B. y Bagley, B. M. . Latin America and the Caribbean in the Global Context. Routledge. 2016.
  • Hufbauer, G. C. y Schott, J. J.. NAFTA Revisited: Achievements and Challenges. Institute for International Economics. 2005.
  • Jaskoki, M., Sotomayor, A. C. y Trinkunas, H. A. . American Crossings: Border Politics in the Western Hemisphere. Johns Hopkins University Press. 2015.
  • Kelly, P. . Checherboards and Shatterbelts: The Geopolitics of South America. University of Texas-Austin. 1997.
  • Kent, R. . Latin America Regions and Peoples, 2ª ed. . Gilford. 2016.
  • Mares, D. R. y Kacowicz, A.M. (eds.). Routledge Handbook of Latin American Security. Routledge. 2016.
  • Musset, A. y Piboubes, J. Y. (eds.). Géopolitiques des Amériques. Nathan. 2017.
  • Palacio Oteyza, V. . ¿De Obama a Trump. Un giro estratégico de ciento ochenta grados¿, en Panorama Estratégico 2017. Instituto Español de Estudios Estratégicos. 2017.
  • The White House. ¿National Security Strategy of the United States of America¿. The White House. 2017.
Additional Bibliography
  • Bellamy Foster, J. . ¿The New Geopolitics of Empire¿. Monthly review, 57(8). 2006.
  • Kerry, J. . "Remarks on U.S. Policy in the Western Hemisphere". US Department of State. 2013.
  • Palacio, V. . Después de Obama: Estados Unidos en tierra de nadie. La Catarata. 2016.
  • Russell Mead, W. . ¿The Jacksonian Revolt; American Populism and the Liberal Order¿. Foreign Affairs, 96. 2017.
  • Sepúlveda, I.. ¿Geopolítica de las Américas¿. Política Exterior, 147, Mayo-Junio, pp. 160-169.. 2012.
  • Smith, P. y Sells, C. . Democracy in Latin America, 3ª ed. . Oxford University Press. 2016.
  • Sánchez de Rojas, E. . ¿Seguridad, geopolítica y geoestrategia. ¿Ha cambiado la geopolítica de Estados Unidos en América Latina?¿, en C. S. Nacional, El futuro de las relaciones Latinoamérica-Estados Unidos . Ministerio de Defensa. 2011.

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.