Although we live in a globalised world, territorially embedded factors are highly relevant in such domains as security, economy, energy, environment, politics & diplomacy. Today’s analysts of world affairs are often loosely referring to ‘geopolitics’, but do not always clearly define it. This book therefore offers a necessary framework: an introduction into the main components of geopolitical analysis, an overview of the main geopolitical schools of thought, as well as reflections on how technology and geopolitics affect each other in economy, energy and security. In addition, several empirical studies are showcased, each developing innovative approaches. Leading authors reflect upon containment, analyse geopolitical myths, research geoeconomic rivalries, study mental maps, analyse conflict through territorially embedded variables & greed motivations and apply ‘neo-medievalism’ to study sub-state diplomacy.
Contributors include: David Criekemans, Gyula Csurgai, Luis da Vinha, Manuel Duran, Alexandre Lambert, Antonios Nestoras, and Steven Spittaels.
David Criekemans, Ph.D (1974), is Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Antwerp (Belgium). He also teaches at KU Leuven (Belgium), University College Roosevelt (Utrecht University) in Middelburg (the Netherlands), Geneva Institute of Geopolitical Studies (Switzerland) and Blanquerna, Ramon Lull University in Barcelona (Spain).
Background and acknowledgements
David Criekemans List of Figures
Abbreviations
Notes on Contributors
Introduction: The Need for a Renewed ‘Grounding’ of International Relations
David Criekemans
PART 1: Basic Variables of Geopolitical Analysis
1 The Main Components of Geopolitical Analysis
Gyula Csurgai 2 ‘Geotechnical Ensembles’: How New Technologies Change Geopolitical Factors and Contexts in Economy, Energy and Security
David Criekemans
PART 2: Theoretical Approaches to Territorially Embedded Factors and
IR
3 Geopolitical Schools of Thought: A Concise Overview from 1890 till 2020, and beyond
David Criekemans 4 Where 'Geopolitics' and 'Foreign Policy Analysis' Once Met: The Work of Harold and Margaret Sprout and Its Continued Relevance Today
David Criekemans 5 Analysing Geopolitical Myths: Towards a Method for Analytic Geopolitics
Antonios Nestoras
PART 3: Empirical Studies: The Enduring Relevance of Territorially Embedded Factors in
IR
6 Post-Cold War
NATO
Enlargement and the Geopolitical Instrumentalization of ‘Liberal Peace’: Lessons from George Kennan
Alexandre Lambert 7 The Increasing Importance of Geoeconomics in Power Rivalries: From the Past to the Present
Gyula Csurgai 8 Dangers on the Edge of the Map: Geographic Mental Maps and the Emergence of the Carter Doctrine
Luis da Vinha 9 Mapping Greed as a Conflict Motivation: Evidence from Armed Conflicts in Sudan and Libya on the Complexity of Armed Groups’ Interactions with Natural Resources
Steven Spittaels 10 Regional Diplomacy: Re-Territorialisation as a Piece in the Neo-Medieval Puzzle?
Manuel Duran
PART 4: Conclusions
Geopolitics and International Relations: From ‘Living Apart Together’ to ‘Friends with Benefits’
David Criekemans
Index
Academics, students, and practitioners of geopolitics and international relations, in addition to people coming from other relevant fields, such as historians, geographers, economists, political scientists, psychologists, specialists in international law, etc.
Introducing "Geopolitics and International Relations. Grounding World Politics Anew" by David Criekemans