IRLS213 - Political Geography

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
CO-1: Explain the concepts of territory, the state, the nation, and nationalism in the context of geopolitical and cultural interaction among states and non-state actors.
CO-2: Describe the perceived distribution of resources within the international system, including geographic resources and perceptions of power.
CO-3: Apply the basic theories of political geography and international political economy to the global condition and current world order.
CO-4: Analyze how globalization impacts current and future trends in international integration.
CO-5: Compare the competing interests of state and non-state actors, including terror organizations, in the context of international legal, political, and environmental regimes.

Forum discussions – 25 percent
Each week, a discussion question is provided and posts should reflect an assimilation of the readings. Students are required to provide a substantive initial post by Thursday at 11:55 pm ET and respond to 2 or more classmates by Sunday 11:55 pm ET. Forum posts are graded on timeliness, relevance, knowledge of the weekly readings, and the quality of original ideas.
Midterm assignment - 25 percent
This assignment is a take-home essay assignment of 5 questions, 2 pages total, to test knowledge and assimilation of the course objectives. The exclusive use of required texts and readings from this course is mandatory.
Progress assignment - 25 percent
This assignment is a take-home essay assignment of 5 questions, 2 pages total, to test knowledge and assimilation of the course objectives. The exclusive use of required texts and readings from this course is mandatory.
Final assignment – 25 percent
This assignment is a take-home essay assignment of 5 questions, 2 pages total, to test knowledge and assimilation of the course objectives. The exclusive use of required texts and readings from this course is mandatory.

• Required Course Textbooks (found in APUS e-Library):

Blacksell, Mark. 2005. Political Geography. New York: Routledge.

Chalk, Peter. 2008. The Maritime Dimension of International Security: Terrorism, Piracy and Challenges for the United States. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation.

Fligstein, Neil. 2008. Euroclash: The EU, European Identity and the Future of Europe. Oxford University Press.

Frieden, Jeffry A. and David A. Lake, eds. 2010. International Political Economy: Perspectives on Global Power and Wealth. New York: Routledge.

• External websites and other assigned readings are found in the Lessons area of the classroom.

• Weekly Lesson Notes and videos or audio files are found in the Lessons area of the classroom.