Political Geography (U00401)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : GEO-3-POLGEOG

The course is an introduction to political geography. The course examines a wide range of political activities - and the structures that mediate them - at a number of geographical scales. The main theoretical premise of the course is that the current world order based on nation-states and the ideology of nationalism has had a profound impact on the definition of what is political and on the scope for changing political ideas, institutions and organisation. As this suggests, nation-states are not viewed simply as the context for studying political geography, but also as a subject of analysis in its own right.

To this end, the course begins with introductory lectures that provide a historical review of political geography; an overview of fundamental terms and concepts; and a general introduction to the concept of nation and the ideology of nationalism. Against this backdrop, the course uses seminars (and associated summary lectures) to explore topics such as historical variation in the form, function and ideology of states; nation-states and manifestations of nationalism; electoral systems; local government and urban politics; as well as geopolitics and world orders.

Entry Requirements

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Requests for registration must be made by email to Shiela.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Availability to Visiting Undergraduates may be dependent on demand from internal students.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Geography, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	14:00	15:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

To provide an overview of the development of geopolitical thought in general and of contemporary work in political geography.

To consider the meanings and interactions of territory, space and political activity.

To encourage case-studies of the geography of particular political movements and issues.

To explore the ideology of nationalism and its impact on political structures, systems and movements.