1st Edition

Geopolitics An Introductory Reader

Edited By Jason Dittmer, Jo Sharp Copyright 2014
    386 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    386 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    It has been increasingly impossible to think about our changing world without coming across the term 'geopolitics'. In the wake of the invasion and occupation of Iraq by the United States, United Kingdom, and others, geopolitics has been offered as an explanation for the occupation's failure to reinvent the Iraqi state and as a blueprint for future action. But what is 'geopolitics'?

    Drawing both on academic and political material, this book introduces readers to the concept of geopolitics, from the first usage of the term to its more recent reconceptualisations. The concept of geopolitics is introduced through four thematic sections - Imperial Geopolitics, Cold War Geopolitics, Geopolitics after the Cold War and Reconceptualising Geopolitics. Each section includes key writings from a range of diverse and leading authors such as Said, Agnew, Dalby, O Tuathail, Gregory, Barnett and Kaplan, and is accompanied by a critical introduction by the editors to guide the reader through the material. This Reader establishes the foundations of geopolitics while also introducing readers to the continuing significance of the concept in the 21st century.

    This Reader provides an essential resource that exposes students to original writing. The Editors provide a pathway through the material with Section Introductions to assist the readers understanding of the context of the material and impacts of the writings. The readings included draw from a range of authors, writing from a range of locations. The Reader concludes with the latest changes in geopolitical thought, incorporating feminist and other perspectives.

    Section 1: Imperial Geopolitics  1. The Influence of Seapower on History Alfred Thayer Mahan  2. The Geographical Pivot of History Halford Mackinder  3. Influences of Geographic Environment Ellen Churchill Semple  4. Geopolitics and Empire Gerry Kearns  5. What Geography Ought To Be Peter Kropotkin  6. Some Rules of Satyagraha Mohandas Gandhi  7. Why Geopolitik? Karl Haushofer  8. Geography versus Geopolitics Isaiah Bowman  9. Japanese Geopolitics in the 1930s and 1940s Keiichi Takeuchi  10. Orientalism Edward Said  11. America is Safe While its Boys and Girls Believe its Creeds! Jason Dittmer  Section 2: Cold War Geopolitics  12. The Sources of Soviet Conduct George Kennan  13. The Domino Principle Dwight D. Eisenhower  14. Anti-Domino Patrick O’Sullivan  15. Diplomacy Henry Kissinger  16. Brezhnev Doctrine Leonid Brezhnev  17. Non-alignment in the 1970s Julius Nyerere  18. An Illustration of Geographical Warfare Yves Lacoste  19. Geopolitics and Discourse Gearoid Ó Tuathail and John Agnew  20. Policy Statement Committee on the Present Danger  21. Publishing American Identity Joanne Sharp  22. Homeward Bound Elaine Tyler May  23. Between Regions: Science, Militarism, and American Geography from World War to Cold War Trevor Barnes and Matthew Farish  24. Common European Home Mikhail Gorbachev  Section 3: Geopolitics After the Cold War  25. Clash of Civilisations Samuel Huntington  26. Clash of Ignorance Edward Said  27. The Coming Anarchy Robert Kaplan  38. Reading 'The Coming Anarchy' Simon Dalby  39. The Pentagon’s New Map Thomas Barnett  40. Neoliberal Geopolitics Sue Roberts, Anna Secor and Matt Sparke  41. The Colonial Present Derek Gregory  42. What Counts as the Politics and Practice of Security, and Where? Matthew Coleman  43. Geopolitics by Another Name Caroline Nagel  44. Emerging China and Critical Geopolitics John Agnew  45. The Uncertain state(s) of Europe Luisa Bialasiewicz  46. The New Geopolitics of Disease: Between Global Health and Global Security Allan Ingram  47. Geopolitical Economy of Resource Wars Phillippe Le Billon  48. Icy Geopolitics Klause Dodds  Section 4: Reconceptualising Geopolitics  A Feminist Geopolitics? Lorraine Dowler and Joanne Sharp  49. Globalized Fear? Rachel Pain  50. Geopolitics and Family in Palestine Chris Harker  51. The Question of ‘The Political’ in Critical Geopolitics Jennifer Hyndman  52. Affectivity and Geopolitical Images Sean Carter and Derek McCormack  53. After Geopolitics? Deborah Cowen and Neil Smith  54. Religion and Geopolitics John Agnew  55. Militarism, Just War, or Nonviolence? Nick Megoran  56. Anthropocene Geopolitics Simon Dalby  57. In Defence of the Heartland Colin Gray  58. The Revenge of Geography Robert Kaplan

    Biography

    Dr Jason Dittmer is Reader in Human Geography, Department of Geography, University College London, UK.

    Professor Jo Sharp is Professor of Geography, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.