Geography 440 - Political Geography

An analysis of how and why we organize the world into political territories and into geographically based political alliances and systems, and the consequences of this organization for people and environments. The first half of the course focuses on the practice of organizing the world into bordered political units, emphasizing especially the history and consequences of the nation-state system. The second half of the class focuses on the politics of development and the globalizing economy. Throughout the course, case studies will pay particular attention to issues of global inequality and environmental challenges.

Political Geography is an advanced undergraduate course and most appropriate for those who have had at least one Geography course. Much of the material is abstract and theoretical. The course strives to make abstract theory comprehensible through tangible exercises.