POLAR GEOGRAPHY AND GEOPOLITICS

This course will consider the most important contemporary geographical and geopolitical trends that affect Polar regions’ evolution. The course will provide an extensive overview of the economic and political relevance of the Arctic and Antarctica, and main implications for governance. Attention is also paid to the role these two regions play in International Relations.

At the end of the course, students will have acquired the capability to understand the most important economic and political (both internal and international) trends that are affecting polar environments and regions. They will be able to place the issue of climate change and related implication for polar regions within the proper economic, political and geopolitical framework.

Basic knowledge of economic and political geography.

• Introduction 1: Geopolitics and the new world (dis-)order
• Introduction 2: Sustainable development in a global word: why Polar geography and geopolitics matter; Sustainable development goals (SDGs), and the Agenda 2030
• Antarctica: “a continent surrounded by seas”; The legal and governance framework
• Geopolitics and International relations: main players, and conflicts and cooperation in Antarctica
• The Arctic: a difficult geographic definition; the Arctic as “a sea surrounded by land”; the Arctic region
• Is the Arctic becoming “global”? The Arctic as a “contended region" and the role of Climate Change
• The legal framework and sovereignty issues in the Arctic: the International Law of the Seas
• Energy in the Arctic: a new “race for resources”? Projects, achievement, narratives.
• Maritime transportation in the Arctic: a new potentially “global” corridor? Regional and transit perspectives
• Russia as the key actor in the Arctic: vision, policies and strategies
• Towards a new “Cold War” in the Arctic? Conflicts and the issue of militarizazion in the Russian Arctic
• Cooperation in the Arctic: the role of the Arctic Council
• Scientific cooperation in Polar regions
• Sustainability, for whom? The issue of indigenous peoples and culture
• National interests in the Arctic, some examples: the case of Italy and other Mediterranean Countries; China as a “Country near the Arctic”

Reading assignments will be given in class and include textbook chapters and scientific papers.

Grades will be assigned on the basis of class participation, journal article oral discussion and written reports

The course format will be a blend of lecturing, journal article discussion, and student reports.
Homework and/or class assignments will be given.

English

written and oral