Program Overview

Political Geography and Geopolitics (GEOG0025)

Key Information

The module is part of the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences, with the Geography department being the teaching department. It has a credit value of 15.

Restrictions

There are no restrictions for this module.

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

This course critically explores the history and current state of political geography and geopolitics, examining empirical issues from the vantage point of the spatiality and materiality of politics and power. The course aims to equip students with:

• an understanding of political geography and geopolitics as fields of enquiry
• knowledge of key perspectives, debates, and developments in these fields
• an ability to engage critically with research in these fields
• an ability to use core concepts to think about political geographic and geopolitical issues
• knowledge of relevant examples and case studies
• a sense of methodological issues and challenges in these fields

The module covers various topics, including:

• Territory
• Security
• Identities
• Bodies
• Statecraft
• Urban geopolitics
• Material politics
• Controversies
• Politics of truth

Recommended Reading

In preparation for the module, students are advised to read the following core texts:

• Agnew, J. (2019) 'Political Geography', in the International Encyclopedia of Geography

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

The intended teaching term is Term 1, and the module is available for undergraduate students at FHEQ Level 5.

Teaching and Assessment

The mode of study is in-person, and the methods of assessment are:

• 70% Fixed-time remote activity
• 30% Coursework

The mark scheme uses numeric marks. Note that the methods of assessment for affiliate students may be different and require contacting the department for more information.

Other Information

The number of students on the module in the previous year was 129, and the module leader is Professor Jason Dittmer.

Last Updated

This module description was last updated on 10th March 2026.