To begin with, we would like to highlight that doing research on geopolitics has brought us to go deeper into a certain literature that enabled us to understand from the very beginning what geopolitics was meant for. The literature we have used consists of two categories, books relative to the latest changes on the discipline; we mean geopolitics in the present. The other literature is concerned with books of the 1990s with some authors like Ó Tuathail, Dalby and others, books that give a historical perspective of geopolitics. Furthermore, we believe that for a discipline like geopolitics that we have never studied in our previous university studies, we did not just need to make a good assignment and that is all, but also to acquire tools that might help us to be knowledgeable in that coursework. For this reason, we needed to read books that analyze and explain what the essence of geopolitics is. Our basic thesis statement is that the geographical conditions of a country, this is to say that its endowment in natural resources can have an impact on its geopolitical orientation, which is its foreign policy. In other words, geographical conditions influence a country’s foreign policy or attitude in international affairs. This we will provide an example with Gabon, our home country.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. A historical review of geopolitics
2. Classical geopolitics
3. Is there an imperialist geopolitics?
4. German imperialist geopolitics
5. Ideological geopolitics
6. Geopolitical doctrines
7. Geopolitics after the cold war
8. Geopolitics today and Gabon’s geopolitics
Conclusion
Another aspect: Gabonese geopolitics
Objectives & Core Topics
The primary objective of this work is to explore the theoretical essence of geopolitics and demonstrate how geographical conditions, specifically natural resource endowments, influence the foreign policy and international orientation of sovereign states, exemplified through the case of Gabon.
- Evolution of geopolitics from political geography to a multifaceted discipline.
- Distinction between classical and critical geopolitical perspectives.
- Analysis of major 20th-century geopolitical doctrines and their impact on global power dynamics.
- The intersection of environmental concerns and economic development in modern geopolitics.
- Case study of territorial and resource-based diplomatic disputes in Gabon.
Excerpt from the book
German imperialist geopolitics
This is one of the most negative days of geopolitics in history. We would like to debate on this section as it will showcase another aspect of classical geopolitics. Ó Tuathail et al. (1998) argue that the white racist sentiment that characterized the practice of the British Empire and the US imperialist geopolitics in the beginning of the 20th was differently expressed in Germany, where an institute of German geopolitical philosophy was codified for the first time after World War I by Karl Haushofer (1869-1946). Haushofer was an ex-military commandant who became a political geographer at 50 years old after he retired from the German army with the rank of Major General. Ó Tuathail et al. (1998) point out that Haushofer was responsible for the Nazi geopolitical orientation, if not participated in the German geopolitical thought at the time. As the majority of the military officers of World War I, Haushofer, Rudolf Hess (later deputy of the Nazi Party and a former Haushofer’s aide-de-camp) and Hitler disliked the Treaty of Versailles. According to them, the treaty deprived Germany from its former colonies and part of its territorial ownership after the war. They regarded that treaty as to have weakened Germany, a regular world empire with a huge developed population who was condemned to live in a small territory (Ó Tuathail et al., 1998).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the scope of the literature review on geopolitical theory and introduces the core thesis regarding the influence of geographical conditions on state foreign policy.
1. A historical review of geopolitics: Examines the conceptual origins of geopolitics as a discipline, noting the transition from political geography to a strategic tool in the 20th century.
2. Classical geopolitics: Discusses the foundational era of geopolitics, emphasizing the competitive and often imperialistic nature of state behavior during the early 20th century.
3. Is there an imperialist geopolitics?: Analyzes American geopolitical practices in the early 1900s, focusing on the use of maritime bases and informal imperial influence.
4. German imperialist geopolitics: Investigates the negative legacy of German geopolitical thought, specifically the role of Haushofer and the concept of lebensraum under the Nazi regime.
5. Ideological geopolitics: Focuses on the Cold War era, describing the ideological tensions and the shift in geopolitical discourse between the US and the Soviet Union.
6. Geopolitical doctrines: Reviews major 20th-century strategic frameworks, including the Roosevelt Corollary, the Truman Doctrine, and Gorbachev's New Political Thinking.
7. Geopolitics after the cold war: Describes the search for new legitimations of Western power following the collapse of the Soviet Union, including the rise of the Rogue-State doctrine.
8. Geopolitics today and Gabon’s geopolitics: Connects modern geopolitical theory to the specific territorial and resource-based foreign policy challenges faced by Gabon.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings of the study, reiterating the connection between state geography, resource control, and international political behavior.
Another aspect: Gabonese geopolitics: Provides a detailed examination of the ongoing territorial dispute between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea over the Mbanié Island.
Keywords
Geopolitics, International Relations, Foreign Policy, Natural Resources, Classical Geopolitics, Critical Geopolitics, Imperialism, Lebensraum, Cold War, Ideological Geopolitics, Territoriality, Gabon, Sovereign States, Diplomatic Dispute, Strategic Power
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research explores the definition and evolution of geopolitics, analyzing how geographical conditions and natural resources shape the foreign policy and international orientation of states.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work covers the transition from classical to critical geopolitics, the role of 20th-century power doctrines, the ideological struggle of the Cold War, and modern environmental and territorial challenges.
What is the author's primary thesis?
The thesis posits that a country's geographical conditions and its endowment of natural resources significantly influence its geopolitical orientation and foreign policy decisions.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study utilizes a qualitative literature analysis, examining foundational and contemporary geopolitical works to provide a theoretical overview and apply these concepts to a specific case study.
What topics does the main body cover?
The main body systematically reviews the history of geopolitics, discusses various geopolitical doctrines from Roosevelt to Gorbachev, and transitions into a practical analysis of modern geopolitical challenges in Gabon.
Which keywords define this work?
The most defining keywords include Geopolitics, International Relations, Foreign Policy, Lebensraum, Ideological Geopolitics, Territoriality, and Gabon.
How is the Cold War represented in the context of geopolitics?
The Cold War is analyzed through the lens of "Ideological Geopolitics," focusing on the bipolar struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective efforts to impose their political and economic ideals globally.
What specific case study does the author present to illustrate their theory?
The author uses the territorial and maritime dispute between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea regarding the Mbanié Island to demonstrate how resource wealth impacts bilateral diplomatic relations.
What does the author propose regarding the Gabonese-Equatorial Guinean dispute?
The author advocates for a negotiated, integrative solution—specifically a 50-50 joint exploitation agreement of the natural resources—to resolve the ongoing territorial tension.
- Citation du texte
- Jean Cédric Obame Emane (Auteur), 2016, Geopolitics. A historical review, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/416242
