Case Studies for Geopolitics
Geopolitics is an extremely relevant topic, for the world we live in today. Case studies for this subject can be updated everyday, which means that the case studies listed here, could easily be out of date.
Good sources of information for different case studies are news websites, which update regularly: + http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/ - The BBC News politics section has good information for examples for geopolitics case studies, including from the UK and internationally. + http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/ - Bloomberg offers international political news from an American view. Can give good examples of geopolitical case studies and offer a different point of view.
All news sites are very good for case studies in geopolitics. Although be careful to avoid bias.
All news sites are very good for case studies in geopolitics. Although be careful to avoid bias.
Case Studies- environmental geopolitics
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/5/2/14529508/838432795.jpg?368)
The Northwest and Northwast passage around the Arctic.
Oil, is one of the worlds most sought-after resources. It is becoming an important factor in geopolitics, with many countries willing to lay their claim over areas which are oil rich.
Arctic Ice is melting and with the threat of global warming Arctic ice is getting thinner and thinner. In the summer the Arctic is totally ice free, this ice free oceanic area is also known to have areas rich in oil. With the thinning of ice, the Northwest passage (shown in the picture on the right) is becoming passable, increasing the potential for resource exploration. Several countries lay claim over this passage, with several countries using their geopolitical codes to tout this area. Russia, USA, Scandinavian countries and European countries are all looking into the possibility of touting this area for its oil and natural gas. A reservoir of oil and gas beneath the Arctic was proved as a possibility when the US Geological Circum-Polar Resource Evaluation Survey, surveyed the area. Several areas of geopolitics has arisen since an increasing interest has sparked in this area. Canada are wary that they need more intensive boundary policing, along with the possible environmental factors in this area. Also the fishing opportunities in this area also have favored interest. Russia also raised the stakes in claim for this area, when a submarine planted a flag on the ocean floor, attempting to make dubious geological claims to the oil and gas found underneath. Amongst this action towards 'claiming' this land, the indigenous Inuit population of the area have made an impact upon actions of the interested states. This case study illustrates boundary demarcation, resource exploitation, interstate cooperation and competiton.
More Information: http://www.geopoliticsnorth.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=159&Itemid=69
Arctic Ice is melting and with the threat of global warming Arctic ice is getting thinner and thinner. In the summer the Arctic is totally ice free, this ice free oceanic area is also known to have areas rich in oil. With the thinning of ice, the Northwest passage (shown in the picture on the right) is becoming passable, increasing the potential for resource exploration. Several countries lay claim over this passage, with several countries using their geopolitical codes to tout this area. Russia, USA, Scandinavian countries and European countries are all looking into the possibility of touting this area for its oil and natural gas. A reservoir of oil and gas beneath the Arctic was proved as a possibility when the US Geological Circum-Polar Resource Evaluation Survey, surveyed the area. Several areas of geopolitics has arisen since an increasing interest has sparked in this area. Canada are wary that they need more intensive boundary policing, along with the possible environmental factors in this area. Also the fishing opportunities in this area also have favored interest. Russia also raised the stakes in claim for this area, when a submarine planted a flag on the ocean floor, attempting to make dubious geological claims to the oil and gas found underneath. Amongst this action towards 'claiming' this land, the indigenous Inuit population of the area have made an impact upon actions of the interested states. This case study illustrates boundary demarcation, resource exploitation, interstate cooperation and competiton.
More Information: http://www.geopoliticsnorth.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=159&Itemid=69
Nationalism- Saddam Hussein's use of nationalism and Islam to justify the 1991 Gulf War
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/5/2/14529508/382894725.jpg?1354391978)
Map of the Arab world
The Gulf War in 1991, began when Iraq invaded Kuwait, the USA responded to this invasion as an attempt to keep the political status quo in the Middle East and counter Saddam Hussein's attempts to enhance Iraq's power.
Looking at this case study enables us to look at Arab geopolitical codes and allows us with the correct tools to justify the invasion.
The politics of Arab nationalism:
1. Arab nationalism was a political agenda focusing upon Arab unity.
2.Each Arab state should be an independent sovereign state.
Before Iraq's conflict with Kuwait, Iraq's geopolitics centered around Iran. Kuwait possesses the fourth largest oil reserve in the world, Hussein thought that Kuwait 'owed' Iraq, because of the service it provided against the 'all Arab' war against Iran, by invading Kuwait, Hussein thought by invading Kuwait, he would be claiming the oil reserves for the Arabs. In theory, if the invasion was successful, Iraq would have had control over the world's oil production, Hussein's geopolitical code was the domination of the Persian Gulf oil reserved in order to counter the costs of the Iran-Iraq war. Hussein began to portray the war as a religious one, he turned the incoming invasion of the US to a defense of Islam.
Iraq's forces were defeated by the number and technically superior forces of the US army.
Hussein continued to act as the Arab world's protector, firing what was thought as 'biological weapons' into Israel, to show to be Palestine's protector. This sparked the thought that Hussein was building biological and chemical weapons to use against Israel and the US, which in turn sparked another war and Hussein's downfall.
Looking at this case study enables us to look at Arab geopolitical codes and allows us with the correct tools to justify the invasion.
The politics of Arab nationalism:
1. Arab nationalism was a political agenda focusing upon Arab unity.
2.Each Arab state should be an independent sovereign state.
Before Iraq's conflict with Kuwait, Iraq's geopolitics centered around Iran. Kuwait possesses the fourth largest oil reserve in the world, Hussein thought that Kuwait 'owed' Iraq, because of the service it provided against the 'all Arab' war against Iran, by invading Kuwait, Hussein thought by invading Kuwait, he would be claiming the oil reserves for the Arabs. In theory, if the invasion was successful, Iraq would have had control over the world's oil production, Hussein's geopolitical code was the domination of the Persian Gulf oil reserved in order to counter the costs of the Iran-Iraq war. Hussein began to portray the war as a religious one, he turned the incoming invasion of the US to a defense of Islam.
Iraq's forces were defeated by the number and technically superior forces of the US army.
Hussein continued to act as the Arab world's protector, firing what was thought as 'biological weapons' into Israel, to show to be Palestine's protector. This sparked the thought that Hussein was building biological and chemical weapons to use against Israel and the US, which in turn sparked another war and Hussein's downfall.
Territorial Geopoltitics- Israel- Palestine
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/5/2/14529508/165885149.jpg?1354394926)
A map to show the creation of Israel.
Information n the conflict between Israel and Palestine, can be found on this website, this is a great place to get information to start your case study.
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/111/palestine-and-israel
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/111/palestine-and-israel
National Identity- Chechnya
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/5/2/14529508/561486016.gif)
Location of Chechnya in Russia
This case study is based around nationalist geopolitics. It revolves around the territorial integrity of Russia and the desire for the Chechens to have their own independent country. The population of Chechnya is around 1 million, most Chechens are Sunni Muslims, and Chechens and Ingushes are the dominant ethnic groups.
More information to build on this case study can be found: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/2565049.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/2357267.stm
http://chechnya.co.uk/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2IBTzwiqGU
More information to build on this case study can be found: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/2565049.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/2357267.stm
http://chechnya.co.uk/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2IBTzwiqGU