Undergraduate Course: Political Geography (GEGR10038)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course is an introduction to political geography. The course examines a wide range of political activities - and the structures that mediate them - at a number of geographical scales. The main theoretical premise of the course is that the current world order based on nation-states and the ideology of nationalism has had a profound impact on the definition of what is political and on the scope for changing political ideas, institutions and organisation. As this suggests, nation-states are not viewed simply as the context for studying political geography, but also as a subject of analysis in its own right.
To this end, the course begins with introductory lectures that provide a historical review of political geography; an overview of fundamental terms and concepts; and a general introduction to the concept of nation and the ideology of nationalism. Against this backdrop, the course uses seminars (and associated summary lectures) to explore topics such as historical variation in the form, function and ideology of states; nation-states and manifestations of nationalism; electoral systems; local government and urban politics; as well as geopolitics and world orders. |
| Course description |
Not entered
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
To provide an overview of the development of geopolitical thought in general and of contemporary work in political geography.
To consider the meanings and interactions of territory, space and political activity.
To encourage case-studies of the geography of particular political movements and issues.
To explore the ideology of nationalism and its impact on political structures, systems and movements.
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jan Penrose
Tel: (0131 6)50 8161
Email: dr.j.penrose@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Catherine Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: cathy.campbell@ed.ac.uk |
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