Module Identifier
GG28310
Module Title
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Sharron A FitzGerald
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 18 Hours.
Seminars / Tutorials 1 Hours.
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 2 Hours   Unseen Examination. Answer two questions from four.  100%
Supplementary Assessment 2 Hours   Unseen Examination. Answer two questions from four.  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

* Critically discuss key topics in political geography

* Describe, employ and critique a range of significant political geography concepts

* Describe and critically assess a number of contemporary political events and processess

* Employ appropriate evidence to support the discussion of issues in political geography

* Show evidence of the depth of their reading, interpretation and evaluation of current academic and policy practice through the marshalling of an argument in written form

Brief description

This module introduces students to key themes in contemporary political geography. The module is organised into two sections. The first section explores the influence of space and territory on state formation, state strategy and political identities at a variety of scales from the global to the local. This section introduces concepts including the nation and the nation-state, imperialism, critical geopolitics and the region, as well as examining contemporary issues including European integration, devolution and nationalism in the UK and the post 9/11 world order. The second section of the module explores the relationship between place, people and political action, including voting behaviour, protest and active citizenship. It introduces concepts including the environmental and anti-globalisation movements and the results of recent British general elections.

Content

SECTION 1: SPACE, SCALE, TERRITORY AND THE STATE (Dr Sharron A. FitzGerald)

1. Defining Political Geography: Space, Power and Normativity
2. Empire and Imperialism
3. The State and Territory
4. Nations and Nationalism
5. The Spatial Architecture of Political Discourse and Practice

* Supplementary reading for Dr. FitzGerald's lectures may be found on Blackboard

SECTION 2: PLACE, PEOPLE AND POLITICS (Dr Graham Gardner)

6. Challenges to the UK Nation State I: European Integration (Seminar)
7. Challenges to the UK Nation State II: Devolution and Regionalism
8. Citizenship and Participation
9. Electoral Geography
10. The Politics of Place

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Not developed through this module.
Communication Oral communication skills will be developed through the seminar: written communication skills will be developed and assessed through the examination.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students should implicitly develop their skills in this area through the organisation of free-time reading and exam preparation. Not explicitly developed through the module.
Information Technology Students will be directed to source material from the internet in their preparation for the seminar.
Personal Development and Career planning Not explicitly developed through the module. The content of lectures and reading may indirectly encourage students to reflect on their own beliefs and views and may identify potential career paths for some.
Problem solving Problem solving will be indirectly addressed through some lecture content but not explicitly developed in the module.
Research skills Students will be encouraged to develop their research skills through collating material from library and internet sources in preparation for the seminar.
Team work Not developed through this module.

Reading List

Essential Reading
Jones, M., Jones, R., and Woods, M. (2004) An introduction to Political Geography Routledge Primo search Supplementary Text
Barnett, C. & Low, M. (2004) Spaces of Democracy: Geographical Perspectives on Citizenship, Participation and Representation London: Sage Primo search Braden, K. E. & Shelley, F. M. (2000) Engaging Geopolitics Harlow: Prentice Hall Primo search Cresswell, T. (1996) In Place/Out of Place: Geography, Ideology and Transgression Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press Primo search Heffernan, M. (1992) The Meaning of Europe: Geography and Geopolitics (chapters 2 & 4) London: Hodder Primo search Johnston R., Pattie C. & Allsopp, J. (1988) A Nation Dividing? The Electoral Map of Great Britain 1979-1987 Harlow: Longman Primo search Johnston, R.J. & Pattie, C. (2006) Putting Voters in their Place: Geography and Elections in Great Britain Oxford University Press Primo search Jones M., Goodwin M., & Jones, R. (2005) Regional Studies State modernization, devolution and economic governance: An introduction and guide to debate (39) pp.397-403 Primo search O'Tuathail (1996) Critical Geopolitics London: Routledge Primo search O'Tuathail, G., Dalby, S., and Routledge, P. (1997) The Geopolitics Reader 2nd edition London: Routledge Primo search Routledge, P. (2003) Anti-Geopolitics (A Companion to Political Geography ) pp. 236-248 Oxford: Blackwell Primo search Taylor, P & Flint, C. (2000) Political Geography Prentice Hall Primo search Zukin, S. (1991) Landscapes of Power: From Detroit to Disneyworld Berkeley: University of California Press Primo search Agnew, J. (2003) Political Geography Contemporary political geography: intellectual heterodoxy and its dilemmas (22) pp. 603-606 Primo search Desforges, L., Jones, R. & Woods, M. (2005) Citizenship Studies 9 New geographies of citizenship (5), pp. 439-451 Primo search Toal, G. (2003) Political Geography. Re-asserting the regional: political geography and geopolitics in a world thinly known. 22 (6) pp.653-655 Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5