Geopolitics, Power, and Global Conflict
How geography shapes power, conflict, alliances, and cooperation among the world's states.
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An overview of the classical and modern theories that explain how geography shapes national power and global strategy, from Mackinder's Heartland and Mahan's sea power to critical geopolitics and the shifting world orders of the 21st century.
A survey of the institutions that coordinate international cooperation, law, and conflict resolution across the world, from the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system to regional blocs, military alliances, and the NGOs that challenge and supplement state power.
An exploration of how terrain, chokepoints, and strategic territory shape military planning, force projection, and the conduct of conflict across the globe.
A survey of how control over oil, gas, and critical minerals shapes international relations and national security strategy, from OPEC and pipeline politics to rare earths, sanctions, and the emerging geopolitics of the energy transition.
The causes, legal categories, and geography of forced displacement worldwide, from the refugee flows and internally displaced populations produced by war to the growing pressure of climate and disaster displacement.
A survey of how digital infrastructure, data flows, and cyber capabilities have become a new dimension of geopolitical power, from the seabed cables that carry the internet to the satellites, chip factories, and surveillance systems that increasingly define national strength.
An exploration of two of the world's newest geopolitical frontiers: outer space, where national and commercial programs now compete for orbital slots and lunar footholds, and the melting Arctic, where retreating ice is opening new shipping lanes and reigniting claims over seabed resources.