GEOG 457-Political Geography

Topics to be examined in this course The meaning and scope of political geography; elements of political geography; basic principles and key concepts of the interactions between geographical space and political process; formation of states, nature and functions of boundaries; demarcation of administrative areas and constituencies; introduction to the geography of elections and international organizations. The course aims to develop an understanding of the nature of political geography, consider the meanings and interactions of territory and political activity and provide an overview of contemporary work in political geography. The course work will include: the nature of Geography, politics and political geography, the elements of political geography, Approaches to the study of political geography, the nature and functions of boundaries and frontiers, nation, state and nation-state, types of states and governments, the structure of the state and administrative reform, the viability of states, national integration, colonialism and decolonization, Introduction to global geo-political theories, the heartland theory,  sea versus air power, introduction to electoral geography, international organizations:ECOWAS, EAC, SADC, EU, AU, UN etc., neocolonialism and globalization.