Transcript basics
“Every empire will die….”
States, like societies or men are born, grew up, decline and die.
Geopolitics is about interactions between
Time
Space
Politics
Geo= space Polis= rules of city Tique = techniqu e geop olitic s
A mix
space time politics Geopolitics
In movement City Nation State
space power geostrategy
Geopolitics = each event is different and politics is the expression of the human’s wish to live together.
Politics takes place among time and space
How territories got influence on men and how men can transform their territories ?
For geopolitics, understanding politics requires a collection of data such as territories, natural resources, distances, needs….
To realize a geo strategy
3 main data
men time space
men
If men is different from the animal, he’s nevertheless under the law of evolution (Darwin)
Men is an animal like the other species following the law of the strongest
His main goal is to survive
Men ? An animal other
death territory society language
not like the tools writing power
Time
Past
Men built an history, a patrimony by founding new territories. It’s in constant evolution.
Nation can not get separated from its history.
Geopolitics has to take in consideration the Nation’s past because past is involved in geography
Past/ time / men and territory
Balkans Yugoslavia Kosovo
Antiquity Asia Foundation of Israel
China
Palestine
Taiwan
space
History and geography are linked.
Ex: UK is an island per se. But in the middle age UK covered a part of France. After the 100 years war. UK become an island and got smaller.
UK seeks revenge through a competition with France and by building a colonial empire.
The story of a nation or a state is linked to the story of a territory
Time and space
Don’t forget
An issue in geopolitics raises three questions
What is the reason ?
When ?
Where ?
Everything regarding geopolitics includes balance of power and geostrategy..
Everything regarding geopolitics and geo strategy involves power struggle
Fighting legitimates men’s power.
Conquest of territory is sign of power
Are all power the same ?
Why Us is a big power ? Why USSR was a poor power ?
,
To elaborate geo-strategy
Power depends on two factors
Independent factors : quality of territory, climate, natural resources, quality and number of men
Dependent factors : role of elites, economical structures, social structures etc To Understand the mechanism of power, we need to evaluate situation.
Each situation is unique. Why USSR collapsed in 1991, France in 1940 or US in Vietnam in the 60’s and 70’s ?
Elements of power struggle process
Men
Money: how much it costs ? Who pays? How?
Ideas, religion, cultures.
Independent dependent Components: men, money, ideas situation Dynamic and unpredictable
To understand geopolitics and geo strategy Data : men , time, territory, resources, factors dependent and independent, Considering evolution of the situation by raising questions what when why
Geopolitics Geo-strategy space time Balance of power