Introduction to the major tools and concepts of the geopolitical approach

Thèmes abordés

Geopolitics - Iraq and Afghanistan - European Superpowers - BRIC

Résumé du document

Western countries used to fix the rules, but today other countries are contesting the rules. After the end of the Cold war, the US was considered a hyper power: it was the only country able to rule the world in terms of economy, policy, culture… The US was so strong it could impose everything everywhere. But in 11/09/2001, a small organization managed to injure the US, which were used to fighting against other countries.

Today, small organizations are also becoming global actors (Al-Qaida, Hamas, Hezbollah…). We have to care about people, about societies. But Bush fought ideas in the same ways he would fight countries… Actually, we need to find a way to fight these new organizations. The US spent much money in defense, but it is not sure that arms are really efficient against Al-Qaida and this king of organizations. However, in a historical scale, 9/11 is not such an important issue because there hasn't been any shift of power.

Extraits

[...] Victory was not only political but also cultural (Coca-cola ) and economical. We have to think critically: America considered it had saved the world, but on the other hand liberty was refused to some American citizens Are we western countries still the center of the world? Pour le 29: China and Brazil diplomacy in Africa. The impact of 9/11 on the international scene: Western countries used to fix the rules, but today other countries are contesting the rules. After the end of the Cold war, the US was considered a hyper power: it was the only country able to rule the world in terms of economy, policy, culture The US was so strong it could impose everything everywhere. [...]

[...] In fact, we have many divisions inside the Muslim world, there is no real unity. This theory fails to recognize differences within each Most sources of conflict are local (often ethnic), not religious. Samuel Huntington makes oversimplification of complex issues with this theory, and this is dangerous because he makes all Muslims people enemy of Christians people and of others cultures (Confucius, etc.) The growing power of BRIC - 42% of the global population - of the global economy - 8 megacities - 55 mil out bound trips in a year - 2 mil High Net Worth Individuals - Fastest growing inbound markets to the UK Today companies in the Fortune 500 are from emerging markets. [...]

[...] The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Resolution 1386 (2001) by the Security Council: authorized the American government to lead a war in Afghanistan. It was a legitimate war. However, concerning the war in Iraq, they couldn't get any authorization from the Security Council: France (De Villepin) put its veto (France could do it because it is a member of the Security Council of the UN with the US, China, Great Britain and Russia). This is why the war in Iraq is not a legitimate war. [...]

[...] It shows that Islam can go with democracy. Meaning and application Geopolitics permits to understand some problems, such as: - strategic points (Baku pipeline) - distribution of the population (Argentina) - natural resources (Ivory Coast, middle east) - infrastructures - . Key actors of geopolitics and international relations In international relations, key players are governments. State: - A state is an independent country (though the term indicates a part of a country in common speech) - An independent country is afforded sovereignty by international laws, agreements and precedents (Palestine is not a state) - Components of the state: sovereignty, territory, government, capacity. [...]