General provisions

The course is offered within the Master's Programme in International Humanitarian Action, 120 ECTS credits and the Master's Programme in Humanitarian Action and Conflict, 60 ECTS credits.

Entry requirements

The course on Geopolitics is only available to students admitted to the Master Programme in International Humanitarian Action and the Master programme in Humanitarian Action and Conflict.

Learning outcomes

The module's aim is to provide a broad understanding of the geopolitical context for humanitarian activities. Special focus is placed on the political impact on humanitarian policies and their implementation in different cases. After completing the module successfully, students should have the following competences:

• an understanding of central geopolitical perspectives and dimensions in humanitarian disaster situations;
• an ability to use key concepts related to geopolitics for the analysis of the social and political dimensions of disaster situations;
• an ability to formulate critical questions and problems in the geopolitical analysis of disaster situations.

Content

The course gives an introduction to basic geopolitical concepts and perspectives, and applies them to a concrete case. Finally it introduces some issues of relevance to on-going humanitarian action situations.

Instruction

The teaching on this campus course includes both lectures and seminars. Attendance at seminars and at least 75% of lectures is compulsory. Students who miss seminars must compensate this absence. In general, students who miss more than 25% of lectures must also compensate. However, students who are absent for substantially more than 25% of lectures must instead take part in lectures the next time the course is provided. Participation in all lectures is highly encouraged since the lectures facilitate reading and analysis of the course literature.

The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

The course is examined through written tests as well as by oral presentations and seminar assignments.

Grade: VG, G or U (Pass with Distinction, Pass or Fail) as well as ECTS grades.

Transitional provisions

Students on a course regulated by this syllabus have the right to be examined for up to two years after their course instance has ended, and in accordance with this syllabus. In exceptional circumstances, they may also be examined later. Normally, instruction will only be given according to the latest version of the course syllabus.