Approaches to Political Geography: Understanding Space, Territory, and Power (ENV2119.01)

David Eisenhauer

Political geography is the study of the spatial nature of political power. Political geographers explore both how power struggles shape space and how space shapes power. This includes examining uneven economic development, spatial segregation, urban politics, social movements, geopolitics, and environmental injustice—to name a just a few. In tracing how power is spatialized within places, landscapes, regions, and territories, political geographers utilize a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to core concepts within political geography as well as explore how these concepts are applied to current political issues. Topics examined in the course will include, international migration, the illegal wildlife trade, indigenous struggles for sovereignty, structural racism in the United States, and global supply chains.


Learning Outcomes:
• Become familiar with key concepts and approaches within the field of political geography
• Appreciate how power is spatialized and how space shapes power
• Closely read theoretically rich and empirically grounded scholarship
• Apply course concepts to a place-based issue of the student’s choosing



Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 1:40PM - 3:30PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency:

Categories: All courses , Environment , Fully In-Person
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