PRESENTAZIONE

The course of Geography of Conflicts aims at introducing a general perspective on the relation between geography and current and past conflicts by critically examining and discussing the most relevant international literature and case studies. In addition, it will focus some key topics in the geographical dimension of conflicts and wars around the world.

OBIETTIVI FORMATIVI

The course of Geography and Conflicts provides students with some key topics in the geographical dimension of conflicts and wars around the world: cartography and conflicts; climate change-driven conflicts; political borders; physical geography and battlefield

OBIETTIVI FORMATIVI (DETTAGLIO) E RISULTATI DI APPRENDIMENTO

At the end of the course, students will be able to

- track links between environment and conflict under a geopolitical perspective

- investigate and critically examine the relevant international literature on the topic

- analyse past and current wars and battles by looking at specific geographical elements of the physical landscape

- argue and describe (in both oral and written form) the relation between geography and conflict by developing a specific theme in great depth 

Modalità didattiche

The course will consist of a series of lectures (frontal teaching) where students will be introduced to the most relevant themes of the subject. Frontal teaching will also include some lectures on specific themes by invited experts. In addition, there will be some readings (compulsory for attending students) where some key texts will be analysed and discussed. At the end of the course, students (as groups) will be required to develop in great depth a topic of their choice which will be presented, discussed and developed in written work as part of the examination programme.

TEAMS Channel: Geography of Conflicts (code sydix2u)

PROGRAMMA/CONTENUTO

Cartography and power

Borders/borderscapes

Landscapes of violence/security landscapes

Climate change

Climate change and conflict

Geography of battlefields

TESTI/BIBLIOGRAFIA

Attending students

Study materials for attending students will be notes and Powerpoint presentations on AULAWEB and articles and book chapters which will be uploaded on AULAWEB during the course.

As essential part of the exam, attending students will be required to develop a group project as explained above

Non attending students

Powerpoint presentations, articles and book chapters uploaded on AULAWEB. In addition, non attending students will be ask to prepare one of the following books:

- Galgano, F. (Ed.) (2019) The Environment-Conflict Nexus, Springer (downloadable from Springer website through Sistema Bibliotecario di Ateneo)

- Winters, H. A. (1998) Battling the Elements: Weather and Terrain in the Conduct of War, The John Hopkins University Press

Modalità didattiche

The course will consist of a series of lectures (frontal teaching) where students will be introduced to the most relevant themes of the subject. Frontal teaching will also include some lectures on specific themes by invited experts. In addition, there will be some readings (compulsory for attending students) where some key texts will be analysed and discussed. At the end of the course, students (as groups) will be required to develop in great depth a topic of their choice which will be presented, discussed and developed in written work as part of the examination programme.

TEAMS Channel: Geography of Conflicts (code sydix2u)

Modalità d'esame

Prova orale