Course Syllabus
Obiettivi
Comprensione delle principali questioni relative allo studio degli oceani e degli spazi transnazionali secondo la prospettiva delle geopolitica critica / della geopolitica dell'ambiente / della giustizia ambientale.
Capacità avanzata di analisi critica e di comprensione della letteratura scientifica e delle narrative relative agli oceani, e delle dinamiche geopolitiche in atto per la conquista del sea-power.
Fornire un quadro generale della Giustizia Ambientale, esaminandone gli aspetti politici, sociali ed economici da una prospettiva geografica.
Abilità di condurre studi e ricerche interdisciplinari.
Contenuti sintetici
Dopo una breve introduzione sugli approcci più recenti alla geografia politica e alla geopolitica critica, il corso si concentra dapprima sulla rappresentazione storica dell’oceano come “spazio politico e sociale” e su come il mare possa essere inquadrato dal discorso geopolitico internazionale, in relazione ai processi di territorializzazione, di geo-power e di extra-territorialità degli spazi marini.
La seconda parte del corso riguarda tematiche più specifiche di ecologia politica e riguarda i temi della giustizia/ingiustizia ambientale, con particolare riferimento alle questioni di protezione/conservazione delle aree marine, dell'ocean grabbing e dei diritti delle popolazioni indigene.
Programma esteso
La geografia politica del mare: un approccio classico (confini marittimi e diritto del mare, trasporto e commercio, strategia e guerra)
Una geo-grafia politica (critica) del mare? Pensare al mare / rappresentare il mare / sfruttare le 'caratteristiche geopolitiche' del mare
La geo-grafia e il potere della rappresentazione /Dividere (e nominare) il mare oceanico: la questione Mare Orientale/Mar del Giappone
La territorializzazione del mare /Reclami territoriali e dispute sulle isole: la questione Dokdo-Takeshima
Definizioni geografiche e controversie sulle isole: la questione Sankeku-Diaoyu/il cambiamento climatico e la scomparsa di isole/rifugi: Okininotori: uno shima o una barriera corallina?
Un approccio classico alla geopolitica del mare/il mito del potere marittimo: Posizioni teoriche di A.T. Mahan / La Cina come potenza marittima e la competizione nel Mar Cinese Meridionale (Spratly, Paracel e altro)
Potere marittimo, nodi marittimi e isole come basi statunitensi: Le Hawaii e Pearl Harbor, Midway e Wake, Guam
Potere del mare, nodi marini e isole come basi statunitensi all'estero/basi dell'impero e ninfee: Guantanamo, Micronesia e Isole Marshall, Okinawa, Diego Garcia
LSMPA (Large Scale Maritime Protected Areas): conservazione o geopolitica?
Extraterritorialità e turismo da crociera come esempio di globalizzazione
Geopolitica degli oceani e giustizia ambientale
Ecologia e sostenibilità nell'Antropocene
Concetti e metodi per la giustizia ambientale
Casi studio ed esempi di ricerca
Prerequisiti
Adeguata conoscenza delle scienze sociali rilevanti (geografia, scienza politica, economia, diritto, sociologia).
Capacità di lavoro secondo prospettive multidisciplinari e interdisciplinari.
Modalità didattica
Lezioni frontali
Materiale didattico
Political geography of the sea**
1. The political geography of the sea: a classical approach (maritime boundaries and Law of the Sea, transport and trade, strategy and warfare)
Glassner M.I., The new political geography of the sea, Political Geography Quarterly, 1986, pp. 6-8
A (critical) political geo-graphy of the sea? (thinking about the sea / representing the sea / exploiting the “geopolitical features” of the sea)
Steinberg, P.E. (1999) Navigating to Multiple Horizons: Toward a Geography of Ocean-Space, The Professional Geographer, 51, 3, pp. 366-375
2. Geo-graphy and the power of representation: The geo-graphy of the ocean sea / Dividing (and naming) the ocean sea
Steinberg, P.E. (1999), Lines of divison, lines of connection: Stewardship in the world ocean, Geographical Review 89, 2, pp. 254-264
The East sea/ Sea of Japan case study
Chi Sang-Hyun, One feature, two names and many issues: The political geographies of naming the sea between Korea and Japan, eastsea1994.org/data/bbsData/14912842071.pdf
3. The “political geography of the sea”: the territorialisation of the sea
Territorial claims and islands disputes (Dokdo-Takeshima)
Suk Kyoon Kim (2008), Understanding Maritime Disputes in Northeast Asia: Issues and Nature, Int'l J. Marine & Coastal L., pp. 213-247
4. Geographical definitions and island disputes (Sankeku-Diaoyu)
McCormack G. (2013), Much Ado over Small Islands: The Sino-Japanese Confrontation over Senkaku/Diaoyu, The Asia-Pacific Journal, 11, 21, pp. 1-20
climate change and vanishing islands/reefs (Okininotori: a shima, or a reef’?)
Yamamoto L., Esteban M. (2010), Vanishing Island States and sovereignty, Ocean & Coastal Management 53, pp. 1–9
5. A classical approach to the geopolitics of the sea: the myth of sea power (A.T. Mahan)
Sumida J. (1999): Alfred Thayer Mahan, geopolitician, Journal of Strategic Studies, 22, 2-3, 39-62
China as a maritime power and the South China Sea competition
Nohara J.J. (2017) Sea power as a dominant paradigm: the rise of China’s new strategic identity, Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies, 6, 2, pp. 210-232
6. Sea power, sea nodes and islands as U.S. bases
The Hawai’i and Pearl Harbor, Midway and Wake, Guam
Vine D., (2015) Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World, Metropolitan Books, New York, Introduction, Capp. 1 and 2
7. Sea power, sea nodes and islands as overseas U.S. bases: bases of empire and lily pads
Guantanamo, Micronesia and Marshall Islands, Okinawa, Diego Garcia
Vine D., (2015) Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World, Metropolitan Books, New York, Cap 3.
8. LSMPAs (Large Scale Maritime Protected Areas): conservation or geopolitics?
Sand P.H. (2012), ‘Marine protected areas’ off UK overseas territories: comparing the South Orkneys Shelf and the Chagos Archipelago, The Geographical Journal, 178, 3, pp. 201–207
Leenhardt P., Cazalet B., Salvat B., Claudet J., Feral F. (2013). The rise of large-scale marine protected areas: Conservation or geopolitics? Ocean & Coastal Management, 85, pp. 112-118
9. Extra-territoriality and Cruise tourism as an example of globalization
Hall C.M., (2001), Trends in ocean and coastal tourism: the end of the last frontier? Ocean & Coastal Management, 44, pp. 601-618
- Political Ecology: a Critical Introduction. Robbins, P. (2012). Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9780470657324
- Environmental justice (local and global). Martínez-Alier, J. (1997). Capitalism, Nature, Socialism, 8(1), 91–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/10455759709358725
- Environmental (in)justice in the Anthropocene ocean. Bennett, N. J., Alava, J. J., Ferguson, C. E., Blythe, J., Morgera, E., Boyd, D., & Côté, I. M. (2023). Marine Policy, 147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105383
Periodo di erogazione dell'insegnamento
Secondo semestre
Modalità di verifica del profitto e valutazione
2 elaborati 2.000-2.500 parole su due questioni analizzate durante il corso e selezionate insieme all'istruttore - discussione degli elaborati
Non ci sono prove in itinere, c’è solo una valutazione finale che verte su determinate competenze secondo questi criteri:
(a) rilevanza dell'argomento
(b) capacità di sintesi
(c) proprietà di linguaggio/lessico
(d) capacità di fare collegamenti; utilizzo del pensiero critico
Verrà valutata la capacità dello studente di analizzare criticamente l’argomento utilizzando gli strumenti concettuali appresi durante il corso.
Orario di ricevimento
su appuntamento, di persona o online
Stanza 358/U7 terzo piano
Sustainable Development Goals
Aims
Understanding of the main questions raised by studying oceanic and transnational spaces in a critical geopolitics / environmental geopolitics / environmental Justice perspective
An advanced ability to critically analyze and interrogate scholarship and discourse framing the oceans, and the geopolitical dynamics underway to conquer sea-power.
Providing a general picture of Environmental Justice, examining its political, social, and economic aspects from a geographical perspective.
An engagement with the challenges of inter-disciplinary study and research.
Contents
After a short introduction to the most recent theoretical approaches to political geography and critical geopolitics, the course focuses first on the historical representation of the ocean as a "political and social space" and on how the sea can be framed by international geopolitical discourse, in relation to the processes of territorialisation, geo-power and extra-territoriality of marine spaces.
The second part of the course deals with more specific issues of political ecology and covers the topics of environmental justice/injustice, with particular reference to the themes of protection/conservation of marine areas, ocean grabbing and the rights of indigenous peoples.
Detailed program
The political geography of the sea: a classical approach (maritime boundaries and Law of the Sea, transport and trade, strategy and warfare)
A (critical) political geo-graphy of the sea? thinking about the sea / representing the sea / exploiting the “geopolitical features” of the sea
Geo-graphy and the power of representation /Dividing (and naming) the ocean sea: the East Sea/ Sea of Japan issue
The territorialisation of the sea /Territorial claims and islands disputes: the Dokdo-Takeshima issue
Geographical definitions and island disputes: the Sankeku-Diaoyu issue/ climate change and vanishing islands/reefs: Okininotori: a shima, or a reef’?
A classical approach to the geopolitics of the sea/ the myth of sea power: A.T. Mahan theoretical positions / China as a maritime power and the South China Sea competition (Spratly, Paracel and more)
Sea power, sea nodes and islands as U.S. bases: The Hawai’i and Pearl Harbor, Midway and Wake, Guam
Sea power, sea nodes and islands as overseas U.S. bases/ bases of empire and lily pads: Guantanamo, Micronesia and Marshall Islands, Okinawa, Diego Garcia
LSMPAs (Large Scale Maritime Protected Areas): conservation or geopolitics?
Extra-territoriality and Cruise tourism as an example of globalization
Geopolitics of the oceans and environmental justice
Ecology and Sustainability in the Anthropocene
Concepts and methods in Environmental Justice
Case studies and research examples
Prerequisites
An adequate grasp of the perspectives of the relevant social sciences (geography, politics, economics, law, and sociology).
Capacity of working according to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Teaching form
Lectures
Textbook and teaching resource
1. Political geography, geopolitics, critical geopolitics.
The political geography of the sea: a classical approach (maritime boundaries and Law of the Sea, transport and trade, strategy and warfare)
Glassner M.I., The new political geography of the sea, Political Geography Quarterly, 1986, pp. 6-8
A (critical) political geo-graphy of the sea? (thinking about the sea / representing the sea / exploiting the “geopolitical features” of the sea)
Steinberg, P.E. (1999) Navigating to Multiple Horizons: Toward a Geography of Ocean-Space, The Professional Geographer, 51, 3, pp. 366-375
2. Geo-graphy and the power of representation: The geo-graphy of the ocean sea
Dividing (and naming) the ocean sea
Steinberg, P.E. (1999), Lines of divison, lines of connection: Stewardship in the world ocean, Geographical Review 89, 2, pp. 254-264
The East sea/ Sea of Japan case study
Chi Sang-Hyun, One feature, two names and many issues: The political geographies of naming the sea between Korea and Japan, eastsea1994.org/data/bbsData/14912842071.pdf
3. The “political geography of the sea”: the territorialisation of the sea
Territorial claims and islands disputes (Dokdo-Takeshima)
Suk Kyoon Kim (2008), Understanding Maritime Disputes in Northeast Asia: Issues and Nature, Int'l J. Marine & Coastal L., pp. 213-247
4. Geographical definitions and island disputes (Sankeku-Diaoyu)
McCormack G. (2013), Much Ado over Small Islands: The Sino-Japanese Confrontation over Senkaku/Diaoyu, The Asia-Pacific Journal, 11, 21, pp. 1-20
climate change and vanishing islands/reefs (Okininotori: a shima, or a reef’?)
Yamamoto L., Esteban M. (2010), Vanishing Island States and sovereignty, Ocean & Coastal Management 53, pp. 1–9
5. A classical approach to the geopolitics of the sea: the myth of sea power (A.T. Mahan)
Sumida J. (1999): Alfred Thayer Mahan, geopolitician, Journal of Strategic Studies, 22, 2-3, 39-62
China as a maritime power and the South China Sea competition
Nohara J.J. (2017) Sea power as a dominant paradigm: the rise of China’s new strategic identity, Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies, 6, 2, pp. 210-232
6. Sea power, sea nodes and islands as U.S. bases
The Hawai’i and Pearl Harbor, Midway and Wake, Guam
Vine D., (2015) Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World, Metropolitan Books, New York, Introduction, Capp. 1 and 2
7. Sea power, sea nodes and islands as overseas U.S. bases: bases of empire and lily pads
Guantanamo, Micronesia and Marshall Islands, Okinawa, Diego Garcia
Vine D., (2015) Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World, Metropolitan Books, New York, Cap 3.
8. LSMPAs (Large Scale Maritime Protected Areas): conservation or geopolitics?
Sand P.H. (2012), ‘Marine protected areas’ off UK overseas territories: comparing the South Orkneys Shelf and the Chagos Archipelago, The Geographical Journal, 178, 3, pp. 201–207
Leenhardt P., Cazalet B., Salvat B., Claudet J., Feral F. (2013). The rise of large-scale marine protected areas: Conservation or geopolitics? Ocean & Coastal Management, 85, pp. 112-118
9. Extra-territoriality 2: Cruising ships: Cruise tourism as an example of globalization? (History and Development, Crews, Employment, exploitation)
- Political Ecology: a Critical Introduction. Robbins, P. (2012). Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9780470657324
- Environmental justice (local and global). Martínez-Alier, J. (1997). Capitalism, Nature, Socialism, 8(1), 91–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/10455759709358725
- Environmental (in)justice in the Anthropocene ocean. Bennett, N. J., Alava, J. J., Ferguson, C. E., Blythe, J., Morgera, E., Boyd, D., & Côté, I. M. (2023). Marine Policy, 147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105383
Semester
Second Semester
Assessment method
2 papers 2,000-2,500 word paper on two issues analyzed during the course and selected together with the instructor - oral discussion
No mid-term assessment
It will be evaluated the student's ability to critically analyse situations using the conceptual tools learned during the course.
The evaluation criteria adopted are:
(a) the relevance of the topic
(b) the ability to synthesize
(c) the property of language/lexicon
(d) the ability to make connections, the use of critical and strategic thinking
Office hours
by appointment, in person or online
Room 358/U7 third floor
