Shifting Allegiances – The Geopolitics of Fragmentation.
Online course
Oh, for the days of the cold war, or even the 20 years after that. We may not have liked the way the world was organized, but at least it was organized. Now it’s not. Don’t be fooled by the apparent Western unity behind Ukraine. Firstly, it is not likely to last and secondly the Western powers have a shrinking share of global power. Now, geopolitics is more like Mean Girls: everything is transactional and generally nasty. Countries shift allegiances like teenage girls change clothes. One day Turkey behaves like a member of NATO. The next day it’s cozying up to Russia and Iran. India holds itself out a as a democracy and then basically supports Russia’s war to get access to cheap oil. Latin America is in the U.S. orbit until China offers a better deal, for now. Non-state actors have increased power and influence, further disorganizing the international system.
In this course we’ll explore what a disorganized international system looks like and what it means. We’ll look at how key countries, regions and non-state actors are gaming the system. Can the world be reasonably secure and prosperous when no one or two nations, and/or international institutions are in charge? How can problems of pandemics, climate change, hunger, water scarcity, financial crises and competition for resources be addressed in this geopolitical scenario? Where does this all lead? Are we looking at something like the 1930’s again? Or maybe it’s good in that less powerful countries can adopt independent foreign policies. We’ll explore both sides.
Moderator: John Simke
Dates and Time: Fridays, September 9, 16, 23 and 30 2-4 PM
Location: Online
Cost: $24
Booking: Below is the link to book the course. See booking terms and conditions here
In this course we’ll explore what a disorganized international system looks like and what it means. We’ll look at how key countries, regions and non-state actors are gaming the system. Can the world be reasonably secure and prosperous when no one or two nations, and/or international institutions are in charge? How can problems of pandemics, climate change, hunger, water scarcity, financial crises and competition for resources be addressed in this geopolitical scenario? Where does this all lead? Are we looking at something like the 1930’s again? Or maybe it’s good in that less powerful countries can adopt independent foreign policies. We’ll explore both sides.
Moderator: John Simke
Dates and Time: Fridays, September 9, 16, 23 and 30 2-4 PM
Location: Online
Cost: $24
Booking: Below is the link to book the course. See booking terms and conditions here