Geopolitics (as in geographical politics) involves three academic disciplines: geography, strategy (as the bridge between policy and combat), and history (p. 7-10). These constituent elements of geopolitical theory (p. xv) are variously known as the tripartite construct (p. xii), trinity of relationships (p.1), trinitarian structure, (p. 8), and trinitarian synthesis (p. 83).
The Research Paper should examine the political, military, economic, and/or cultural effects of geography. Particular attention should be given to military-political policy involving the geographical mediums of war (aka the geographies of war): land, sea, ice (Arctic and Antarctic), air, and space (p. 14, 132).
list of Journal References, a Slideshow, and a Spreadsheet are required in conjunction with the Research Paper.
Geopolitical theories are related not only to the Realist Approach (p. 5) but also the Positivist Approach and should be examined (p. 38) in terms of praxis (p. 152, 223). An empirically testable (p. xii) research question should be asked in the introduction based on theory and answered in the conclusion based on evidence (actual practice) with a deductive transition from geostrategic logic to geostrategic fact. An inductive transition reversing this cause and effect is also possible with geography serving as the dependent rather than independent variable (p. 42, 145). This typically involves process tracing.
The introduction should be followed by a literature review of at least one theory related to the Paper Topic and all citations should match references in the final section of the Paper. The sections between the lit review and conclusion are typically method, results, and discussion. It is expected that the methodology will be qualitative as opposed to quantitative. But students should find at least enough relevant data to prepare a spreadsheet.
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Method
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References