COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 503	C	3	3	0	0	3	7.5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Lisen Bashkurti lbashkurti@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Lisen Bashkurti lbashkurti@epoka.edu.al , Tuesdays 14:30-17:30 hours
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Elective
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations
Classroom and Meeting Time:	E 310
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	75%
Course Description:	This is a master level course. The aim of this course is to examine the interconnectedness of geography and politics through an overview of political, economic and social aspects of international relations from a geographical perspective. This course has an integrative character, and basic knowledge on globalization, international affairs and current events is required. The course will provide knowledge on the role of states, individuals, local bodies and transnational organizations in the changing world of political geography. Important themes include: geopolitics, territory, nationalism, borders and mobility policies, conflict, militarism and gender. Current events from different regions of the world will be used to illustrate theoretical concepts. Completing this course should equip students with the ability of understanding and analyzing the main themes and events in political geography.
Course Objectives:	At the end of this syllabus students deliver their judgments on various international situations and issues; to write and talk about what kind of inter-connection exist between politics and geography historically; the way the integrations process is diminishing national state territory; how the theory or doctrines background on several international situations and also influence on crisis and crisis resolutions; what kind of solutions on these relationship among individuals, national state and trans-state organizations act internationally to address the global transformation of political geography. Finally, the MA students should be focused on latest development in Balkan after the Fall of Berlin Wall. They should be able to demonstrate their ability and skills on making their own analysis and applying this module knowledge for the purpose of their analysis in real situation when it is taking place. Inter-activity will be very sufficient to them.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Concept of state, independence, sovereignty
2	Concepts of territory, territoriality, territorial integrity
3	Concepts of integration and globalization and the role of state

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Political geography/ Territory, Territoriality & Sovereign Territorial State
2	Concepts in Political Geography/Nations, Nationalism & Nation State
3	Global Economic Integration & Demise of the Sovereign Territorial Nations State
4	Symptom of Global Economic Integrations
5	Global Political Integration and the Demise of the Sovereign Territorial Nation State
6	Symptoms of New Global Political Order
7	Global/Local Identities and the Demise the Sovereign Territorial Nation State
8	Alternative to Nationalism/Al Qaeda and Delinking of Nation State
9	Midterm Global/Local (but not national) Events
10	Global Response to World Terror/ Current Challenge/Different Level of Analysis
11	Regional Terror organization and Sovereign Territorial of Nation State/Middle East
12	Imperial Hegemonic Geopolitical Doctrine and Sovereign Territorial of Nation State
13	The Balkan Political Geography/Territory, Territoriality & Sovereign Territorial State. Balkan after the Fall of Berlin Wall/Between Disintegration & Integrations
14	Final exam

Prerequisite(s):	N/A
Textbook(s):	Robert J. Jackson, “Global Politics in the 21st century”, Cambridge University Press, New York 2013, ISBN 978-0-521-76745-3 Stefano Guzzini, “The Return of geopolitics in Europe?”, Cambridge Studies in International Relations, 2012, ISBN 978-1-02734-3 Bullent Aras, “Turkey and the Greater Middle East”, Tasam Publication, Istanbul 2004, ISBN 975-6285-00-1 Vildan Serin, Bedal Aral, Murat Kose,”The Geopolitical and Economic Transition in Euro-Asia - Problems and Prospects”, Global Scholarly Publication, 2004
Additional Literature:	Lisen Bashkurti, DIPLOMACIA-Bazat Teorike, Universiteti Iliria, ADSh, Tirane, 2016. Arben Puto, E Drejta Nderkombetare Publike, Tirane, 2009
Laboratory Work:	N/A
Computer Usage:	N/A
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	To understand the basic theoretical concepts about territory, territoriality and sovereign territorial state to be used in scientific terminology.
2	To have good understanding on political geography and the following concepts: Nations, Nationalism & Nation State.
3	To develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skill dealing the globalization and political and economic integration process and their impact on political geography.
4	To deepen knowledge and analytical methodology concerning the symptoms of new world order and terrorism, their co-existence and contradictory interaction regarding world peace, security, democracy and human rights.
5	To be able to use all theoretical concepts, fundamental knowledge and analytical methodology on Balkan region research about territorial claims, boarder issues, minority matter and good neighbor policy based on EU lines.
7

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	5
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	5
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	5
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	5
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	5
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	3
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	3
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	5
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	40
Presentation	0	0
Project	1	50
Attendance		10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	2	32
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	3	48
Mid-terms	1	20	20
Assignments	1	67	67
Final examination	1	20	20
Other			0
Total Work Load:			187
Total Work Load/25(h):			7.48
ECTS Credit of the Course:			7.5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER