The Geographic Foundations of National Power
Sept. 14, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9
Zoom – Mondays 10:00 am – 11:30 am – No Class on Sept. 21st
Recent events have reminded us how geography shapes the rise, projection, and limitations of national power. We examine the enduring influence of geography, natural resources, demographics, transportation networks, and strategic locations on state behavior and international competition. We use historical and contemporary case studies, to analyze how geography affects military strategy, economic development, political stability, and foreign policy decision-making.
- Week 1: Empires, neo-empires, and the geography of power projection from Rome to Russia and China
- Week 2: Buffer states, geopolitical origins of the Russia-Ukraine war
- Week 3: Iran, Israel, and the geopolitics of the Middle East: energy, security, and regional power competition
- Week 4: Energy security, Iran energy crisis, geopolitics of oil and natural gas
- Week 5: The post-Soviet space: Russian influence, frozen conflicts, Eurasian security
- Week 6: China’s rise, the Belt and Road Initiative, geography of Eurasian power
- Week 7: South America in global geopolitics, the influence of China, Russia, and the U.S.
- Week 8: Maritime power, strategic chokepoints, critical infrastructure, and the role of geography between and among the super-powers
Olena Lennon, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor of National Security at the University of New Haven, teaching courses on U.S. Foreign and Defense Policy, International Relations, and U.S. National Security. An Eastern Ukraine native, she also serves as an election observer with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Formerly a Fulbright scholar and most recently a Title VIII Scholar at Woodrow Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute in Washington, D.C., she has dedicated her research to domestic and international politics of Ukraine, Eurasian geopolitics and security. Dr. Lennon also serves on the Freedom House team of Ukraine experts, producing a yearly “Freedom in the World” report focused on assessing Ukraine’s domestic political environment. She has also conducted Ukraine country studies training for U.S. advisors to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, under the auspices of the United States European Command (EUCOM) Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC).