OVERVIEW

The course of Geography of Conflicts aims at introducing a general perspective on the relation between geography and current and past conflicts by critically examining and discussing the most relevant international literature and case studies. In addition, it will focus some key topics in the geographical dimension of conflicts and wars around the world.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of Geography and Conflicts provides students with some key topics in the geographical dimension of conflicts and wars around the world: cartography and conflicts; climate change-driven conflicts; political borders; physical geography and battlefield. At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the spatial dimensions of conflicts under a geopolitical perspective and to use a specific geographical vocabulary

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will be able to

- track links between environment and conflict under a geopolitical perspective

- investigate and critically examine the relevant international literature on the topic

- analyse past and current wars and battles by looking at specific geographical elements of the physical landscape

- argue and describe (in both oral and written form) the relation between geography and conflict by developing a specific theme in great depth 

PREREQUISITES

No

TEACHING METHODS

The course will consist of a series of lectures (frontal teaching) where students will be introduced to the most relevant themes of the subject. Frontal teaching will also include some lectures on specific themes by invited experts. In addition, there will be some readings (compulsory for attending students) where some key texts will be analysed and discussed. At the end of the course, students (as groups) will be required to develop in great depth a topic of their choice which will be presented, discussed and developed in written work as part of the examination programme. Further information will be provided on the Aulaweb page of the course. Depending on the epidemiological situation, if necessary, the course will be carried out in distance learning: in that case, all the details will be published on the Aulaweb page of the course.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Cartography and power

Borders/borderscapes

Landscapes of violence/security landscapes

Climate change

Climate change and conflict

Geography of battlefields

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Attending students

Study materials for attending students will be notes and Powerpoint presentations on AULAWEB and articles and book chapters which will be uploaded on AULAWEB during the course.

As essential part of the exam, attending students (as groups) will be required to develop in great depth a topic of their choice which will be presented, discussed and developed in a written work as part of the examination programme.

Non attending students

1) Powerpoint presentations, articles and book chapters uploaded on AULAWEB. 2) In addition, non attending students will be asked to prepare one of the following books:

- Galgano, F. (Ed.) (2019) The Environment-Conflict Nexus, Springer (downloadable from Springer website through Sistema Bibliotecario di Ateneo)

- Winters, H. A. (1998) Battling the Elements: Weather and Terrain in the Conduct of War, The John Hopkins University Press

- Doel, M. (2017) Geographies of Violence: killing space, killing time, Sage Publishing

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PIETRO PIANA (President)

GIAN MARCO UGOLINI

GABRIELE CASANO (Substitute)

STEFANIA MANGANO (Substitute)

MAURO SPOTORNO (Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral. Group work carried out by attending students, even if discussed during the course, forms an integral part of the oral exam

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will allow to evaluate:
- mastery and deepening of knowledge,
- the ability to use the skills developed.
Evaluation criteria are:
- the quality of the oral communication,
- the correct use of the appropriate vocabulary,
- the ability of critical analysis, even on possible cases discussed.

The students who carry out the group work will also be assessed on the quality of the paper as regards the content and formal aspects.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with “Special Needs”: the compensatory/dispensative tools recognized by the Department coordinator, Prof. Aristide Canepa, and by the University Service for students with special needs are applied.