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.
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
- 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
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.
TEAMS Channel: Geography of Conflicts (code sydix2u)
Cartography and power
Borders/borderscapes
Landscapes of violence/security landscapes
Climate change
Climate change and conflict
Geography of battlefields
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 will be required to develop a group project as explained above
Non attending students
Powerpoint presentations, articles and book chapters uploaded on AULAWEB. In addition, non attending students will be ask 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
Ricevimento: Il ricevimento si tiene il Martedì dalle 14 alle 16 tramite il canale TEAMS “Ricevimento Piana”, codice: rkgn47v. Al fine di evitare sovrapposizioni ed attese si prega preavvertire con anticipo via mail pietro.piana@edu.unige.it in modo da concordare un orario puntuale
PIETRO PIANA (Presidente)
STEFANIA MANGANO
MAURO SPOTORNO
GIAN MARCO UGOLINI
Prova orale
