Geopolitics is a category of geography that encompasses current historical and political phenomena.
It aims to interpret the global reality and involves the study of wars, conflicts, ideological and territorial disputes, political issues, international agreements, etc.
Thus, geopolitics focuses on geographic perspectives and histories, thus offering explanations and reflections on the topics covered.
Furthermore, it relies on several areas of knowledge, for example, history, social sciences, politics, economics, etc.
Term Origin
The term “geopolitics” is relatively new, as it was introduced in geography studies from the 20th century onwards.
It was first used in 1899 by Swedish political scientist Rudolf Kjellén (1864-1922). For him, geopolitics establishes a relationship between the State and its territory.
Current Geopolitics
After numerous theories on the field of geopolitics, it was much discussed after the second world war, allied to the different international economic and political relations that emerged.
The main focus was on conflicts, on nations, on states and on territories.
It was only in the 1980s that geopolitics was consolidated. Today, she has a critical view of current events and is very important in exams, entrance exams and Enem.
Attention!
Although Geopolitics and Political Geography share some concepts, the approach of each is different and, therefore, they are autonomous areas.
Geopolitics is more focused on international relations and power between Nations based on current phenomena. She uses strategies and actions to understand these phenomena.
Political geography, on the other hand, focuses on the study of relations between State and territory characterized by the political situation, border issues, etc.
The term political geography was used in 1987 by the German geographer Friedrich Ratzel (1844-1904). Although this area of knowledge already existed, he was the one who expanded the concept and approach.
Geopolitics in Brazil
The main topics discussed in Brazil on geopolitics are:
- Pre-salt
- Land reform
- agricultural resources
- Demography
- Petroleum and the Petrobras
- border protection
- Infrastructure issues
- Mercosur and Unasur
- Industrialization
- Urban growth
- internal political issues
- indigenous question
Geopolitics in the World
The main themes of world geopolitics involve several conflicts between countries in the world:
- Second World War
- Cold War
- Decolonization of Africa and from Asia
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Gulf War
- afghan war
- Iraq war
- Fall of the Berlin Wall
- End of USSR
- Conflicts in Middle East
- Imperialism
- globalization
- Economic blocks
Geopolitics in Enem: Issues
Check below some geopolitical issues that fell on Enem:
1. (Enem-1998) “The abominable effects of nuclear weapons have been felt by the Japanese for over 50 years (1945). Several countries alone have nuclear capacity to compromise life on Earth. Building up their defense system is the right of all nations, but an irresponsible act or carelessness can disrupt, through fear or use, civilized life in vast regions. The non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is important. On the 1st Sunday of June 98, India and Pakistan rejected the UN's condemnation following the explosion of atomic bombs by the two countries, as a nuclear test and celebrated with party, especially in the Pakistan. The Pakistani government (a country that has a majority of the Muslim population) considered that the conviction did not take into account the reason for the dispute: the territory of Kashmir, for which they have fought 3 wars since their independence (in 1947, from the British Empire, which had the Indian Subcontinent as its Cologne). Two-thirds of the Muslim-majority region belongs to India and one-third to Pakistan.”
About time and arguments we can say that:
a) the atomic bomb did not exist in the world before Pakistan existed as a country.
b) force has not been used to try to resolve the problems between Pakistan and India.
c) Kashmir became an independent country in 1947.
d) the governments of India and Pakistan find themselves in a dangerous escalation of problem solving by force.
e) unlike the previous century, at the beginning of the 20th century, the British Empire had no worldwide expression.
Alternative d: The governments of India and Pakistan find themselves in a dangerous escalation of problem solving by force.
2. (Enem 2013)
Disneyland
Japanese multinationals install companies in Hong Kong
And they produce with Brazilian raw material
To compete in the American market
[...]
American Batteries Power British Home Appliances in New Guinea
Arab gasoline fuels American cars in South Africa
[...]
Iraqi children fleeing the war
Cannot get a visa at the American consulate in Egypt
To enter Disneyland
ANTUNES, A. Available at: www.radio.uol.com.br. Accessed on: 3 Feb. 2013 (fragment).
In the song, the coexistence, in the current international context, of the following situations is highlighted:
a) Tightening of customs control and encouragement of speculative capital.
b) Expansion of economic exchanges and selectivity of population flows.
c) Intensification of informational control and adoption of phytosanitary barriers.
d) Increased commercial circulation and deregulation of the financial system.
e) Expansion of trade protectionism and de-characterization of national identities.
Alternative b: Expansion of economic exchanges and selectivity of population flows.
3. (Enem-2015) By the end of 2007, nearly 2 million people had lost their homes and another 4 million were at risk of being evicted. Home values plummeted across most of the US and many families ended up owing more for their homes than the property value itself. This triggered a spiral of foreclosures that further lowered home values. In Cleveland, it was as if a "financial Katrina" hit the city. Abandoned houses, with boards on windows and doors, dominated the landscape in poor neighborhoods, mainly black. In California, abandoned houses were also lined up.
HARVEY, D. The riddle of capital. São Paulo: Boitempo, 2011.
Initially restricted, the crisis described in the text reached global proportions, due to (the)
a) overproduction of consumer goods.
b) industrial collapse of Asian countries.
c) interdependence of the economic system.
d) political isolation of developed countries.
e) fiscal austerity in developing countries.
Alternative c: interdependence of the economic system.
Check themes here current issues that can fall into Enem.
