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Instructors: Dr. Maren Hofius
Event type:
Seminar
Displayed in timetable as:
AM2: Global Arctic
Hours per week:
2
Credits:
4,0
Language of instruction:
English
Min. | Max. participants:
10 | 24
Registration group: AG AM2 (HF, ab WiSe 14/15)
Comments/contents:
As the Arctic is undergoing profound changes in its climate, environment and economics, so is its politics and place in the world. What the Arctic is and where to find it therefore remains a key question to be answered. Whereas the Arctic used to be presented as a distinctive region of international cooperation, remote from global politics, rapidly melting sea ice in the Arctic has successively turned the region into a globally embedded space. To capture both the worldwide implications of a warming Arctic and the impacts of global political dynamics within the region, the term of the 'Global Arctic' has recently gained traction in both policy-making and academic circles, putting the Arctic centre stage in global politics.
This introductory course sets out to identify and understand the changing nature and role of the Arctic in global politics against the backdrop of an emerging 'Global Arctic' discourse. Through the lens of International Relations Theory, especially critical geopolitics, it assesses the underlying historical and political processes, which have contributed to the Arctic’s changing geopolitical role in the world over the last three decades. To that end, the course is structured into three phases: The introductory phase 'Finding the Arctic' provides a historical perspective, paying particular attention to region-building processes in the Circumpolar North. The second phase 'Negotiating the Arctic' turns to the (geo-)politics of the Arctic, looking at the complexity of legal and institutional developments, central Arctic and non-Arctic actors, as well as disputes over territory and authority in the Arctic. The last phase 'Finding the Global Arctic' turns to the Arctic's future, surveying and assessing key future trajectories of the Arctic in a changing geopolitical context.
Learning objectives:
- identify, understand and develop capacity to evaluate central developments, issues and challenges in Arctic politics
- develop an awareness for the rich history of the Arctic, the diverse imaginaries and discourses about it
- obtain knowledge about regional Arctic institutions, and understand their interaction with international institutions engaging in Arctic governance
- identify the identities, interests and strategies of the various Arctic and non-Arctic stakeholders towards the region
- assess future trajectories of Arctic geopolitics
Didactic concept:
Given the current circumstances of remote teaching, this online course will make use of different online tools and alternates between synchronous and asynchronous teaching phases. The platforms used to facilitate interaction are: Zoom, OpenOLAT, as well as STiNE for registration.
In the initial phase of the course, asynchronous teaching, in which the course convenor provides short input presentations and/or videos, alternates with synchronous teaching phases, in which leading questions on texts, but also problems and questions submitted by students are discussed. Breakout rooms will be provided, where suitable. As the course progresses, students are expected to work in small teams both off- and online on designated topics, e.g. Arctic and non-Arctic actors' strategies towards the Arctic. These small teams will be formed at the beginning of the semester.
STiNE: STiNE is used for registration.
Zoom: Zoom will be used for virtual in-class teaching, including text-based discussions and presentations (participants will receive the link by email to the UHH-email account). Office hours are held via Zoom (individual links provided).
OpenOLAT: This platform will serve as the main platform for communicating outside of the virtual classroom. Here, all course material will be uploaded. Course participants will use some of OpenOLAT's collaborative tools, such as 'Forum' or 'Dateidiskussion' to work on individual or group assignments. These form part of the study requirements/'Studienleistungen'.
Further issues managed via OpenOLAT:
- The formation of small groups and their designated topic,
- the creation and submission of the course assignment ('Prüfungsleistung'),
- office hours.
Literature:
Cf. syllabus, uploaded week 1.
Additional examination information:
Leistungsanforderungen:
- B.A.-Hauptfach Politikwissenschaft, Aufbaumodul 2 - Regieren in inter- und transnationalen Institutionen: Studienleistungen (siehe A); zusätzlich kann in dem Seminar eine Hausarbeit als Modulabschlussprüfung des AM 2 absolviert werden (siehe B).
- B.A.-Hauptfach Politikwissenschaft, Wahlbereich: Studienleistungen (siehe A); Hausarbeit nicht möglich.
- B.Sc. Volkswirtschaftslehre: Studienleistungen (siehe A) und Hausarbeit (siehe B).
- B.A.-Nebenfach Politikwissenschaft, Fachbezogener Wahlbereich: Studienleistungen (siehe A); Hausarbeit nicht möglich.
A) Study Requirements/Studienleistungen (unbenotet):
Next to active participation during zoom sessions, contributions to discussions on OpenOLAT (see also 'Vorgehen') as well as short group presentations.
B) Course Assessment/Modulprüfung: Wiki/blog entry*
Bewertungsschema: benotet (RPO)
Length/Umfang: 4000 words
Submission date/Abgabetermin: 31.07.2021
Submission/Abgabeort: TBA
*Note that wiki/blog entries can also be collaboratively written by a small group of students; if it is jointly written, contributions are individually assessed.
Alternative: Course paper/'Hausarbeit'.
Ausgabeort der bewerteten Prüfungsleistung (gegen Empfangsbestätigung nach Eingabe der Noten in STiNE):TBA
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