06 Geopolitical codes
What is a geopolitical
code?
Geopolitical A geopolitical code is a country's way of positioning
code itself with the world.
Geopolitical codes: the
main assumptions
1) Who are our current and potential allies?
2) Who are our current and potential enemies?
3) How to keep current and take care of
Geopolitical potential allies?
code: 5 4) How can we counter current enemies and
assumptions potential threats?
5) How do we motivate these four assumptions
to our public opinion and the international
community?
Geopolitical Exercise: present a geopolitical code of a selected state
code
Scales of geopolitical
codes
Local (in relation to the surroundings -
Scales of neighboring countries)
geopolitical Regional (PRC towards Southeast Asia, Egypt
codes in the Arab world)
Global (United States as a global power)
Geopolitical codes and
dynamics of world
leadership
The global geopolitical context is the sum of the geopolitical
Geopolitical codes of all countries
codes and
Some geopolitical codes are more influential, for example the US
dynamics of means more to the world than Palau
world
leadership Geopolitical codes of Germany, USA and Great Britain during
World War II
Great Britain wanted to maintain its weakness
Geopolitical
codes and Germany wanted to defeat Great Britain (race of maritime powers
since the end of the 19th century; Ratzel justified that the
dynamics of Americans had conquered the Indian territories and therefore
world Germany also had the right to conquer the Slavic ones)
leadership The United States was implementing the idea of world leadership
War on terrorism as a
geopolitical code
Bin Laden's Statement (1998) He pointed out the US, its allies, and
especially Israel, as enemies of the Muslims
The Americans pursue political and economic goals, but de facto act to
geopolitical protect Israel, to divert attention from the occupation of
Jerusalem and the persecution of Muslims
code of He called for a fight by all means available
al-Qaeda Bin Laden broadly defined the group of his allies without
indicating any groups or countries by name
In response, Americans focused on protecting national security
and global order, especially after September 11, 2001
National Security Strategy (2002): the so-called Bush Doctrine
The American The enemy: the fight against global terrorism; bandit states; axis
geopolitical of evil (Iraq, Iran, North Korea); weapons of mass destruction
code Purpose: individual freedom
Means: A strong world economy improves US national security
"Time to confirm the essential role of US military force"
Geopolitical code: a
cultural war
Geopolitical activities are given importance to justify their conduct
Culture: a tool for creating heroes and enemies
Cultural wars The us-them division
Jokes depreciating opponents
movies, including fictional ones
