Political Geography (Theory)

Paper Code: 
25DGEO813
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
This course will develop an understanding to study in relevant details theoretical
concepts and challenges underpinning the study of geography and politics. To identity the political,
economic, and environmental forces that are undermining the modern nation-state system.
Course Outcomes: 
CO201: Develop the understanding about the concept of political geography.
CO202: Acquire the theories of political geography.
CO203: Acknowledge elements of the state.
CO204: Compare the political geography is related to administration.
CO205: Conceptualize electoral Geography.
CO206: Contribute effectively in course specific interaction.

 

12.00
Unit I: 
  • Definition, scope, nature and importance of Political geography.
  • Its relation with other social sciences, history and development of political geography : pre-modern phase (before 19 th century)
12.00
Unit II: 
  • Global strategic views: views of Mackinder,
  • Spykmman,
  • Meining, Hooson,
  • De Seversky.
  • World’s geostrategic regions.
12.00
Unit III: 
  • State and nation, the idea of state, elements of the state: territory, population, organization and power concept of nation, nationalism.
  • Heart of the state: core areas, focus, capital city.
  • Frontiers and boundaries: definitions, classifications and concepts, boundaries as economic barriers, buffer zone, concept of territorial and maritime boundaries, landlocked states, point of access, growth of nations and disintegration of empires, unitary and federal states, dying colonialism and resurgent nationalism, super nationalism.
12.00
Unit IV: 
  • Politics and transportation, geography of foreign aid and economic development
  • Emergence of third world block,
  • politico-geographical study of India,
  • political geography of administration
  • Politico-geographical implications of space research.
12.00
Unit V: 
  • Function, methods and trends of electoral geography:
  • voter’s participation before voting prediction, conceptual model of the voting decision, operationalization of conceptual decision.
  • Gerrymandering in relation to India.
Essential Readings: 
Essential Readings:
1. Adhikari, S.2004: Political Geography, Rawat Publications, Jaipur.
2. Deshpande, C.D.1992: India – A Regional Book Interpretation, Northern Book Centre, New Delhi.
3. Dikshit, R. D. 1982: Political Geography: A Contemporary Perspective, Tata McGraw- Hill
Publication Co, New Delhi.
4. Pounds, N.J.G.1972: Political Geography, McGraw Hill, New York.
5. Guha, J.L. and Chattoraj, P.R : A New Approach to Economic Geography, World Press, Kolkata.
6. Taylor. P. 1985: Political Geography, Longman, London.
References: 
Suggested Readings:
1. Sen, Debabrata, 1975, Basic Principles of Geopolitics and History, Concept Publishing Company.
2. Adhikari, Sudeepta, 2017, Political Geography, Rawat Books Publication, Jaipur.
3. Soja, Edward. W., 1989, Post-Modern Geographies, Sage Publishers.
E-Content:
1. Annals of the National Association of Geographers India – Biannual, National Association of Geographers,
New Delhi 0970-972X
2. The Deccan Geographer (Print only)-Half- Yearly, The Deccan Geographical Society, Pune 0011-7269
Academic Year: 
2025-2026