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1. Geopolitics &
Supranationalism
What is Geopolitics?
Organic Theory
Lebensraum
Heartland Theory
Rimland Theory
Supranationalism & EU

2. How do Geopolitics Help us
Understand the World?
 “Geopolitics is the interplay among geography, power,
politics, and international relations. Geopolitics brings
locational considerations, environmental contexts,
territorial perspectives, and spatial assumptions to the
fore.” -- de Blij 262
 Geopoltics fit into two categories:
 German School: explanation why certain states are
powerful and how to be become powerful
 British/American School: offers strategic advice for
states and explains why countries interact at the
global scale the way they do

3. Critical Geopolitics
 Ideas of intellectuals of statecraft about
places
 Influence and reinforce their political behaviors
and policy choices
 Less about prediction
 Affect how ordinary people process notions
of places and politics
 For example: Cold War was ‘us’ v. ‘them’
 ‘us’ equals pro-democracy, independent, self-
sufficient and free
 ‘them’ equals in some way all things opposite

4. Ratzel’s Organic State Theory
 Organic Theory: Friedrich Ratzel
 Based on Darwin’s theories of evolution
 Need of a state for territory and overseas
connections in order to survive
 Described expansion of empires and large
states in the 19th century
 Eventually contributed to Nazi expansion

5. Mackinder’s Heartland Theory
 Who rules East Europe commands the
Heartland
 Who rules the Heartland commands the World
Island
 Who rules the World Island commands the
world

7. What Are Supranational
Organizations?
 Supranational organization: A separate
entity composed of three or more states that
forge an association and form an
administrative structure for mutual benefit in
pursuit of shared goals
 Examples:
 European Union
 United Nations
 WTO (World Trade Organization)
 OPEC (Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries)

9. A European Timeline
 Shortly after WWII: Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Lux)
 1947: OEEC (Organization for European Economic Cooperation)
 1951: ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) Belgium, W.
Germany, France, Italy Luxembourg & Netherlands
 1957: EEC (European Economic Community) Treaty of Rome- consisted
of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Italy
 1973: EC (European Community) Ireland, UK and Denmark
 Custom duties were abolished between all states in 1977
 1981: Greece became a member
 1986: Spain and Portugal became member of EC
 1992: EU (European Union) Treaty of Maastricht
 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden joined EU
 1999: Euro introduced in circulation
 2004: EU expanded to include Cyprus, Malta, Czech Rep., Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia
 2007: two new members, Romania and Bulgaria join Union

10. What is Unique about EU?
 It is not a state, nor a simple organization of states (unique in this
regard)
 EU has multifaceted gov’t structure; three capitals (Brussels,
Strasbourg, Frankfurt & the Hague) and billions in monetary flow
 EU extends into foreign relations, domestic issues, military policies
 States have sovereignty within the EU, but must abide by EU
guidelines in order to remain a participant in the EU
 EU membership is optional, but has proven to be highly sought
after
 There is no Constitution, but a Treaty (Treaty of Lisbon 2007) that
binds member states to set standard of laws by 2009
 Parliament would be given more leeway in proposing and changing
laws
 A Day in the Life of a Parliamentary Member

11. € 2012
€ 2009
€ 2011

12. The EU Parliament
Lisbon Treaty

13. Member Nations of the European Union
1957
blue
1973
green
1981
red
1986
yellow
1995
orange
2004
purple
2007
lavender
Europe
Atlantic Ocean
Faroe Islands
(Denmark)
Norwegian Sea
Iceland
Sweden
Finland
Norway
Poland
Czech Rep.
Hungary
Slovakia
Romania
Ukraine
Russia
Belarus
Moldova
U.K.
Ireland
Spain
Germany
France
Belgium
Neth.
Lux.
Italy
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Russia
Bulgaria
Serbia
Alb.
Bos.&
Herz.
Mont.
Greece
Portugal
Turkey
Cyprus
Mace.
Croatia
Slovenia
Austria
Liech.
San Marino
Monaco
Malta
Tunisia
Algeria
Morocco
Switz.
Denmark
Mediterranean Sea
Greenland
(Denmark) Jan Mayen
(Norway)

15. Reaction Prompt:
 Based on your understanding of ‘how
the EU works’ from what is being
discussed and read, determine the
level of sovereignty each member
state has. Is the European Union good
for Europe? Provide in-depth
reasoning.