Contextualization

Geopolitics is a fundamental area of study that focuses on the analysis of states, nations, regimes, conflicts, international political relations, and how these elements are all intrinsically linked to geographical location. Through geopolitics, you will understand the complexities and subtleties of the globalized world we live in.

Geopolitics is divided into several thematic axes that include the analysis of how geographical location affects politics and international relations, how politics and economy are influenced by geography, how culture and identity are shaped by geography, and how this, in turn, affects international politics and so on.

Introduction

In this project, you will investigate and analyze important concepts of World Geopolitics. The project will address topics such as the role of international corporations, world economic organizations and their influence on people's lives, culture, consumption, and mobility.

In carrying out the project, you will also develop and interpret various bar and pie charts, thematic and schematic maps (sketches), essential for understanding geopolitical phenomena. In addition to these technical skills, we will also develop socio-emotional skills, such as time management, communication, problem-solving, creative thinking, and proactivity.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Analysis of World Geopolitics - Corporations, Economy, and Culture in Everyday Life.

Project Objective

Investigate the influence of geopolitics on our daily lives, addressing four thematic axes: international corporations, world economic organizations, cultural geography, and human mobility. This will be done through data collection and analysis, production of charts and thematic maps, group discussions and debates, and finally, the creation of a detailed report.

Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5, and each group will be tasked with investigating one of these four thematic axes. Students must collect and analyze relevant data, conduct field research, carry out interviews if necessary, and produce charts and thematic maps to demonstrate the findings of their investigation.

Required Materials

• Internet access for research
• Books and other literary sources relevant to the investigated theme
• Software for chart preparation (can be Excel, Google Sheets, etc.)
• Software for creating thematic maps (we recommend using the free program QGIS)

Step by Step

1. Define which of the four thematic axes your group will investigate.

2. Conduct preliminary research on the topic to gain a basic understanding of the subject.

3. Define a clear and objective research question to be answered or a thesis to be proven or refuted.

4. Collect and analyze relevant data to answer your research question. This may include online data, field surveys, interviews, among others.

5. Create charts and thematic maps to visualize what was discovered through data research.

6. Conduct group discussions to interpret the data, charts, and maps, and reach a conclusion on the research question.

7. Write a detailed report following the document structure detailed above (Introduction, Development, Conclusions, Bibliography), consolidating all that was learned during the project.

Project Deliverables

• A detailed written report, which should follow the structure of Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography. The introduction should contextualize the theme, relevance, and real-world application. The development should explain the theory of the theme, detail the methodology used, present and discuss the results obtained. The conclusion should summarize the main points, explain the learnings and conclusions drawn from the project. The bibliography should indicate all reference sources used for the project.

• Bar and pie charts, thematic maps, and sketches produced during the project that were relevant to the conclusion of the work.

• Oral presentation by the group, explaining the entire process, from the choice of the thematic axis to the final conclusions, displaying the produced maps and charts and explaining the relevance of each.

This project should take more than twelve hours per student to be executed and will involve at least two disciplines (Geography and Social Studies).

Remember, it is important to consider how geopolitics can have a significant impact on everyone's daily life, and your work will be essential to raise awareness of how these concepts apply to common aspects of life.