Context

Geopolitics is the practice and method of analyzing world politics through a geographical lens. It is the intersection of geography, history, and international politics, focusing on the effects of geography (human and physical) on international politics.

In our daily lives, we often do not realize, but we are surrounded by events and decisions that are influenced by geopolitics. Whether it's the price of the food we consume, the politics of a distant country affecting the global economy, or even the wars and conflicts that occur around the world.

Introduction

The concepts of geopolitics are fundamental to understanding the world we live in and to the formation of a critical and conscious citizen of their role in society. Understanding the dynamics of power and influence among nations, the importance of geographical borders and natural resources, and how political and economic decisions can affect the world's population are just some of the aspects addressed by geopolitics.

Geopolitics also involves understanding how international organizations and corporations influence people's lives in terms of consumption, culture, and mobility. As part of the globalization process, corporations exert a significant influence on our lives, and it is essential for a conscious citizen to understand how this influence works.

Therefore, it is important for students to seek various sources of information to delve deeper into the subject. In addition to the present teaching material, we suggest the following resources:

1. The book "Introduction to Geopolitics" by Josué de Castro, which can be found in bookstores or online.
2. The website "Le Monde Diplomatique Brazil" produces high-quality content on world geopolitics.
3. The YouTube channel "Pequena Biblioteca de Política Internacional" produces in-depth and easily understandable videos on the subject.

Practical Activity: "Geopolitical Objectives of an Imaginary Nation"

Project Objective

This project aims to deepen students' understanding of geopolitics concepts, including international relations, borders, and the influence of organizations and corporations. It is an activity that encourages teamwork and effective communication, requiring research, planning, and analytical skills.

Activity Description

Students, divided into groups of 3 to 5, will create an imaginary nation, defining its geography, natural resources, population, economy, and culture. Each group must define the geopolitical objectives of this nation, considering the role of international organizations and corporations and how these objectives would affect the lives of its population. The groups will present their nations and objectives in a creative way, through a map, a graph, and an explanatory video.

Required Materials

1. Paper and colored pens for creating the map.
2. Computer with internet access for research and video creation.
3. Software for creating graphs (can be Excel, Google Sheets, or others).
4. Camera or smartphone for video recording.

Activity Steps

1. Divide students into groups of 3 to 5.
2. Each group must research and decide on the geography and natural resources of their imaginary nation. These elements will be represented on a hand-drawn map.
3. The group must then research and decide on the population, economy, and culture of their nation. These elements will be represented in a graph.
4. Considering all the previous elements, the group must define the geopolitical objectives of their nation and how they would influence the lives of the population.
5. The geopolitical objectives must be presented in an explanatory video, which can include a narrative, a dramatization, an animation, etc.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, each group must deliver:

1. A hand-drawn map of their imaginary nation.
2. A graph representing the population, economy, and culture of their nation.
3. An explanatory video of up to 5 minutes presenting the geopolitical objectives and how they would influence the lives of the population.

In addition, each student must submit a written report containing four parts: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography. In it, the student must detail all stages of the project, from the creation of the nation to the definition of the geopolitical objectives, as well as discuss the concepts learned and the conclusions drawn. The research sources used must be properly cited.

Note: The activity must be completed and submitted to the teacher within one week from the start date. Each student should dedicate a total of 2 to 4 hours to complete the project, including research, map, graph, and video creation, and report writing.