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. € 2011
€ 2012
€ 2009

12. Lisbon Treaty
The EU Parliament

13. Member Nations of the European Union
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
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)
1957 blue
green
red
yellow
orange
purple
2007 lavender

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.