Course syllabus Geopolitics and Global Military Perspectives, 1500-2000
Swedish name: Geopolitik och globala militära perspektiv, 1500-2000
Course code:
2MH089
Valid from semester:
Autumn Term 2026
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
7.5 credits
Progression:
A1N
Grading scale:
Three-grade scale
Main field of study:
History with specialisation in Military History
Department:
Department of Military History
Subject:
History with Specialization in Military History
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott (KUS)
Decision date:
2025-05-20
Entry requirements
Courses in the humanities or social sciences of at least 90 credits. In addition, knowledge of English equivalent to English B or English 6 is required.
Course content and structure
The aim of the course is that the student through the teaching activities of the course independently gains insight into the application of geopolitical theories as well as their usefulness. During the course “Grand Strategy” and other global military perspectives will also be scrutinised, from the birth of ‘Great Power’ global empires to the present day. Colonial wars, the development of sea-power theory and analysis of the shifting balance of power form central components of this course.
The course combines lectures, seminars and self-study in order to facilitate an understanding the evolution of geopolitical theories, their explanatory potential and explanations of the limitations of the same during various historical epochs.
Seminars allow for deeper research into the course themes while also providing students with the opportunity to hone their oral skills. In combination the learning methods and activities give the student a holistic overview of geopolitics and global military perspectives. The course ends with an individually written paper exploring the themes of the course.
Seminars
Lectures
Independent studies
The course combines lectures, seminars and self-study in order to facilitate an understanding the evolution of geopolitical theories, their explanatory potential and explanations of the limitations of the same during various historical epochs.
Seminars allow for deeper research into the course themes while also providing students with the opportunity to hone their oral skills. In combination the learning methods and activities give the student a holistic overview of geopolitics and global military perspectives. The course ends with an individually written paper exploring the themes of the course.
Type of instruction
Seminars
Lectures
Independent studies
Objectives
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Knowledge and understanding
- disply knowledge and understanding regarding geopolitical theory, global military perspectives and processes related to international powershifts
Competence and skills
- critically and systematically integrate knowledge pertaining to geopolitical theory and demonstrate an ability to analyse, evaluate and assess complex geopolitical theories
- demonstate consolidated oral and written scientific communicative abilities in order to discuss geopolitical theory and global perspectives as they pertain to early modern and modern warfare
- demonstrate an improved holistic ability regarding the relationships between geopolitics and other types of macrotheories and demonstrate how these can help explain the historical course of events, conflicts and the processes behind global powershifts
Judgement and approach
- identify further requirements of knowledge within the field and take responsibility for the attainment of additional academic knowledge.
Examination formats
The course is examined through the student’s active and constructive participation in the mandatory course seminars and by the delivery of an individually written paper.
The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order to achieve a passing grade on the course. Supplementary assignments shall be submitted no later than three working days after the result and supplementary assignment for the examination in question have been notified. Examination papers submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.
The student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG) for the individually written paper and a two-point grading scale: Fail (U) and Pass (G) for the seminars. Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.
In order to gain a Pass (G) for the entire course, pass (G) is required for the individually written paper and seminars. To gain a Pass with Distinction (VG) for the entire course, a VG is required for the individually written paper and a Pass (G) for the seminars.
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order to achieve a passing grade on the course. Supplementary assignments shall be submitted no later than three working days after the result and supplementary assignment for the examination in question have been notified. Examination papers submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.
Grading
The student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG) for the individually written paper and a two-point grading scale: Fail (U) and Pass (G) for the seminars. Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.
In order to gain a Pass (G) for the entire course, pass (G) is required for the individually written paper and seminars. To gain a Pass with Distinction (VG) for the entire course, a VG is required for the individually written paper and a Pass (G) for the seminars.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer offered or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.
Other regulations
- The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
- If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
- The course director will conduct an evaluation on the completion of the course, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.