Geopolitics as a Field of Knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Geopolitics as a Field of Knowledge - Essay Example It is at this point that geopolitics meets the requirements of a field of knowledge, being close to geography (Colledge 1). The relationship between geopolitics and geography is made clear through the following example: When choosing a region for establishing their state governors are likely to prefer an area which has â€Å"natural barriers, such as mountains, so that its security costs are low† (Lind 182). The specific phenomenon implies that an individual cannot take effective geopolitical decisions unless he is aware of the characteristics and potentials of a region in terms of geography. The relationship between geopolitics and geography, as explained above, reveals another dimension/ characteristic of geopolitics: the potential of this concept to have the form of a policy practice. In the example presented above, the policymaker has to be based on geographical data, as related to an area, in order to decide which region offers most advantages as a center of social and economic life. At this point, geopolitics interacts with the political theory. Reference is made especially to the â€Å"republican security theory† (Lind 182) which is based on the following perception: â€Å"a democratic republic can survive only if its security costs are low† (Lind 182). However, such target cannot be achieved unless particular methods are employed. Primarily, a military force that is able to protect the republic from its enemies needs to be organized (Lind 182). Such plan can be effectively developed only through the identification of appropriate methods; it is at thi s point that geopolitics shows its characteristic as a set of methods. The use of geopolitics in developing critical state decisions is understood through the example of Britain: British preferred to establish their state in a region that is surrounded by water so that enemies are discouraged from invading in British territory (Lind 182).