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Russian geopolitics - constants and changes after the split of the USSR
Vosátková, Veronika ; Tomeš, Jiří (advisor) ; Jelen, Libor (referee)
As the diploma's thesis it was chosen the theoretical analysis of the geopolitical position of Russia. The primary objective of this study is the evaluation of current geopolitics of the Russian Federation after the collapse of Soviet Union and outlines its future development. This work tries to answer a few basic questions. What is the current geopolitical situation in Russia, in what direction it develops, and whether we can declare a major shift to any direction. The work is divided into several main parts. Introduction is followed by a theoretical grasp of key concepts and the main actors involved in geopolitics. The other two parts contain an analysis of the relationship of Russia to key actors such as the US and NATO, the EU, China, the near neighborhood in Central Asia and the Transcaucasia and geopolitics of oil and natural gas. The last is practical part, in which the information from the previous sections are applied to specific examples in Russian foreign policy. Keywords: Geopolitics, Russia, eurasianism, foreign policy, the US, the EU, China, Central Assia, NATO, energy policy, oil, natural gas
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Population Development of Kazakhstan: Geographic, Economic and Geopolitical aspects
Rodionov, Viktor ; Pavlík, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Tomeš, Jiří (referee)
Geopolitical role and population development of the Republic of Kazakhstan: recent developments and prospects V. Rodionov Abstract Present research is an attempt to define the influence of the demographic factor on geopolitical development of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is of a specific interest herein due to its strategically important geographical location and presence of natural resources. Taking into account these factors, Kazakhstan has certain claims on leadership in the region. At the moment, Kazakhstani geopolitical leadership is based on economic achievements of the country and its political stability. At the same time demographic factor is quite sensitive from the strategic point of view. Kazakhstani population is relatively inconsiderable in number for its region. Moreover, some negative tendencies of distribution of population and its structural changes are causing concern. The government is aware of the gravity of these problems and is making certain efforts to change the situation. Nevertheless, it is very important to acknowledge the demographic factor as strategically important.
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Energy Security and U.S. Middle East Geopolitics
Vaculíková, Eva ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Kučerová, Irah (referee)
Decades of cooperation between the United States and its Middle Eastern partners have come to a turning point. The 2008 Shale Revolution has brought the United States heretofore unknown scale of energy independece. The Revolution has created an unprecedented increase in United States' unconventional cost-effectively extractable energy reserves. It is estimated that within next two decades the United States should change from net importer of hydrocarbons to net exporter. There is a lot of speculation, whether due to possible energy independece, the foreign policy towards its Middle Eastern partners would change and whether the United States would isolate itself. Aim of this work is to explore the impact of the Shale Revolution on energy security of the United States and its implications for future geopolitics towards the Middle East. The main question to be explored is whether it would change United States' geopolitics at all and if yes, how would it look like. Since domestic oil prices are based on global energy prices and since Middle Eastern partners are unique in their capability of supplying global energy markets with large quantities of oil in the long run, even after the Shale Revolution it will be essential for the United States to continue its cooperation with its Middle Eastern partners....
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The Challenge of Modern Maritime Piracy for International Community
Szuma, Gabriel ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Landovský, Jakub (referee)
Piracy is one of the oldest known illegal activities, and its very existence endangers the international arena due to its lawless nature and ruthless methods. Todays' piracy, particularly prominent in Africa and Asia, has contemporary political and social implications, and is viewed as a new threat to international order. The aim of this thesis is to present piracy as both local and regional issues, and an international problem, and to observe how these two separate perspectives come together. It analyses how modern-day piracy operates, where it thrives, and what are its geopolitical impacts. It also provides a valuable addition to current views on the state of global affairs and geopolitics; by examining international legislative and interventions created to tackle piracy, and by showing that their effectiveness is insufficient. The text argues that the role of states, their sovereignty, and their lack of it are closely connected to piracy, and that the international arena, and contemporary efforts of nations and international organisations to confront piracy are mainly driven by power struggles. It is concluded that piracy is a result of continuous global tensions, thus allowing this crime to exist and expand. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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The Impact of Climate Change on the Geopolitics of the Arctic Circle
Turnham, James ; Landovský, Jakub (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
At the top of the world, worn like a crown, lies the Arctic. For much of human history it has been home to only a few hardy souls, eking out an existence in a cold unforgiving land. However, as the ages have marched by, man has attempted to explore and exploit the region as despite the Arctic's hostility, it contains a vast array of wealth. However, despite the richness of the land, remarkably little geopolitical competition has occurred above the Arctic Circle. The vast proportion of scholars and observers in the modern era have viewed the Arctic as a place where, perhaps uniquely, the quintessential regime of security dilemmas and competition between great powers, portrayed by realist scholars, has failed to manifest itself. However, as climate change wracks the region, seeing temperatures soar, the permafrost thaw, and the sea-ice rapidly becoming no more, the Arctic has reached a critical juncture where both the technology and the climate allow for an expanding human presence in the Arctic Circle and the economically viable exploitation of its wealth. This paper seeks to discover the impact of these drastic changes on the great power politics and potential future securitisation of the region.
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Astopolitics
Giannetti, Giuliano ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Landovský, Jakub (referee)
Diploma thesis "Astropolitics" analyses of the evolution of the geopolitical a strategic thought from the classical geopolitical school of Mackinder to the Astropolitik, which is the brainchild of E.Dolman. This essay is focused mainly on space and on the military doctrines and strategies that were applied to it from Cold war to the present. The last capitol analyses the potential of the environment in the present and in the imminent future. A last thought will be dedicated to the cyberspace. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Selected Geopolitical Aspects of the EU's Energy Security
Lang, Petr ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Hnízdo, Bořivoj (referee)
This thesis deals with the geopolitical aspects resulting from the increasing EU dependence on natural gas imports from the external suppliers. In addition to the investigation into he current situation of the EU market with natural gas, nature of major suppliers is explored, the thesis tries to identify the main risks to the security of supplies, especially the possibility of politically motivated supply disruption. From a broader perspective, it scrutinizes whether the natural gas market is driven by the market-based principles and regulated by international organizations (Market and Institutions scenario) or the bilateral relations between producer and consumer are the decisive factor (Regions and Empires scenario). Furthermore, the analysis of relevant documents issued by the EU institutions is also included and the thesis aims to assess the feasibility of the single 2 European external energy policy. Finally, the thesis includes two case-studies: the first one is dealing with energy relations between Russia and Belarus and Ukraine. The second one is dedicated to the Nord Stream gas pipeline project.
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The EU's Response to China's Belt and Road Initiative: A Geopolitical Analysis
Nguyen, Dao ; Kissack, Robert (advisor) ; David, Maxine (referee)
Research on geopolitics primarily focuses on nation-state actors and how geographical factors affect their policy towards other actors in international relations. The EU, as a non-state actor and a normative power, has been understudied through the lens of geopolitics as scholars believed that this Union was unlikely to apply geopolitical thinking in their foreign policy. This thesis aims to explore to what extent and under what circumstances an actor, notably a non- state actor, applies geopolitical theories in the foreign policy. The paper argues that geopolitics theories, both classical and critical ones, have been increasingly able to explain the external relations of the EU, particularly after 2013 when the Chinese government launched Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Furthermore, geopolitics theories also add more values to understand the complexity of the EU' foreign policy, given the fact that there is no single theory that can explain it comprehensively. As explanatory research, qualitative methods, including discourse analysis, content analysis, and process tracing, will be used to examine how the EU has responded to BRI. The thesis first reviews the scholarship on geopolitics and EU's foreign policy. Next, it investigates how China applies geoplitics in BRI. Last, it focuses on how the...
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US, Russian and Chinese Arctic Policy as precursors for their foreign policy
Burda, Leonardo ; Svoboda, Karel (advisor) ; Šír, Jan (referee)
Leonardo Burda Thesis Abstract Warming waters in the High North return the Arctic Circle to the forefront of the world's geopolitical chessboard. Reports of ice-free waters in the Northwest Passage, coupled with a resurgence in interest from arctic and near arctic nations displays the returning geostrategic, economic and political value of firm Arctic policy. This thesis will articulate that the Arctic Policy of Russia, China and the US shows scalable potentiality into the nation's general Foreign Policy model. Through the analysis of the previously stated nation's policies, this study aims to determine how Arctic nations can aptly respond to changes in international arctic and foreign policy. Building on published papers, studies and geostrategic conclusions, it asks: What arctic policy decisions have Russia, China and The USA made within the last decade? To what extent can these nation's arctic policies be exported to their general foreign policy? In this context, Arctic Policy and Foreign Policy decisions are determined by actions taken internationally and within the Arctic during a fixed period. The conclusion of this study articulates the general importance of keeping a close eye to nation's actions within and towards the Arctic as their operations within the Arctic Community often do reflect their...
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Ve světě dronů: Přehodnocení realistického pojetí suverenity
Veselý, Tomáš ; Vostal, Filip (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
This work assesses the evolving link between drone warfare and the concept of state sovereignty. In doing so, the paper critiques the existing realist and neo- realist discourses that maintain anthropocentric and state-centric assumptions in the analysis of not only the field of Security Studies, but International Relations as a whole. The phenomenon of drone warfare proves the opposite of such assumptions. The role of the state, and indeed the human, is continually decreasing with the involvement of hybrid actors. The drone is the embodiment of complex hybridity combining human and non-human actors alike. To better understand the contemporary execution of sovereignty, particularly in its role of maintaining the monopoly on violence, this paper will explore the premises of post-human perspectives in International Relations. In particular, this paper is inspired by the insights of Actor-Network Theory (ANT), which emphasises equal analysis of human and non-human actors. Sovereignty remains a relevant topic, but through the involvement of hybrid actors, it is devolving into a seemingly arbitrary distribution of violence. The role of human actors in drone warfare is decreasing with the technological improvement of military drones and the military demand for increased drone autonomy. As a result,...
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