Evolution of the geopolitical situation of the world. Dynamics of civilisations

general courses

Remote learning

The lecture is an attempt to present the geopolitical history of the world as a history of emerging, development (expansion), disintegration and fall (and sometimes rebirth) of civilizations, their mutual contacts and conflicts, form the most ancient times to the establishment of the contemporary world system, with special reference to the latest times and the role of the US-American civilization in it.

The lecture is an attempt to present the geopolitical history of the world as a history of emerging, development (expansion), disintegration and fall (and sometimes rebirth) of civilizations, their mutual contacts and conflicts, form the most ancient times to the establishment of the contemporary world system, with special reference to the latest times and the role of the US-American civilization in it.

As regards theoretical approach, the lecture presents original author’s concept of “dynamics of civilizations”, it also draws on theories of “grammar of civilizations” (Braudel), clash of civilizations (Huntington), World-System (Wallerstein), center-periphery (Prebisch and others), geopolitical concepts of Z. Brzeziński, etc. The lecture concentrates on geopolitical issues, but it also deals with political, military, economic, technological, cultural and social psychology factors. An important place is dedicated to mechanisms of emerging of empires-civilisations, and in its framework to ways of transfer of innovations and to mental changes

According to the approach presented in this lecture, history of the world went through several stages: 1) pre-Columbian period (many and changing civilizations, contacts and conflicts between civilizations resulting in transfers of knowledge and ideas), 2) the first wave of globalization 1500 – 1800 (expansion of the European civilization on the American continent, contact and conflict of the European civilization with other civilizations, changing centers of the European civilization), 3) the second wave of globalization 1815 - 1914 (consolidation of the world system with the dominant role of the European civilization headed by the UK, emerging of the US-American civilization and its progress in the world system), 4) “geopolitical earthquake” 1914-1949 (disintegration of the world system), 5) cold war and the beginning of the third wave of globalization 1949-1989/91 (bipolar West – East political-ideological system with the USA heading the West, and center-periphery [North-South] system with the USA heading the Center [North]), 6) the golden decade of PAX Americana and acceleration of the third wave of globalization 1989/91 – 2001 (multidimensional domination of the USA in the world system, global expansion of the American values – democracy and free market), 7) toward a multipolar system 2001 – 2011 (growth of the role of emerging powers [BRIC], relative decline of the West, including the USA, in the world system, 8) return of the USA as the global leader?, after 2011 (changes in energy geopolitics and world economy as a result of the “shale revolution”). 9) USA in the present world system: problem or solution? 10. Crisis of globalization and the Chinese challenge

In particular, the lecture presents factors of emerging and expansion of civilization centers – the author’s theory of GKP (“greatness”, “knowledge”, “power”). In this context, the lecture describes circumstances of emergence of the European, Arab-Muslim, Japanese, Moscow-Russian, US-American civilisations and the rebirth of the Chinese civilisation.

1.Roman Szul, Osłabienie Zachodu jako element zmiany w systemie światowym (w) Studia nad geopolityką XX wieku, pod red. Piotra Eberharda, Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN, Warszawa 2013, ss. 45-76

2.Roman Szul, Historyczna zmienność układu centrum – peryferie. Wyłanianie się centrów na peryferiach (w) Peryferie i pogranicza. O potrzebie różnorodności, pod red. Bohdana Jałowieckiego i Sławomira Kapralskiego, Scholar, Warszawa 2011 ss. 188-220

3. Roman Szul, System światowy. Ciągłość i zmiana. (w) Człowiek – Miasto – Region. Związki i interakcje. Księga jubileuszowa profesora Bohdana Jałowieckiego pod red. G. Gorzelaka, M.S. Szczepańskiego i W. Ślęzak-Tazbir, Warszawa 2009, ss. 221-248

4.Immanuel. Wallerstein, World-System Analysis. An Introduction .Duke University Press, 2004.

5.David S. Landes: The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, Polish edition: Bogactwo i nędza narodów, Muza, Warszawa 2005

6.Joseph Stiglitz Globalization And Its Discontents W. W North & Company, New York, London, 2002

7.Fernand Braudel, Gramatyka cywilizacji, Oficyna naukowa, Warszawa 2006 (translated from French)

8.Samuel S. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of the World Order, Polish Edition: Zderzenie cywilizacji, Muza SA, Warszawa 2006

In terms of knowledge student: (1) Has knowledge on the theory of the dynamics of civilization, the history of formation, expansion, contacts and conflicts of civilizations. (2) Understands the role of empires-civilisations in the global system, differences and similarities between civilizations.

In terms of skills student: (1) Understands and explains the evolution of the global system.

In the field of social competences student: (1) Critically complements knowledge and skills

Lecture

Written test after the end of the series of lectures .