Regions of the World

geography

obligatory courses

Classroom

Region, socio-economic region - main delimitation methods and criteria, political map of the world. Determinants and socio-economic effects of global and regional demographic processes. Contemporary integration and disintegration processes on a regional scale. Globalization of socio-economic life and its causes. Characteristics of the regions of the world - their internal coherence and diversity as well as development challenges.

Course content:

Region, socio-economic region – definitions, methods of delimitation. Political map of the world. Cultural regions. International economic cooperation – regional and supra-regional organizations.

Europe: Contemporary challenges (demographic changes, ageing society, migration in and to Europe, cities – areas of shrinkage and dynamic growth, economic situation, social polarization in Europe, the importance of Europe in the international arena, Europe in the face of climate change)

Examples of European island areas – Cyprus and Malta, discussion of the development cycle of a tourist resort and the importance of territorial marketing for the promotion of islands. The importance of tourism for the economic development of island areas, use of satellite account for economic measurement. EU funds – National Reconstruction Plan for European Union countries – Croatia’s experience and eco-certification

Eastern Europe – urbanization processes in the Moscow region

Africa south of the Sahara – delimitation of the region in various classifications; regional divisions of Africa; environmental, cultural, social and economic characteristics of the countries in the region; urban and rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa; the most important problems of the 21st century.

North Africa and the Middle East – the most important concepts and delimitation of the region; ethno-cultural and demographic characteristics; social and economic specificity of the countries of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with particular emphasis on urban areas.

Urbanization problems of Cairo

Island regions. Socio-economic development in the island areas of the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic and Caribbean Oceans (the importance of agriculture, tourism and the functions of tax havens, the sale of fishing licenses, the sale of citizenship, pearl oyster farming)

Oceania - specific features of the communities and economy of the islands of Oceania, with particular emphasis on their spatial diversity resulting from different natural genesis, dispersion, isolation and peripheral location in relation to the rest of the world. The general characteristics will be enriched with examples from Micronesia.

North America - socio-economic regions in the United States and Canada, Boston as a city of science and innovation, the California Peninsula, San Francisco, Silicon Valley - the concept of technopolis and clusters. Toronto as an example of an inclusive city.

Southeast Asia – Bangkok’s urbanization problems

Latin America: Yucatan as a lens of socio-economic and environmental transformations in the region

Yucatan – comprising three southern Mexican states: Quintana Roo, Yucatan and Campeche – as a regional study showing the tensions characteristic of contemporary Latin America. Demographic and social transformations in a region with a high proportion of indigenous people, growing spatial inequalities and conflicts over resources and development directions. Mass tourism, extensive agriculture and infrastructure projects as the main forces transforming the social and natural landscape. Particular emphasis on the controversies surrounding the Tren Maya investment – ​​its development potential and at the same time threats to the environment, cultural heritage and the rights of local communities. Yucatan as a space of clashing economic, ethnic and ecological interests, constituting a lens of broader processes taking place in Latin America.

Note: the above topics are the general scope of the course, not the titles of individual lectures. These topics can be discussed in more than one class.

Estimated number of hours that the student must spend to achieve the learning outcomes defined for the course:

2 ECTS course, including:

1 ECTS (30 hours) - hours in direct contact with the lecturers, i.e. participation in classes

1 ECTS (20 hours) - student's own contribution, reading the literature, library tasks, (10 hours) preparation for a written test, own work of students(10 hours).

Makowski J., Wites T. (red.), 2020, Geografia świata. Regiony, PWN, Warszawa.

Podhorodecka K., Wites T., 2024, Global Challenges - Social, Economic, Environmental, Political and Ethical, Spriger Geography

Knox P. L., S. A. Marston, 2013, Human Geography. Places and Regions In Global Context., Prientice Hall, Upper Saddle River

es T. (ed.), 2020, Geografia świata. Regiony, PWN, Warszawa

Directional effects: K_W02, K_W05, K_U01, K_U07, K_K05

After completing the course, the student should:

- know the definitions and the diversity of the concept of a region, a socio-economic region

- indicate the basic determinants of opportunities and barriers to the development of regions in the world,

- have knowledge of the methods of delimitation of the regions and the criteria for their development,

- know the role of global processes in the regional level

- indicate the role and importance of international and regional organizations

- have knowledge about contemporary demographic changes taking place on a global and regional scale, list their causes and effects

- to characterize the most important socio-economic regions of the world with their features distinguishing from other spatial divisions

After completing the course, the student should acquire the following skills:

- assess the effects of various development processes and their impact on international regional organizations

- assess the relationship between world population growth and economic development

- demonstrate orientation in the delimitation of regions, including socio-economic regions

- gain orientation towards strategies and methods to prevent unfavorable economic change;

- understand the dependencies in shaping globalization processes.

Written test with closed questions. 50% of points are required to pass the test.

Retake exam is based on the same rules as the first one.

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