Introduction to Geopolitics

Washington Post
,
www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2002/t02052002_t0109wp.html)
Perhaps one could reflect on the images we discussed a little earlier broadcast by 
Al-Jazeera, or the description of Baghdad by the blogger “Riverbend.” Apparently, what
they saw was the outcome of “the opportunity to rearrange things.” More generally, and
with regard to the topic of representing the geopolitics of world leadership, the last 
quote encapsulates the themes from the other members of President George Bush’s
cabinet at the time: there is no need to justify the global role of the United States, it is
assumed to be “natural”; geopolitical actions under the guise of world leadership do
provide material benefits for the United States; such self-interest is equated with benefits
for the whole world; such benefits are given and defined through values; the imple-
mentation of world leadership requires the construction of institutions and programs
within other countries; the fact that the mission of world leadership also requires a mili-
tary presence and is being actively resisted does not result in self-examination but is
seen as an opportunity for further global interventions.
Summary and segue
In the conclusion to this chapter it is important to emphasize that we have discussed
representations rather than “facts.” If the calculations for war can be traced to material
interests, such as access to oil, governments must usually emphasize values or ideas in
justifying their foreign policy, especially when it involves invading a country rather than
defending one’s own. Two important audiences must be addressed to justify a country’s
geopolitical codes: the domestic and the international audience. The world leader has a
particular burden when it comes to representing its geopolitical code, it must convince
the whole world that it is acting for the benefit of all rather than for its own interests
and gain.
An understanding of geopolitical codes and their representation need not be inter-
preted within Modelski’s model of world leadership. Geopolitical codes may simply be
seen as a way of clarifying the decision-making process all countries must make.
However, placing the construction of geopolitical codes within Modelski’s model allows
us to contemplate two things. First, there is a structural explanation for why the agency
of states varies over time, and hence why their codes and means of representing them
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will change. As a country progresses through the phases of the cycle of world leader-
ship, from war to deconcentration, the opportunities and constraints upon a country will
alter in a way that requires a dynamic geopolitical code. Second, the inequities of power
that are inherent in Modelski’s model suggest that the constraints and opportunities for
defining the content of geopolitical codes will vary across a hierarchy of power. As the
last section of this chapter illustrated, the world leader has particular tools and needs in
representing its global mission. Another group of countries, such as Nazi Germany, will
define their geopolitical codes in such a way as to place a challenge to the existing world
leader. Also, in a broad category that includes varied and specific responses, most coun-
tries are too weak to challenge or act as world leader. Their codes reflect either the
choice to be compliant with the world leader’s project or to resist it.
So far we have discussed the agency of countries within the structure of world leader-
ship. Though the existence of other geopolitical agents has been acknowledged, countries
remain the dominant agents. In the next chapter we stop using the word “countries” and
develop a more complex understanding of these geopolitical agents.
Having read this chapter you will be able to:
■
understand that popular culture is an integral part of geopolitics;
■
critically evaluate government statements justifying foreign policy;
■
relate the use of different justifications used by countries to the
different geopolitical situations;
■
think critically about the way other countries are represented in popular
culture;
■
think critically about the way the foreign policy of one’s own country is
portrayed in popular culture and government statements.
Further reading
Hedges, C. (2003)