Executive Summary
This editorial reflects on the 25-year journey of the journal 'Geopolitics', tracing its evolution from 'Geopolitics and International Boundaries' and its role in the resurgence of geopolitics as an interdisciplinary field. Former editors discuss the journal's impact on academic discourse, the shift from traditional to critical geopolitics, and the challenges of interdisciplinary publishing. They also highlight future research avenues, including the increasing importance of physical geography and global environmental issues.
Why It Matters
This document offers a meta-analysis of the evolution of geopolitical thought and academic publishing over 25 years, providing defense and geopolitical analysts with critical insights into how the field's core concepts, methodologies, and interdisciplinary nature have developed and continue to shape strategic discourse.
Key Takeaways
- The journal 'Geopolitics' played a crucial role in legitimizing and expanding the interdisciplinary study of geopolitics, moving beyond its historical negative connotations.
- The field of geopolitics has evolved to embrace critical perspectives, integrate diverse disciplines, and address contemporary issues like climate change and global production systems.
- Academic publishing faces challenges in fostering true interdisciplinarity and global representation, with Anglophone biases and disciplinary silos persisting.
Strategic Relevance
The document provides a historical and conceptual framework for understanding the evolution of geopolitical analysis, which is crucial for defense strategists to contextualize current global dynamics and anticipate future trends. It underscores the shift from state-centric views to broader considerations of economic, environmental, and social factors in shaping international relations.