The Arctic is except being one of the Worlds’ most remote regions also experiencing the heavy impacts of climate change. This means an opportunity for the Arctic nations – access to a brand new ocean. The melting region is from a military perspective of strategic importance, as well as it provides new shipping routes and holds up to 30% of the worlds undiscovered natural resources being worth billions of dollars. One nation having taken a keen notice to this is Russia, it has claimed land in the Arctic several times and in 2007 it planted its flag on the seabed of the North pole declaring the Arctic belongs to them. This lays out the purpose of this report – to investigate how the Russian use of soft and hard power in the Arctic has changed during the years of 2007 to 2017. In order to examine this, Kristensen and Sakstrup at the Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhage along with several others, suggest analysing Russias military and diplomatic behaviour. The results finds that the Russian use of soft power in terms of diplomacy and cooperation with the other arctic states was mainly present, and increased in the years 2007 to 2014 prior to the Ukraine crisis, while again being present after a long haul in 2017. The use of hard power in terms of military might and presence has during the same period of time steadily increased.

The aim of this thesis, named Geopolitics of contemporary unreconized states, is to analyze the factors influencing the international status of unrecognized states by identifying the geopolitical interests of external actors. For the aim of this thesis unrecognized states will be called the de facto states. The thesis is divided into two main chapters and several subchapters. The first chapter is devoted to introducing the main hypothesis, research questions, and conceptualizing the following concepts: de facto state, sovereignty, self-determination, secession, and international recognition. The second part of the thesis consists of case studies of following de facto states: Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, Taiwan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Somaliland. The aim of each case study is to answer the research questions and to verify the main hypothesis which reads as follows: International status of de facto states results from the geopolitical interests of external actors. The conclusion will be drawn at the end of the thesis. This thesis is an instrumental case study.

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,...

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...

Friček, Michal.. Changes of geopolitical map of Balkan and their influence on security of the Czech Republic. Prague: Charles University in Prague. Faculty of Social Sciences. 2012. Number of words: 20 435. Number of letters: 125 104. Supervisor: Doc. PhDr. Bořivoj Hnízdo, PhD. This work evaluates objective risks for security of the Czech Republic resulting from geopolitical changes in Balkan according to respective security sectors. It is done specifically in military, social and political security. Evolution of these threats is compared with dynamic of military conflicts on territory of western Balkan. That is base for assessment of adequacy of securitization of these problems on the part of Czech security authorities. Keywords: security of the Czech Republic - Balkan geopolitics

The aim of the thesis is to explain how and why Turkey influences the development of the Balkan region in contemporary geopolitics. In order to determine the areas of influence I used Saul Cohen's book about the Geopolitics of the World System. I chose the geopolitical approaches and features, which are related to Turkey's activeness in the Balkan region. Moreover, Saul Cohen's equilibrium is taken into consideration in order to show how Turkey shifts, and will shift, the equilibrium to a new level. In the thesis I talk about sustainable development and corporate social responsibility to show that Turkish companies, as well as the government, are creating mutual needs in order to develop the region for further cooperation on an economic and political level. Additionally, I argue that energy cooperation can lead to greater benefits for Turkey, as an energy hub, and also for the Balkans, as a gateway to the European Union. In that sense, I argue that it is not a competition but rather cooperation between the European Union and Turkey in the Balkan region. By analyzing the economic and political activities of Turkey in the Balkan region, I came to the conclusion that Turkey is influencing the Balkan region for five reasons; these are shared history, human aspects, geography, economy and regional...

There were several changes from the global point of view during last decades. The European Union has enlarged itself by more than half of new members and it represents the biggest area of free trade in the world. Political integration of this unique international organization has also taken a place by accepting new treaties. Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union overcame with the legacy of this empire and not only due to its geographical area is one of the world superpower now. The Balkans was from the historical view area of clashes between European powers and it is valid until now. The European Union has offered to Western Balkans countries full membership on behalf of Stabilisation and association agreement. On the other hand Russia expands its mainly economic interests with regional overlap and that's why the researched region swelled its geopolitical and geoeconomic significance. Thesis called "Balkans as geopolitical and geoconomic area between the European Union and Russian Federation" separated up to three connected parts. Theoretical and methodological part anchors thesis from theoretical perspective, presents operationalization of variables and defines the hypothesis. The most quantitatively extensive analytical part, which is divided into two parts, is focused on application of...

The work deals with geopolitics of inner solar system with focus on extraterrestrial celestial bodies. First part deals with definitions, delimitation of researched territory, and definition of researched questions. Afterwards, we deal with basics of astrophysics which is necessary precondition for understanding specifics of astropolitics and the issue of space- faring actors. Here, both state and non-state actors, their capacities and ability to become colonizing actor, are assessed. The work continues with exploration of single celestial bodies - Earth's Moon, Mars and its moons, and smaller bodies like asteroids. The final chapter scratches the issues crucial for space colonization such as sovereignty and weaponization. Based on these factors, few models of space colonization are presented. Conclusion then sums up all our findings and geopolitical map of "blue planet's" neighbourhood is presented.

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.

This work applies geopolitical concepts to elucidate how geography, energy, and rivalries among global powers affect the Azeri foreign policy. This research work uses a deductive method of qualitative research and a longitudinal analysis of qualitative variables. This study first reviews the most significant academic works in the field to delineate the framework of Azerbaijani foreign policy. Next, it discusses the geographical features of the Azeri landlocked territory and its influence over foreign policy. Then the study presents how Azerbaijan uses its energy as a leverage tool in its foreign policy. The fourth chapter analyzes the current competition between two global powers, the US and Russia, for influence over Azeri oil and gas resources, seeking to balance the power in the South Caucasus and Central Asian regions. Finally, this research work lists the findings, showing that the Azeri foreign policy is affected by geography, energy, and global power competition variables. The transit states that encircle the landlocked territory of Azerbaijan reduce the Azeri ability to export its energy resources to international markets. The economic and political involvement of foreign companies and states in the Azeri energy industry also reduces the economic and political independence of Azerbaijan. The competition between the US and Russia for influence over the Azeri territory and its energy resources also affects the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. Thus, in order to achieve economic, political, and military stability, Azerbaijan has to be constantly balancing regional and global powers