Mihajlo Kopanja Conceptualizing Location - One Term, Many Meanings, a Lot of Problems Master thesis Supervisor: Nuno Morgado, M. Pol. Sc., Ph.D. Abstract Location as a geopolitical concept is one of the most fundamental variables being used in research since the beginning of geopolitics itself. Yet, usages of the concept in geopolitical literature point to different conceptualizations of location which, in turn, provide different explanations of causal properties this concept has on the state's behavior. This logical inconsistency imbedded in the concept of location sets up a fundamental question: what location, as a concept, is and how does it produce causal effect onto a state? Following that another question arises: can this inconsistency be resolved through reconceptualization? By identifying the set of different attributes assigned to the concept of location in existing literature determination of inconsistency has been made and used as a basis for reconceptualization of location. Through the introduction of a model with four secondary concepts using the radial approach to concept formation an attempt has been made to resolve internal inconsistencies of location as a concept and as a variable while increasing its explanatory power in understanding and analyzing its effects on states as shown in the...

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This dissertation “To Balance the World: The Development of the U.S. National Interest, 1935 – 1963” traces the transfer of American geopolitical thinking from military intellectuals inside the War Department in the 1930s to university defense intellectuals who began to set strategic agendas in the 1950s and 1960s. I study the concept of balance of power not as an idea or a theory but as an ideology in the Cold War through the twin rise of the military intellectual and the defense intellectual as policymakers. I argue the balance of power ideology animated the thinking of international lawyer Frederick Sherwood Dunn and U.S. geostrategist Nicholas Spykman in the 1920s and 1930s; political scientist Arnold Wolfers in the 1940s; career U.S. Army officer and strategic planner George A. Lincoln in the 1950s; and defense intellectual Henry Kissinger in the 1950s/1960s as they crafted national security policy. I work against the presumption that grand strategy serves as an intellectual architecture for policymaking. Rather, I argue grand strategy is a closed ideological circuit determined by a “strategic field” of planners and practitioners consisting of individuals like Dunn, Spykman, Wolfers, Lincoln, and Kissinger. Retired general disarmament activist Tasker A. Bliss served as an important and early voice of dissent to the balance of power ideology in the interwar period. The balance of power ideology, the belief that a single powerful state maintained the balance between states, guided their discussions as they agreed on the U.S. assuming responsibilities to guarantee international order and stability from the British Empire. Over the decades, balance of power colored their perceptions of any changes or transformations within the international system. “Order” and “stability” were their watchwords. Grand strategy subsequently serves as the “laboratory” for national interest. The balance of power ideology led to the strategic field’s adoption of survival as the U.S. national interest. The strategic field subsequently employed limited war as the policy of choice to “preserve” the United States’ survival. My findings highlight the antidemocratic principles within the design of grand strategy, particularly as they relate to the unequal power dynamic between the military-academic nexus and the U.S. public. / 2026-03-26T00:00:00Z

<p>The main research question of this thesis is how do grand strategies form. Grand strategy is defined as a state's coherent and consistent pattern of behavior over a long period of time in search of an overarching goal. The political science literature usually explains the formation of grand strategies by using a planning (or design) model. In this dissertation, I use primary sources, interviews with former government officials, and historical scholarship to show that the formation of grand strategy is better understood using a model of emergent learning imported from the business world. My two case studies examine the formation of American grand strategy during the Cold War and the post-Cold War eras. The dissertation concludes that in both these strategic eras the dominating grand strategies were formed primarily by emergent learning rather than flowing from advanced designs.</p> / Dissertation

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo central discutir a importância do Atlântico Sul para os Estados Unidos da América, a partir da análise das suas políticas de segurança cooperativa para a parcela sul do Oceano Atlântico considerando, principalmente, seus determinantes internos e a própria ressignificação da região entre os anos de 2003 e 2014. Ela se enquadra nas Resoluções nº 114/2014 e 115/2014 da Câmara de Pós-Graduação da UFRGS e, portanto, é dividida em três capítulos, correspondendo a três partes distintas. O Primeiro Capítulo é desenvolvido em três etapas: Primeiro, relaciona o contexto da dissertação na linha de pesquisa “Segurança Internacional” do PPGEEI/UFRGS. Segundo, aborda alguns elementos das políticas externa e de segurança dos EUA, a importância do mar para a condução dessas políticas e uma breve contextualização do Atlântico Sul. Terceiro, ressalta os principais pontos analíticos e considerações desenvolvidos no capítulo seguinte. O Segundo Capítulo traz o artigo publicado na Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval que conduz, primeiro, uma breve discussão de alguns conceitos teóricos importantes para entender a postura dos Estados Unidos na condução de sua política externa e de segurança, recorrendo ao debate da influência da política interna nas suas relações internacionais. Em seguida, discute brevemente a importância do "uso do mar" para a política externa dos EUA, contextualizando o Atlântico Sul como uma região estratégica, discutindo suas fronteiras geográficas, aspectos econômicos e organizações multilaterais. Finalmente, discute alguns dos programas norte-americanos de segurança cooperativa para o Atlântico Sul e a crescente importância da região, em linha com o novo posicionamento estratégico pós-11 de setembro. O Capitulo três faz uma breve análise dos resultados do artigo e também apresenta agendas de pesquisas possíveis de serem conduzias no PPGEEI. Foi verificada a importância do artigo para trazer a discussão da segurança cooperativa, pelo viés estadunidense, no âmbito da pesquisa no PPG e também para fomentar a visibilidade deste problema nos fóruns de discussão e leitores do periódico científico de sua publicação. Assim,foram cumpridos os objetivos de discutir a importância do Atlântico Sul para os Estados Unidos da América, a partir da discussão das políticas de segurança cooperativa, dos determinantes políticos internos e da mudança da relevância da região para a grande estratégia norte-americana. Inferindo então, a pertinência do Atlântico Sul, evidenciada pela busca de iniciativas de segurança colaborativa e combate às ameaças de baixa intensidade, visando conter novas ameaças e enfrentar atores não estatais. / The present dissertation aims to discuss the importance of the South Atlantic to the United States of America, from the analysis of its cooperative security policies for the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, considering mainly its internal determinants and the re-signification of the region between the years of 2003 and 2014. It is in accordance with Resolutions 114/2014 and 115/2014 of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and therefore comprises three chapters, corresponding to three distinct parts. Chapter One presents three steps: First, it relates the context of the dissertation in the research line "International Security" of the Post-Graduate Program in International Strategic Studies. Second, it addresses some elements of the U.S. foreign and security policy, the importance of the sea for the conduct of these policies and a brief contextualization of the South Atlantic. Third, it highlights the main analytical points and considerations that developed in the next chapter. Chapter Two brings the article published in the Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval which leads, firstly to, a brief discussion of some important theoretical concepts to understand the U.S. position in the conduct of its foreign and security policy, using the debate of the U.S. internal policy on their international relations. Then, briefly discusses the importance of "use of the sea" for U.S. foreign policy, contextualizing the South Atlantic as a strategic region, discussing its geographical boundaries, economic aspects, and multilateral organizations. Finally, discuss some North American cooperative security programs for the South Atlantic and the region's growing importance, in line with the new strategic post-9/11 position. Chapter Three brings a brief analysis of the paper's impacts and presents possibilities of investigation agendas to follow on PPGEEI. Therefore, it was possible to verify that the article was important to bring the discussion of cooperative security, by the American bias, in the African region to the scope of the research in the PGP and to promote the visibility of this problem in the discussion forums and readers of the scientific journal of its publication, fulfilling its objectives of discussing the importance of the South Atlantic to the United States of America, from the discussion of the cooperative security policies for the African West Coast, through the internal political determinants and the change of the region relevance to the global north American grand strategy. Inferring then, the relevance of the South Atlantic in this grand strategy, evidenced by the search for collaborative security initiatives and to combat low intensity threats such as piracy, aiming to contain new threats and face non-state actors.

This thesis analyzes how Eisenhower defined war and its utility in his New Look defense policy and the ramifications for America’s interactions with the world through its foreign policy. It argues that Eisenhower redefined the relationship between war and society as he executed his grand strategy, further removing society from the decision for war. To avoid what he believed to be the inevitable global destruction of a general war turned nuclear, Eisenhower broadened the scope of ‘war” to balance domestic opinion for containing communism while also avoiding the devastating consequences of war in American society. By authorizing coups in Iran and Guatemala, Eisenhower blurred the line between coercive diplomacy and violent political warfare. President Eisenhower’s reliance on covert action to achieve political outcomes prevented general or nuclear war but it strengthened an emerging model for society’s relationship with war. Political warfare and covert action increased the gap between society and the commitment of American power during the Cold War. In his effort to prevent war, Eisenhower expanded presidential power and set a precedent that continues today.

This project examines the foreign policy rhetoric of Bill Clinton in the post-Cold War world. My reading of Clinton’s rhetoric reveals that a change/order binary underwrote his oratory. Clinton defined change as being the underlying guidepost of the post-Cold War international setting. Order was defined through how he could guide, shape, direct, and manage American foreign policy in a sea of change, represented through his use of what I call America’s foreign policy vocabulary. This lexicon is based on three rhetorical components—the definitions of America’s role in the world, identification of the enemies we face, and the grand strategy we use to achieve American interest—have been a resource for presidential foreign policy discourse since America’s founding. Clinton’s use of this vocabulary maintained continuity in its use with his predecessors, but he also modified it in key ways to deal with the changes of the global environment. These modifications positioned Clinton to direct and manage the change to serve American interests which offered a semblance of order for American foreign policy in a sea of international disorder.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo central discutir a importância do Atlântico Sul para os Estados Unidos da América, a partir da análise das suas políticas de segurança cooperativa para a parcela sul do Oceano Atlântico considerando, principalmente, seus determinantes internos e a própria ressignificação da região entre os anos de 2003 e 2014. Ela se enquadra nas Resoluções nº 114/2014 e 115/2014 da Câmara de Pós-Graduação da UFRGS e, portanto, é dividida em três capítulos, correspondendo a três partes distintas. O Primeiro Capítulo é desenvolvido em três etapas: Primeiro, relaciona o contexto da dissertação na linha de pesquisa “Segurança Internacional” do PPGEEI/UFRGS. Segundo, aborda alguns elementos das políticas externa e de segurança dos EUA, a importância do mar para a condução dessas políticas e uma breve contextualização do Atlântico Sul. Terceiro, ressalta os principais pontos analíticos e considerações desenvolvidos no capítulo seguinte. O Segundo Capítulo traz o artigo publicado na Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval que conduz, primeiro, uma breve discussão de alguns conceitos teóricos importantes para entender a postura dos Estados Unidos na condução de sua política externa e de segurança, recorrendo ao debate da influência da política interna nas suas relações internacionais. Em seguida, discute brevemente a importância do "uso do mar" para a política externa dos EUA, contextualizando o Atlântico Sul como uma região estratégica, discutindo suas fronteiras geográficas, aspectos econômicos e organizações multilaterais. Finalmente, discute alguns dos programas norte-americanos de segurança cooperativa para o Atlântico Sul e a crescente importância da região, em linha com o novo posicionamento estratégico pós-11 de setembro. O Capitulo três faz uma breve análise dos resultados do artigo e também apresenta agendas de pesquisas possíveis de serem conduzias no PPGEEI. Foi verificada a importância do artigo para trazer a discussão da segurança cooperativa, pelo viés estadunidense, no âmbito da pesquisa no PPG e também para fomentar a visibilidade deste problema nos fóruns de discussão e leitores do periódico científico de sua publicação. Assim,foram cumpridos os objetivos de discutir a importância do Atlântico Sul para os Estados Unidos da América, a partir da discussão das políticas de segurança cooperativa, dos determinantes políticos internos e da mudança da relevância da região para a grande estratégia norte-americana. Inferindo então, a pertinência do Atlântico Sul, evidenciada pela busca de iniciativas de segurança colaborativa e combate às ameaças de baixa intensidade, visando conter novas ameaças e enfrentar atores não estatais. / The present dissertation aims to discuss the importance of the South Atlantic to the United States of America, from the analysis of its cooperative security policies for the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, considering mainly its internal determinants and the re-signification of the region between the years of 2003 and 2014. It is in accordance with Resolutions 114/2014 and 115/2014 of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and therefore comprises three chapters, corresponding to three distinct parts. Chapter One presents three steps: First, it relates the context of the dissertation in the research line "International Security" of the Post-Graduate Program in International Strategic Studies. Second, it addresses some elements of the U.S. foreign and security policy, the importance of the sea for the conduct of these policies and a brief contextualization of the South Atlantic. Third, it highlights the main analytical points and considerations that developed in the next chapter. Chapter Two brings the article published in the Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval which leads, firstly to, a brief discussion of some important theoretical concepts to understand the U.S. position in the conduct of its foreign and security policy, using the debate of the U.S. internal policy on their international relations. Then, briefly discusses the importance of "use of the sea" for U.S. foreign policy, contextualizing the South Atlantic as a strategic region, discussing its geographical boundaries, economic aspects, and multilateral organizations. Finally, discuss some North American cooperative security programs for the South Atlantic and the region's growing importance, in line with the new strategic post-9/11 position. Chapter Three brings a brief analysis of the paper's impacts and presents possibilities of investigation agendas to follow on PPGEEI. Therefore, it was possible to verify that the article was important to bring the discussion of cooperative security, by the American bias, in the African region to the scope of the research in the PGP and to promote the visibility of this problem in the discussion forums and readers of the scientific journal of its publication, fulfilling its objectives of discussing the importance of the South Atlantic to the United States of America, from the discussion of the cooperative security policies for the African West Coast, through the internal political determinants and the change of the region relevance to the global north American grand strategy. Inferring then, the relevance of the South Atlantic in this grand strategy, evidenced by the search for collaborative security initiatives and to combat low intensity threats such as piracy, aiming to contain new threats and face non-state actors.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo central discutir a importância do Atlântico Sul para os Estados Unidos da América, a partir da análise das suas políticas de segurança cooperativa para a parcela sul do Oceano Atlântico considerando, principalmente, seus determinantes internos e a própria ressignificação da região entre os anos de 2003 e 2014. Ela se enquadra nas Resoluções nº 114/2014 e 115/2014 da Câmara de Pós-Graduação da UFRGS e, portanto, é dividida em três capítulos, correspondendo a três partes distintas. O Primeiro Capítulo é desenvolvido em três etapas: Primeiro, relaciona o contexto da dissertação na linha de pesquisa “Segurança Internacional” do PPGEEI/UFRGS. Segundo, aborda alguns elementos das políticas externa e de segurança dos EUA, a importância do mar para a condução dessas políticas e uma breve contextualização do Atlântico Sul. Terceiro, ressalta os principais pontos analíticos e considerações desenvolvidos no capítulo seguinte. O Segundo Capítulo traz o artigo publicado na Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval que conduz, primeiro, uma breve discussão de alguns conceitos teóricos importantes para entender a postura dos Estados Unidos na condução de sua política externa e de segurança, recorrendo ao debate da influência da política interna nas suas relações internacionais. Em seguida, discute brevemente a importância do "uso do mar" para a política externa dos EUA, contextualizando o Atlântico Sul como uma região estratégica, discutindo suas fronteiras geográficas, aspectos econômicos e organizações multilaterais. Finalmente, discute alguns dos programas norte-americanos de segurança cooperativa para o Atlântico Sul e a crescente importância da região, em linha com o novo posicionamento estratégico pós-11 de setembro. O Capitulo três faz uma breve análise dos resultados do artigo e também apresenta agendas de pesquisas possíveis de serem conduzias no PPGEEI. Foi verificada a importância do artigo para trazer a discussão da segurança cooperativa, pelo viés estadunidense, no âmbito da pesquisa no PPG e também para fomentar a visibilidade deste problema nos fóruns de discussão e leitores do periódico científico de sua publicação. Assim,foram cumpridos os objetivos de discutir a importância do Atlântico Sul para os Estados Unidos da América, a partir da discussão das políticas de segurança cooperativa, dos determinantes políticos internos e da mudança da relevância da região para a grande estratégia norte-americana. Inferindo então, a pertinência do Atlântico Sul, evidenciada pela busca de iniciativas de segurança colaborativa e combate às ameaças de baixa intensidade, visando conter novas ameaças e enfrentar atores não estatais. / The present dissertation aims to discuss the importance of the South Atlantic to the United States of America, from the analysis of its cooperative security policies for the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, considering mainly its internal determinants and the re-signification of the region between the years of 2003 and 2014. It is in accordance with Resolutions 114/2014 and 115/2014 of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and therefore comprises three chapters, corresponding to three distinct parts. Chapter One presents three steps: First, it relates the context of the dissertation in the research line "International Security" of the Post-Graduate Program in International Strategic Studies. Second, it addresses some elements of the U.S. foreign and security policy, the importance of the sea for the conduct of these policies and a brief contextualization of the South Atlantic. Third, it highlights the main analytical points and considerations that developed in the next chapter. Chapter Two brings the article published in the Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval which leads, firstly to, a brief discussion of some important theoretical concepts to understand the U.S. position in the conduct of its foreign and security policy, using the debate of the U.S. internal policy on their international relations. Then, briefly discusses the importance of "use of the sea" for U.S. foreign policy, contextualizing the South Atlantic as a strategic region, discussing its geographical boundaries, economic aspects, and multilateral organizations. Finally, discuss some North American cooperative security programs for the South Atlantic and the region's growing importance, in line with the new strategic post-9/11 position. Chapter Three brings a brief analysis of the paper's impacts and presents possibilities of investigation agendas to follow on PPGEEI. Therefore, it was possible to verify that the article was important to bring the discussion of cooperative security, by the American bias, in the African region to the scope of the research in the PGP and to promote the visibility of this problem in the discussion forums and readers of the scientific journal of its publication, fulfilling its objectives of discussing the importance of the South Atlantic to the United States of America, from the discussion of the cooperative security policies for the African West Coast, through the internal political determinants and the change of the region relevance to the global north American grand strategy. Inferring then, the relevance of the South Atlantic in this grand strategy, evidenced by the search for collaborative security initiatives and to combat low intensity threats such as piracy, aiming to contain new threats and face non-state actors.

By using critical discourse analysis, the purpose of this thesis has been to reveal the hidden power relation behind the discourse on foreign trade policies in the context of the trade war and to examine if grand strategies can be identified in the discourses. The thesis has thus focused on what discourses the national leaders of the United States and China have created and how different words and concepts have been used to form a national strategy on foreign trade policies in the context of the trade war. This thesis has also examined if theories of primacy and neo-neo-isolationism can be found in the discourses produced by the national leaders of China and the United States. The conducted discourse analysis suggests national leaders of China and the United States create discourses to gain an advantage. Where words and concepts were used to strengthen their own position while weakening the other, theories of primacy and neo-neo-isolationism could not be found in the discourses. However, it can be suggested that some parts of the strategies where found.