Geopolitics in the 21st Century (Major 2025 Update)

Descripción

The rules are shifting. Fast. For decades, the world followed a clear script — the US led, institutions enforced, and wars followed familiar lines. That era is over. Now we’re watching something new emerge: • Old alliances falling apart • China and Russia rewriting the playbook • Europe trying to stand on its own • Global institutions losing control • The US unsure of its own role But the biggest problem? Most people are still stuck thinking in 20th-century terms. Why this course exists If you feel lost trying to make sense of today’s global mess, you’re not alone. • News coverage is shallow • Most lectures are full of jargon • And politicians sound like they’re reading from outdated scripts This course gives you something better: a clear, structured way to understand how power is shifting in real time — and what that means for the future. Whether you’re a student, a policymaker, or just someone who wants to sound smarter at dinner, this course is for you. What you’ll learn You’ll follow five tight, focused sections — packed with real speeches, modern strategies, practice activities, and clear takeaways. PART I: The Fragmentation of the Global Order • How the post-WWII system broke down • Why the UN, WTO, and IMF are struggling • What happens when no one’s in charge • 4 Quick Quizzes PART II: The Legacy of US Order: 9/11 to 2022 • Bush’s post-9/11 strategy and its long shadow • What the 2022 National Security Strategy says about America today • 2 Practice Activities PART III: China in the Great Power Competition • How China is challenging US power — without firing a shot • What Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road plan really means • 1 Quiz + 1 Practice Activity PART IV: Russia’s Strategy of Disruption • Why Putin doesn’t want to lead the order — he wants to break it • Russia’s war strategy, propaganda machine, and use of chaos • 1 Quiz + 2 Practice Activities PART V: Europe’s Quest for Strategic Autonomy • Can Europe be a real power — or is it stuck in the middle? • What Macron and von der Leyen are really saying • 1 Quiz + 2 Practice Activities What you get • Clear video lectures • Downloadable handouts • Practice activities that make you think like a real analyst • Quizzes to track your progress • Real-world examples that connect the dots • AI-powered Role Plays - so you can practice in a kind of virtual sandbox, before you take your skills IRL Who it’s for • Students of international politics or global studies • Analysts, consultants, or journalists needing sharper insight • Curious learners who want to actually understand the headlines You don’t need a politics degree. You just need curiosity and a willingness to think. Take the course. Watch the world make more sense. From My Students: • "The course was very informative and helpful, and I will apply the knowledge I gain. The lecturer was incredibly fantastic. He explain all the concepts and the definitions of all the topics." • "Dr. Zwolski truly has teaching skills. He is a straightforward professor and his videos are both interesting and valuable." • "The course is really informative and provides a very in-depth analysis of several complex topics which otherwise would have been quite difficult to understand." • "The instructor is a good lecturer. Interesting material presented clearly and concisely." • "The lectures have been made very simple to understand! Kamil is doing an amazing job!" • "Crisp and clear videos, to the point, can be watched easily on the mobile phone." • "Wow! If your reading the comments and debating on whether or not to take this course,TAKE IT! If you read The Economist, Forbes, taking classes on International relations, or stationed on a foreign base, this class is for you! After this you should be able to decipher mainstream media news outlets! Semper Fi!"

Lo que aprenderás

• Understand how the US-led liberal international order was built - and why it’s breaking down today.
• Define the core principles behind post-9/11 US foreign policy and how they continue to shape global security.
• Identify the cracks in global institutions like the UN, WTO, and IMF - and why they’re struggling to stay relevant.
• Understand China’s strategy to challenge US power through economic leverage, diplomacy, and new global norms.
• Define the concept of “strategic autonomy” and explain why Europe is struggling to achieve it.
• Identify how Russia uses disruption, propaganda, and regional wars to reclaim great power status.
• Understand how key speeches by Bush, Putin, Xi, Macron, and others reflect larger shifts in global politics.
• Define the major geopolitical trends of the 21st century - including multipolarity, regionalism, and state-driven competition.
• Identify the methods modern leaders use to influence global outcomes - from military force to infrastructure loans.
• Understand how power dynamics have shifted over the past two decades - and what they might look like in the next ten years.

Requisitos

• The course is designed for beginners and therefore does not require prior education in Politics or International Relations.
• No upfront reading is necessary.
• For convenience, handouts for each lecture are provided and can be downloaded.