Summary of "Critical Geopolitics: A Quick Introduction"

Dr. Gerardo Naranjo Tubal provides a concise overview of the subfield of Critical Geopolitics, highlighting its nature, core concepts, and distinctions from traditional geopolitics. The video introduces Critical Geopolitics as a scholarly discipline that critically examines the spatial aspects of statecraft, emphasizing reflexivity and awareness of biases within research.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Definition and Nature of Critical Geopolitics
- Critical Geopolitics is the scholarly study of the spatialities of statecraft.
- It is a social science grounded in peer-reviewed research aimed at understanding and explaining global political dynamics.
- Unlike traditional geopolitics, which serves to advise states and develop policy, Critical Geopolitics does not aim to provide policy advice or partisan research.
- Critical Geopolitics recognizes that scholarship is influenced by states, power structures, and culture; researchers must be reflexive about their own biases and the political context of their work.
- The field promotes liberal enlightenment values and aims to contribute to a global public discourse.
The Three "S"s of Critical Geopolitics Dr. Naranjo Tubal explains three key spatial concepts central to Critical Geopolitics:
- Spatiality
  - Refers to the socio-spatial world that surrounds us, beyond just physical geography or location.
  - Space is an inescapable and complex dimension in political geography and statecraft.
- Geopolitical Field
  - The physical and socio-spatial arena where statecraft unfolds.
  - Includes geographic features, political players, and rules shaping state actions.
- Geopolitical Culture
  - How state elites and populations interpret the world and their state’s place within it.
  - Involves foundational identities, myths, and debates about friends, enemies, security, and prosperity.
  - Divided into:
    - Formal Geopolitics: Intellectual products and theories of statecraft.
    - Practical Geopolitics: Everyday geopolitical discourse among elites and political actors.
    - Popular Geopolitics: Geopolitical ideas circulating in media and culture among the general public.
  - These cultures are sustained by geopolitical imaginations — enduring archetypes and narratives about identity and power.
- Geopolitical Condition
  - Focuses on how technological advances (warfare, transportation, communication) shape the experience and practice of geopolitics.
  - Geography is not fixed or primordial but is co-created dynamically with human inventions and technological change.

Methodology / Approach in Critical Geopolitics

Critical Geopolitics requires researchers to:

Engage in robust, peer-reviewed social science research.
Maintain reflexivity about their own positionality and biases.
Avoid reproducing hegemonic or state-centric narratives uncritically.
Consider the interplay between space, culture, and technology in shaping statecraft.
Analyze geopolitical discourses at multiple levels: intellectual, elite political, and popular.

Speakers / Sources Featured

Dr. Gerardo Naranjo Tubal (main and sole speaker)

Additional Notes

The video is an introductory overview designed to orient viewers to Critical Geopolitics.
Dr. Naranjo Tubal invites viewers to explore further reading for a deeper understanding.