UNIQUE SERIES AKTU Syllabus
BMBIB03

Geo-Politics and Trade

L-T-P3-0-0 Session2025-26 TypeTheory
Appears in 1 semester

MBA General · Sem 3 (Specialization: International Business (IB))

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Syllabus

5 units · 40 lecture hours
Unit1

Unit 1: Introduction to Geopolitics and the Global Trade Order

8 hrs

Meaning and scope of geopolitics, relationship between geography, power, and economics, historical evolution of geopolitical trade (Silk Road to WTO), role of nation-states in trade influence, geostrategy and economic nationalism in trade decisions.

Unit2

Unit 2: Geopolitical Conflicts and Trade Disruptions

8 hrs

Strategic use of trade restrictions: sanctions, embargoes, and tariffs, conflicts and wars impacting trade flows (e.g., Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine), disruption of global supply chains due to political instability, control over critical raw materials (oil, gas, rare earths), case studies: Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal, South China Sea. Latest updates.

Unit3

Unit 3: Resource Geopolitics and Energy Security

8 hrs

Global energy politics: pipelines, ports, and control zones, political economy of OPEC+ and fuel pricing, climate politics: carbon tariffs, green subsidies, energy transition diplomacy, competition over water and agricultural trade resources, resource diplomacy: energy aid, extraction deals, infrastructure influence. Latest updates.

Unit4

Unit 4

8 hrs
  • Power Blocs, Alliances, and Regional Trade Politics
  • Formation and impact of global power blocs (BRICS, G7, G20, QUAD), strategic trade alignments: Belt and Road Initiative, Indo-Pacific strategy, trade agreements with geopolitical motives (e.g., RCEP, IPEF, EU-African deals), politics behind FTAs, customs unions, economic corridors, soft power, foreign aid, trade missions in foreign policy. Latest updates.
Unit5

Unit 5: Emerging Risks and the Future of Political Trade

8 hrs
  • Technology and trade tensions: AI, semiconductors, data localization, cybersecurity, digital surveillance, trade infrastructure risk, friend-shoring, near-shoring, supply chain reconfiguration,
  • satellite-based trade surveillance, maritime control, future outlook: multipolar world, global fragmentation, trade resilience strategies. Latest updates.
Course Objectives5 points
  • To introduce the basics of geopolitics and how it shapes global trade.
  • To explain how conflicts and political issues disrupt international trade.
  • To understand the role of energy and resources in trade decisions.
  • To explore how global alliances and trade blocs influence trade flows.
  • To examine new risks in global trade and future geopolitical challenges.
Course Outcomes (COs)5 outcomes

After completion of the course student will be able to:

  1. CO1Explain the relationship between geography, power, and international trade. Remember (K1) andK2 (Understand)
  2. CO2Analyze the impact of conflicts and political disruptions on global supply chains.K4 (Analyze)
  3. CO3Evaluate the geopolitical influence of energy, water, and agricultural resources on trade.K5 (Evaluate)
  4. CO4Assess the role of power blocs and alliances in shaping regional and global trade flows.K5 (Evaluate)
  5. CO5Recommend strategies for navigating future trade risks in a fragmented world order.K6 (Create)

Suggested Readings

  1. Mavroidis, Petros C. (2024). Industrial Policy, National Security, and the Perilous Plight of the WTO. Oxford University Press
  2. Baru, Sanjaya. (2016). India and the World: Essays on Geoeconomics and Foreign Policy. Academic Foundation.
  3. Dadush, Uri. (2024). Geopolitics, Trade Blocks, and the Fragmentation of World Commerce. Lexington Books.
  4. Scholten, Daniel (Ed.). (2023). Handbook on the Geopolitics of the Energy Transition. Edward Elgar Publishing. Sottilotta, Cecilia Emma, Campisi, Julian, Leitner, Johannes, & Meissner, Hannes (2025). The Routledge Handbook of Political Risk (1st ed.). Routledge

Official AKTU syllabus

This subject is on page 42, 43 of the original AKTU PDF.

Official AKTU syllabus PDF ↗