Course Catalogue

Geographies of Solidarity and Internationalism GEOG4097

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1 (Alternate Years)
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course provides an introduction to issues of solidarity and internationalism from a geographical perspective. It positions solidarity as a political relation forged through struggle and contestation. It uses this to position internationalism from below. The course will develop this through a focus on different struggles in the past and present, such as the Spanish Civil War, the international opposition to Pinochet's coup and apartheid, and contemporary opposition to austerity.

Timetable

There will be one two hour lecture session per week - plus occasional seminars.

Requirements of Entry

Admission to Geography 3

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Literature review of key debates on geographies of solidarity internationalism (40%)

Course essay applying key perspectives to a case study of an internationalist social and/ or political movement (60%)

Course Aims

■ To introduce debates on geographies of solidarity and internationalism.

■ To provide a process-based overview of the diverse modalities of internationalism and solidarity;

■ To introduce examples of internationalist social and political movements;

■ To assess the political significance and agency of different internationalist social and political movements.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

■ Assess different approaches to the geographies of solidarity and internationalism;

■ Explain how solidarity can be understood as a political relation;

■ Discuss the activity of forms of internationalism forged 'from below';

■ Discuss the significance of different internationalist social and political movements.

■ Critically assess the literature on internationalism and solidarity with reference to particular examples;

■ Describe the use of a range of sources for researching internationalism and solidarity;

■ Discuss the tensions and possibilities involved in the use of different sources.

■ Use primary sources to reconstruct key practices of solidarity building;

■ Explain the role of different place-based political cultures in shaping internationalist practices.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions