Master's Degree in Geopolitics

• Global economic analysis – 6 ECTS
• New paradigms in international trade – 6 ECTS
• Emerging perspectives in the international financial economy – 6 ECTS
• Geopolitics: actors, theories and concepts – 6 ECTS
• Geoeconomics – 6 ECTS
• Geostrategy – 6 ECTS
• Risk analysis as an intelligence tool – 6 ECTS
• Strategic spaces in dispute: analysis of areas of geopolitical and geoeconomic tension – 6 ECTS
• Research Methodologies and Techniques – 6 ECTS (Elective)
• External Academic Internship – 6 ECTS (Elective)
• Master's Thesis (TFM) – 6 ECTS

Global economic analysis

• Analysis of the international economic system. Post-pandemic global trends and their economic implications.
• Impact of transnational technology companies on economic revitalisation.
• United States: economic leadership and structural challenges.
• China: global expansion and transition to a new growth model.
• European Union: economic integration and internal tensions.
• Other economic actors.

New paradigms in international trade

• Advanced theories of international trade.
• Trade agreements and their impact on international trade.
• Value, distribution and supply chains: main characteristics and changes.
• Emerging economies: the BRICS and the new multipolar balance.
• Transformations of international economic organisations related to trade: WTO and related bodies.
• Trade revisionism in the context of globalisation: trade wars and tariff tensions.

Emerging perspectives in the international financial economy

• Structure and functioning of the international financial system: financial, monetary and foreign exchange markets
• International financial regulation: impact, implementation and consequences
• Transformation and innovation in international finance: AI, emerging technologies, crypto-assets and sustainability
• Evolution of monetary policies and the role of central banks in the 21st century
• Geopolitics of international finance: power, influence and markets
• Restructuring of global value chains and their effect on international investment flows

Geopolitics: actors, theories and concepts

• Influence of classical geopolitics on 21st-century geopolitics
• Critical approaches to the study of contemporary geopolitics
• Geopolitical analysis tools
• New emerging actors on the global stage: geopolitical challenges and strategies
• Dynamics of global change: new geopolitical and economic scenarios
• Effect of geopolitical conflicts on the international economy

Geoeconomics

• Economic power as a factor in social, political and territorial transformation
• Geoeconomics of natural resources: energy, raw materials and water
• Strategic infrastructure for global trade: logistics hubs and trade corridors
• Resilient initiatives in global geoeconomic strategies: Belt and Road Initiative (BRI); Friendshoring and Nearshoring; and the European Union's Global Gateway
• The new geoeconomics: power strategies and emerging rivalries
• Costs and opportunities of the energy transition in a changing climate

Subject 6. Geostrategy

• Geostrategy of space: occupation, security and interest
• Projection of force and balance of power in contemporary geostrategy: the military dimension in international politics
• Main strategic doctrines: the BRICS; the US, the UK, the European Union and Turkey
• New security dynamics: evolution and adaptation of geostrategic alliances
• New frontiers of strategic security: the virtual world
• Cybersecurity, cyberstrategy and other emerging technologies key to security

Risk analysis as intelligence tools

• Social and demographic risks: population growth, rural exodus and gentrification, migration and forced displacement, religious fanaticism, human rights, minorities and inequality, epidemics
• Political risks: terrorism, political disaffection, state disintegration, institutional delegitimisation, ideological polarisation
• Economic risks: offshoring, financial volatility, tariff protectionism, fiscal dumping, transnational holdings and megacorporations, critical raw materials and energy sources, illegal exploitation of resources
• Regulatory risks: lawfare, compliance, investment security, conflicts of law, intellectual property
• Technological risks: emergence of AI, cybersecurity, Dark Web, disinformation, concentration of technological resources and media, social networks
• Environmental risks: water resources, desertification, deforestation, melting ice caps, waste management, natural disasters, marine pollution, proliferation and containment of pests, fracking, GMOs.

Strategic areas in dispute: analysis of zones of geopolitical and geoeconomic tension

• Traditional geopolitical spheres: North Atlantic, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, Mediterranean, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Far East
• Peripheral conflict zones: Sahel, Central Africa and Congo Basin, Gulf of Guinea, Central America and the Caribbean, Central Asia

Research methodologies and techniques

• The scientific process applied to global economics and geopolitics. Structure, topics and current research trends
• The scientific method and research methodologies: deductive, inductive, descriptive, analytical, systematic review. Other methodologies. Research techniques: quantitative, qualitative and mixed. Other techniques.
• Formulation of the object of study: presentation/justification of the topic; definition of the spatial-temporal framework: hypothesis/research question; research objectives (general and specific); list of sources (primary and/or secondary)
• Theoretical-conceptual framework. State of the art; academic theories and concepts applied to the subject of study.
• Drafting of conclusions: related to the hypothesis/research question and the objectives formulated; proposal for future lines of research.
• Drafting and presentation of the final report.

External Academic Placements (Elective)

• Undertaking placements at institutions partnered with the University: this activity gives students the opportunity to apply and experience the knowledge acquired during the Master’s programme, test the feasibility of their actions and competencies in a real-world environment. All activities will be supervised by a placement tutor, who will monitor and assess the student’s performance throughout the practical experience.
• List of partner companies for External Academic Placements (PDF attached).

Master’s Thesis (TFM) (Elective)

• Introduction to the research topic: 1. Presentation and justification of the research topic; 2. Initial hypothesis / research question; 3. Research objectives (general and specific); 4. Research methodology; 5. Literature review.
• Theoretical and conceptual framework of the research.
• Option A (research-oriented): Discussion – data collection and analysis / Option B (professional-oriented): Project development (case study).
• Conclusions of the research.
• Bibliographic references and/or primary sources.
• Oral defense of the Master’s Thesis before an evaluation committee.

Bridging Course: Applied Leveling in Global Economics and Geopolitics (6 ECTS)

• Fundamentals of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics.
• Economic and econometric analysis tools, including but not limited to indicators, time series, and equilibrium models.
• Fundamentals of international trade and finance, including tax systems and basic analysis of international economic organizations.
• Conceptual framework and theoretical foundations of geopolitics, geostrategy, and geospatial analysis.
• Theory and analysis of international risks and conflicts.
• Basic tools for international analysis, including but not limited to key indicators, country risk indices, and opportunity analysis models.

• Bachelor’s degree holders in International Relations
• Bachelor’s degree holders in Economics
• Bachelor’s degree holders in International Business
• Bachelor’s degree holders in International Trade
• Bachelor’s degree holders in Business Administration and Management (BBA / Business Administration)

Students coming from the following degree backgrounds will be required to take a bridging course in Applied Leveling in Global Economics and Geopolitics:

• Bachelor’s degree holders in Law
• Bachelor’s degree holders in Journalism
• Bachelor’s degree holders in Political Science
• Bachelor’s degree holders in History