2. Intellectual poison?

Abstract

The notion of geopolitics has not always been well received. It has been accused of being intellectually fraudulent, ideologically suspect, and tainted with associations with Nazism and fascism. ‘Intellectual poison?’ charts a brief history of geopolitics from before World War II to the present day, looking at its origins, development, and reception. It also considers critical geopolitics. Geopolitics has attracted a great deal of academic and popular attention, often with little appreciation of its controversial intellectual history. Presidents and political commentators seem to love using the term: they associate it with danger, threats, space, and power. It is often used to make predictions about the future direction of politics.