Geography 4712 Name______________________

Sample Midterm Examination

Answer the exact number of questions in each of the three sections of the exam: do not answer more than the required number. Keep your eyes on your own examination. If you have any questions about the meaning or intent of the questions, ask the TAs or the instructor. GOOD LUCK

Readings

Answer 3 of the following 5 questions. Each is 10 pts.

1. How did American popular media view German Geopolitik? (O Tuathail).

2. Summarize the Cold War geopolitical codes of a) George Kennan, b) Henry Kissinger, c) Charles De Gaulle and d) Jawaharlal Nehru. (Taylor and Flint)

3. Link Modelski’s last 2 long cycles of hegemony to the four Kondratieff waves? Indicate the geopolitical developments in the phases. (Taylor and Flint)

4. Describe Mackinder’s main contributions to geopolitical theory (Taylor and Flint)

5. Outline Modelski’s long cycle (phases, leaders, challengers, etc). (Taylor and Flint)

Lectures

Answer 3 of the following 5 questions. Each is worth 10 pts.

1. Contrast the Kennan approach to relations with the Soviet Union with that of the NSC-68 document.

2. Present 5 critiques of Wallerstein’s theory of economic cycles.

3. What were the five most important concepts of the German geopolitical tradition? List and explain.

4. What are the attitudes of Russians towards a) extending the US “war on terrorism” to Iraq?; b) the US military presence in former Soviet republics of Central Asia?; and c) the US attack on the Taliban in 2001?

5. What are the similarities and differences between Wallerstein’s and Modelski’s long cycles models?

Definitions

Answer 6 of the following 10 questions. Each is worth 5 pts.

1. “scale of ideology” (Taylor and Flint)

2. developments in the core in Kondratieff 4B

3. peripheral processes

4. Shatterbelt and locations in 2002

5. “Washington Consensus” (Wallerstein)

6. pseudo-states and 2 contemporary examples (O’Loughlin)

7. Wallerstein’s hegemonic episodes

8. Westernizer perspective in Russian geopolitical discourse (O’Loughlin)

9. Fukuyama’s “end of history” thesis (Economist)

10. contrast informal and formal imperialism (Taylor and Flint)

Bonus: (2 pts)

What are the five states of former Soviet Central Asia?