Explanation of force in modern geopolitics

Abstract

The article is devoted to the explanation in geopolitics as a matter of knowledge. Basic conceptual and geopolitical analysis categories: space, power and force; the factors of accumulating power with the creation of force fields polarising space; the actors of geopolitics as well as the resulting processes of rivalry, expansion and dominance are presented. Among the dimensions of force expressing the weight of geopolitical subjects, special attention is given to «soft power» in the context of critical geopolitics. In semantic terms, «soft power» carries features of symbolic and figurative meaning, representing the main intangible capital of the subjects to achieve dominance and competitiveness. The thesis that geopolitics as a method aims at spatially identifying the forms of power and force from territorial-political, economic and institutional entities with relative continuity over time is defended. The role of information influence weakens the laws of geopolitical dependence considered axiomatic (from the classical and modern periods) and increases the importance of the intangible attributes of geographical space in the process of accumulating force. This new postmodern trend in geopolitics views space not through the prism of its objectivity (area, configuration, geographical location, borders), from the point of view of its representation in the public consciousness. Deductive and comparative discourse analysis is carried out. The research focus of such geopolitical issues is determined by the view of space, which brings to the fore the importance of socio-psychological factors (symbols, stereotypes, identities, images) in the competition for global or regional supremacy. This feature is determined by tracking trends in the behaviour of geopolitical actors and regularities in the manifestation of the factors for achieving power. Due to latent processes and opportunities not realised in history, the explanation in geopolitics is not always unambiguous. It cannot be crudely patterned and reduced to simplistic interpretations from the time of the classical period. The explanation in geopolitics also is required dialectics, and on its basis – hypotheses, scenarios and forecasts.