Over the last decade, the term ‘geopolitics’ has made a noticeable return in conversations about international affairs. Outside universities, all sorts of institutions from investment banks like J.P. Morgan to consultancies like McKinsey & Company are creating ‘centres for geopolitics.’ Relatedly, in the world of economics, references to ‘geoeconomics’ are becoming increasingly frequent. What exactly the term means is still open to interpretation. The aim of this course is to understand what, if anything, is distinct about ‘geopolitics’ as a way of thinking about international affairs. It therefore delves into the history of geopolitics as a form of international political thought, starting with the work of early twentieth-century geographers such as Halford Mackinder, going all the way to present-day writings on geopolitics and geoeconomics coming out of universities, foreign ministries, and an array of non-governmental organizations commenting on world affairs.