What is geopolitics?
Geopolitics is the study of how geography shapes power and relationships between countries. Location, borders, terrain, climate and resources all influence which countries are powerful, who they ally with, and where conflicts happen.
Classic geopolitical thinkers argued that controlling key land masses or sea routes was the key to global power. Today, geopolitics also includes energy, technology, data and climate.
Resources and power
A strategic resource is vital to a country’s economy or security.
| Resource | Why it matters | Geopolitical examples |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and natural gas | fuel transport, industry, heating | Middle East’s role in world affairs; European dependence on Russian gas before 2022 |
| Water | drinking, farming, energy | disputes over dams on the Nile (Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt) and the Mekong |
| Critical minerals | batteries, electronics, clean energy | China’s dominance in processing rare earths; global competition for lithium and cobalt |
| Food and farmland | food security | the war in Ukraine disrupted grain exports, raising prices worldwide |
| Fisheries | food, jobs | disputes in the South China Sea |
Chokepoints
A chokepoint is a narrow passage where huge volumes of trade pass. Blocking it can disrupt the world economy.
| Chokepoint | Connects | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Strait of Hormuz | Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea | a large share of the world’s seaborne oil |
| Suez Canal | Mediterranean to Red Sea | a key Europe–Asia route; in 2021 the ship Ever Given blocked it for six days |
| Strait of Malacca | Indian Ocean to Pacific | one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world |
| Panama Canal | Atlantic to Pacific | droughts in 2023 reduced the number of ships that could pass |
| Bab-el-Mandeb | Red Sea to Gulf of Aden | attacks on shipping from 2023 forced many ships to reroute |
The resource curse
You might expect countries rich in oil or minerals to be wealthy and stable. Sometimes they aren’t. The resource curse describes a pattern where resource wealth leads to:
- dependence on one export, causing boom-and-bust cycles
- corruption, as elites compete for control of revenue
- weaker democratic accountability when governments rely on resource income rather than taxes
- conflict, sometimes funded by "conflict minerals" or "blood diamonds"
It is not inevitable. Norway used oil wealth to build a large sovereign wealth fund. Botswana has used diamond revenue relatively well. Strong institutions, transparency and diversification make a big difference.
Borders and conflict
Many conflicts involve territory and resources.
- Colonial borders: borders drawn by European powers, often ignoring ethnic and cultural groups, have contributed to conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.
- Disputed territories: Kashmir (India and Pakistan); the South China Sea (China and several Southeast Asian countries).
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (2022) involved territory, security, energy and the expansion of NATO.
Geography is rarely the only cause. Identity, history, ideology and leadership also matter.
Canada’s geopolitical position
- Neighbour of the United States: Canada’s security and economy are closely tied to the United States through NORAD, NATO and trade.
- Energy and minerals: Canada is a major supplier of oil, uranium, potash and critical minerals, giving it influence as countries seek secure supply chains.
- The Arctic: as sea ice melts, the Northwest Passage may become more usable. Canada claims it as internal waters (Arctic sovereignty). The United States and others consider it an international strait. Russia, China and others are increasingly active in the region. Inuit leaders emphasize that Arctic sovereignty must include Inuit rights and voices.
Sovereignty means a state’s supreme authority over its territory. Canada asserts it in the Arctic through military presence, scientific research, Inuit communities and international law.
Climate change as a threat multiplier
Climate change can make existing tensions worse: droughts and crop failures, competition for water, migration and new access to Arctic resources and shipping. Security experts often call it a "threat multiplier."
Cooperation
Geopolitics isn’t only about conflict. Shared resources can encourage cooperation:
- the International Joint Commission helps Canada and the United States manage shared waters like the Great Lakes
- the Arctic Council brings Arctic states and Indigenous organizations together
- the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) helped India and Pakistan share rivers for more than six decades despite wars and tensions, although India suspended it in 2025 after a deadly attack in Kashmir, showing how fragile such cooperation can be
Try it yourself
- Choose a chokepoint and explain what would happen to world trade if it were closed.
- Research a country affected by the resource curse and one that avoided it. What made the difference?
- Map the competing claims in the Arctic and evaluate Canada’s position.
- Debate: "Securing critical minerals should be Canada’s top foreign policy priority."
Quick recap
- Geopolitics studies how geography shapes power between countries.
- Strategic resources and chokepoints give countries leverage.
- The resource curse shows resource wealth can lead to corruption or conflict without strong institutions.
- Borders, resources and identity combine to cause many conflicts.
- Canada’s geopolitics centres on its U.S. relationship, resources and the Arctic.