Abstract:

Geopolitical discourses and practices are influencing the direction of strategic and trade diplomacies in the contemporary global order and would undoubtedly continue to do so owing to the variations in resource endowments. The geopolitical pursuits could be defined by several factors which have been broadly identified as ‘enablers’ in this paper which include both the geo-economic as well as geostrategic parameters. The paper identifies and models the key enablers of geopolitics and presents its unique hierarchical framework using the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) technique. The paper also reviews the literatures of topical relevance and presents a critical evaluation of the evolution of geopolitical thoughts. The paper advances the view of the evolving global order by arguing that the contemporary global geopolitics is not merely about supremacy through power and colonial expansion but about sustainability of state’s competitiveness through co-existence and interdependence. The paper intends to develop a confluence between resources, trade and geopolitics and also to contribute to advancement in geopolitical analysis through a comprehensive, yet flexible modeling technique.

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