Overview of Course

This course addresses one of the most enormous challenges for humanity in the 21st century—governing global oceans. Oceans are vital shared spaces that provide the world with food, livelihoods, climate regulation, biodiversity, transportation, and essential minerals. Over the next several decades, the world’s economic, security and environmental forces will affect our oceans in significant ways. Students will explore and analyze national interests in ocean spaces and uses within the context of international institutions and global-commons governance. We begin with an overview of maritime history and the development of law of the sea framework, followed by an in-depth examination of key issue areas such as maritime security, the blue economy, the marine environment, and advancements in marine science and technology. Topics range from fisheries and minerals to maritime disputes and naval rivalry, as well as the environmental impacts of these activities. The course will link these functional issues to their geographic dimension firsthand in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans as we apply classroom knowledge to coastal ports and distant waters experienced throughout the voyage. The goal of the course is to foster critical thinking skills for addressing complex “wicked problems” while imbuing a sense of appreciation for ocean spaces and the ways in which they connect all of us.