As the SFS community knows, Maps of the Modern World is an iconic class that’s integral to the first-year SFS experience. But there are far too many maps to cover in one course, and each map carries a unique story about the political and cultural forces that have shaped our world. So, we’re bringing some of our most unusual maps to social media!
In this episode of Maps with Mark, SFS Professor and Maps of the Modern World instructor Mark Giordano explains that when it comes to the future of geopolitics, the way maps show up in our daily lives illustrates the shifting and deepening role of the private sector in foreign policy. Giordano discusses how national agendas play a role in mapmaking, analyzing the ways that countries assert their power and sovereignty through the maps they produce and upon which they insist.
Watch the full episode to learn how maps inform our world views and illustrate a changing diplomatic landscape in which nations must increasingly allow the private sector a seat at the diplomatic table.