geopolitics

American  

[jee-oh-pol-i-tiks] / ˌdʒi oʊˈpɒl ɪ tɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the study or the application of the influence of political and economic geography on the politics, national power, foreign policy, etc., of a state.

2. the combination of geographic and political factors influencing or delineating a country or region.

3. a national policy based on the interrelation of politics and geography.

4. a Nazi doctrine that a combination of political, geographic, historical, racial, and economic factors substantiated Germany's right to expand its borders and control various strategic land masses and natural resources.

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geopolitics British  

/ ˌdʒiːəʊˈpɒlɪtɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) the study of the effect of geographical factors on politics, esp international politics; political geography

2. (functioning as plural) the combination of geographical and political factors affecting a country or area

3. (functioning as plural) politics as they affect the whole world; global politics

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Other Word Forms

• geopolitic
  adjective
• geopolitical
  adjective
• geopolitically
  adverb
• geopolitician
  noun
• geopolitist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of geopolitics

1900–05; translation of German Geopolitik. See geo-, politics

Explanation

Geopolitics is the study of how things like a country's land, climate, and natural resources all affect its government and economy. The geopolitics of the U.S. are influenced by its extremely large size. Geopolitics may sound intimidating, but it's really nothing more than a combination of geography and politics. It's what happens when you take the physical features of a place, including the ways humans interact with those features, and look at their influence on how the place is governed. When you examine the geopolitics of the U.K., its small size and the fact that it's an island play a huge part in its ability to defend its borders from attack.

Example Sentences

Geopolitics tends to drive the dollar, which often moves in long cycles, Wizman says.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

Geopolitics have played a large part in that rally, too.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 12, 2026

Geopolitics have helped, too, as Western investors look for alternative sources of growth as they sour on China, where it’s the opposite story.

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2024

Geopolitics aside, low wages and soaring home prices are among the domestic challenges weighing on voters.

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2024

"Geopolitics and politics continue to hang over the market’s head, but it’s hard to know which way they will break," Samana wrote.

From Reuters • Oct. 24, 2023

Related Words

• earth science
• geology
• topography