Richelieu Institute of History and Geopolitics

Richelieu Institute - History and Geopolitics

The Richelieu Institute is dedicated to the analysis of contemporary historical and geopolitical issues. Inspired by major intellectual traditions of statecraft and strategic thinking, it aims to produce independent, rigorous, forward-looking, and practical reflections to shed light on the major challenges facing today’s world.

Its work seeks to support the thinking of public and private decision-makers, academic communities, media professionals, and civil society by encouraging constructive dialogue between researchers, practitioners, and opinion leaders.

Why create an Institute of History and Geopolitics at UCLy?

One of UCLy’s strengths is that it already offers courses related to Geopolitics across many of its programmes. The Institute draws its legitimacy from the existing connection between History and Geopolitics established by the Faculty of Arts and Civilisations:

History provides the necessary context for Geopolitics.
History explains the construction of territories and powers.
History lies at the heart of cultures and senses of belonging.
Geopolitics, in turn, uses History to interpret conflicts, the interests of actors, and borders.

In short: “without History, Geopolitics is blind – without Geopolitics, History is disconnected from contemporary issues.”