Analytical, factual, contextualizing. Explain political and geopolitical connections, don't emotionalize. Deliver historical background and international comparisons. The analytical perspective is paramount — not individual experience (distinction from "Gesellschaft"). Sober, differentiated, multi-perspective.
What this format covers
●Geopolitical power shifts and conflicts
●Political systems in comparison
●Economic dependencies and trade flows
●Historical background of current conflicts
●International institutions and their role
●Security policy, armament, diplomacy
●European foreign and security policy
What this format does NOT want
●Individual fate stories (belongs to Gesellschaft/RE:)
●Emotional or story-driven narrative approaches
●Popular-science or entertainment-oriented treatment
●Historical documentaries without geopolitical relevance
●Biographical portraits
●One-sided political positioning
Visual expectations
Maps, geopolitical visualizations, data visualizations. Original footage from political hotspots. Expert interviews at high level. Archive material for historical contextualization. Infographics for economic relationships. Factual-elegant aesthetic, no spectacle.
Expected exposé structure
Title + subtitle (analytical, precise)
Logline (2–3 sentences: which geopolitical question, which thesis)
Exposé body text with clear analytical structure
Historical context and international framing
Experts and interview partners (specifically named)
Visual execution / map concept / data visualization
Production company, author, contact
Example productions
Die Macht der Geheimdienste
Chinas neue Seidenstraße — Masterplan für eine neue Weltordnung
Erdogans Traum — Die Türkei zwischen Europa und Asien
Gas — Das tödliche Geschäft
Pulverfass Südchinesisches Meer
Editorial notes
Tuesday evening alongside ARTE Geschichte. Distinction: Geschichte looks into the past, Geopolitik analyzes the present with historical context. Analytical perspective is mandatory — no individual experience reports. 52 minutes is standard length, 90 minutes only in exceptional cases. No RB and no SR as suppliers (unlike other Tuesday slots).
Ready to pitch to ARTE?
The Pitch Doctor generates a format-compliant exposé tailored to ARTE Geopolitik's exact editorial expectations.