Geopolitics

States must expand like living organisms

Friedrich Ratzel

Expanded on Ratzel’s ideas, introduced a multi-dimensional approach to state power, including:

• Geo-politics – territorial control.

• Eco-politics – economic dominance.

• Demo-politics – population management.

• Socio-politics – societal influence.

• Crato-politics – political and military power.

Rudolf Kjellen

Naval power is key to global dominance

Alfred Mahan

“Pivot Area” (later called the Heartland) - a region in Eurasia that was key to world dominance.

• "Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; who rules the World-Island commands the world."

• The Pivot Area (Heartland) is Eurasia’s central landmass, including Russia, Central Asia, and parts of Eastern Europe.

• It is geographically protected from naval invasion (due to its landlocked position), making it an ideal base for world domination.

• Mackinder believed that a land-based empire controlling the Heartland could dominate the world due to:

  • Rich natural resources.

  • Military mobility via railroads.

  • Strategic access to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Halford Mackinder

• He introduced the concept of Pan-Regions, arguing that the world would naturally divide into self-sufficient geopolitical blocs.

• His model proposed four major Pan-Regions:

  1. Pan-America – dominated by the United States.

  2. Pan-Eurafrica – controlled by Germany.

  3. Pan-Central Asia – led by the Soviet Union.

  4. Pan-Southeast Asia – controlled by Japan.

Karl Haushofer

• "Who controls the Rimland rules Eurasia; Who rules Eurasia controls the destinies of the world."

• Rimland = The coastal fringes of Eurasia (Western Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia).

• Spykman argued that the Rimland—not the Heartland—was the key to global dominance because it contained:

  • The world’s richest resources.

  • The largest populations.

  • The most industrialized regions.

• Unlike Mackinder, he believed naval power + land power was crucial to control these regions.

Nicholas Spykman