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Geopolitics

Geopolitics. An Introduction. Geopolitics explores the relationships between political power and geographic space; it is often seen as a body of thought testing specific strategic idea based on the importance of land power and sea power in world history . Friedrich Ratzel.

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Geopolitics

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  1. Geopolitics An Introduction

  2. Geopolitics explores the relationships between political power and geographic space; it is often seen as a body of thought testing specific strategic idea based on the importance of land power and sea power in world history.

  3. Friedrich Ratzel • German geographer, Professor Friedrich Ratzel (1844-1904) • Coined the phrase anthrogeographicala combination of anthropology, geography and politics • Believed states resembled living organisms had to grow, to expand or die. • *Living frontiers*, borders are dynamic and subject to change(introduced the term lebensraum)

  4. Rudolf Kjellen • Swedish Professor Rudolf Kjellen (1864-1922) • Used the term geopolitics (in Swedish *geopolitik*) and is regarded as the founder of the science of geopolitics. • The basics were presented in Introduction to Swedish Geography, but The State as a Living Formis regarded as his most important geopolitical work.

  5. Sir Halford Mackinder • Geopolitical theory was also developing in the UK and USA • Sir Halford Mackinder (1861-1947), British geographer • Stressed land transport as a key to control and power • Core of Mackinder's land-based power was the Eurasian *Heartland* of Russia • The power in of the Heartland would have a dominant position, superpower status • Alfred T. Mahan (1840-1914), American Admiral • Stressed sea power and control of sea lanes and lanes of communication to exercise control and power

  6. Karl Haushofer • After World War I, German Karl Haushofer (1869-1946) • Expanded on concepts of Ratzel and Kjellen • 1925 to 1945 he and his colleagues founded Journal of Geopolitics (ZeitschriftfürGeopolitik) and expanded on the idea of Lebensraum. • Haushofers’ ideas were used as basis of Nazi foreign policy before and during World War II. • Haushofers was not a central figure in Nazi politics was sent to a concentration camp at the end of the war while his son Albrecht was executed for his participation in the 20 July coup against Hitler.

  7. Nicholas Spykman • American Professor Nicholas Spykman (1893-1943) • Felt that Mackinder over-emphasized the Heartland. • Suggested the concept of the *Rimland*, a large buffer zone between sea and land power. • Post World War II the Rimlandmorphed into the US policy of containment of Soviet communism. • The policy was to prevent the USSR (and originally the PRC) from spreading influence to the Rimland.

  8. Colin S. Gray • Modern geopolitics is included in subjects such as national defense planning, strategic studies, and elements of national power • An important contributor has been Colin S. Gray and his book Geopolitics of the Nuclear Era (1977) • Some have declared geopolitics to be outdated and replaced by geoeconomics (and globalization)

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