Geopolitics

An Introduction

Geopolitics explores political power and geographic space.

Often seen as testing strategic ideas based on the land power and/or sea power in world history.

Friedrich Ratzel (1844-1904)German Professor

Anthrogeographical combines anthropology, geography, and politics.

States, like living organisms, had to grow, expand, or die.

*Living frontiers*, borders are dynamic and subject to change (introduced the term lebensraum).

Rudolf Kjellen(1864-1922)Swedish Professor

Geopolitics (in Swedish *geopolitik*) regarded as the founder of geopolitics.

First in Introduction to Swedish Geography, but The State as a Living Form is considered his most important geopolitical work.

Sir Halford Mackinder (1861-1947)and Alfred T. Mahan (1840-1914) Geopolitical theory was also developing in the UK and USA

Mackinder - British geographerStressed land transport as a key to control and power.Core of land power was the Eurasian *Heartland* of

Russia.The power in the Heartland would dominate and have

superpower status.

Mahan - American AdmiralSea power and control of sea lanes and lanes of

communication as key to control and power.

Karl Haushofer(1869-1946)After World War I, German.

1925 to 1945 founded Journal of Geopolitics (Zeitschrift für Geopolitik) continued to develop the idea of Lebensraum.

Ideas used as basis of Nazi foreign policy.

Haushofer was not a Nazi and was sent to a concentration camp, his son was executed for participation in the 20 July coup against Hitler.

Nicholas Spykman (1893-1943)American Professor

Mackinder over-emphasized the Heartland.

Concept of the *Rimland*, a buffer zone between sea and land power.

After WWII the *Rimland* concept morphed into US policy of containment of communism.

Prevent the USSR (and originally the PRC) from spreading influence to the Rimland.

Colin S. GrayModern geopolitics includes 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Some have declared geopolitics to be outdated and replaced by geo-economics (and globalization).