Unit 3: Classic Geopolitics; the Anglo-American School Flashcards
What is the origin of geopolitics? Who was the “founder”?
Has it beginnings in the late 19th century. It was founded by Rudolf Kjellen
Rudolf Kjellen’s description of the state
not as a legal entity but as a dynamic organization that competes on the international stage
Who was Friedrich Ratzel?
Another founding father who was influenced by Kjellen’s ideas. He founded the topic of human geography and anthropography.
His ideas were influenced by social darwinism. He applied the biological concept of natural selection and survival of the fittest to sociology and politics.
Explain the basics on Social Darwinism
“Survival of the fittest” This theory was used to promote the idea that the white European race was superior to others, and therefore, destined to rule over them.
The implications of social darwinism were used as scientific justification for the holocaust.
“The State as a Living Form”
Book by Rudolf Kjellen, outlines the key concepts that would shape the German geopolitik
Ratzel’s idea of expansion:
Ratzel believed that territorial expansion was necessary for the survival of the state, only large states will survive and compete for vital space
This is called the lebensraum
Lebensraum and the Nazi’s
The Nazis used the idea of Lebensraum, literally “living space” in German, as the basis of their policy for the Germany’s expansion.
Rudolf’s idea of Volk
Volk was a racial conception of the state; Kjellen adopted the concept of Volk (people) linked to the racial construction of the state
Mackinder’s idea of the great land based “strategic pivot”
Into four spaces:
The world-Island (Europe, Asia and Africa)
The Pivot Area or Heartland (central Asia and eastern Europe)
Inner or marginal crescent: (Western Europe, North Africa and the middle east, indian subcontinent, southeast asia, easter China, UK and Japan)
Outer or insular crescent (the americas and australia)
Pivot Area or Heartland (Mackinder)
In that area land power would have a greater advantage over the maritime domain due to its inaccessibility by sea. So it is a land power.
It is located in the centre of the World-Island, stretching from the Volga river to the Yangtze river. Ruled by the Russian Empire and the Soviet union.
Insular Crescent
The other major are of the world, the Americas and Australia has its power in its access to the sea, making it a maritime power
In 1919 Mackinder summed up his theory with the famous quote:
“Whoever rules Eastern Europe commands the Heartland; whoever rules the Heartland commands the World Islands; whoever rules the World-Island control the world.”
Mackinder’s theory on the competition between land and sea power
Mackinder argued that the 20th century would be the century of land power.
At the time of his writings, the heartland was manifested in the Russian Empire and the insular power as the British Empire. The British had for a long time had the advantage due to the efficiency sea transport held over land transport, but the emergence of railway networks and new transportation gave the heartland new advantages and it could expand its influence and power.
What did Mackinder urge the British to do to control the expansion of the Heartland ?
Mackinder guided the British Empire to control railways in Europe and avoid an alliance between Moscow-Berlin-Tokyo, which would dominate - excluding the British from influence in the region
Critics of Mackinder’s predictions of the 20th century
Mackinder missed the implication of airpower that emerged in the 20th century
Most importantly missed the emergence of the United States. Mackinder could not predict the effect the destruction of Europe during WW2 had on the emergence of American influence.
