He defined geopolitics as the theory of the state as a geographic organism or phenomenon in space, i. Dec 01, 2016 sir h j mackinder presented his views about the geopolitics of the world in his paper the geographical pivot of history in 1904 which came to be known as the heartland theory. A north america was the best place from which to launch a campaign for world domination. Heartland is a region of permanent problems owing to its interior location and extremes of climate. Natos intervention in afghanistan and the protracted engagement. This largely outdated view influenced some geopolitical thinking. The term geopolitics was coined by a swedish scholars kjellen 18641922. The heartland and rimland theories sir halford mackinder 18611947, an english geographer, is a founder of the fields of both geopolitics the study of the relationship between geography and political power and geostrategy the study of the relationship between geography and military strategy. Sir halford john mackinder 18611947, a british geographer, developed the heartland theory in the beginning of the 20th century. Full text of 1904 heartland theory halford mackinder see other formats m stor the geographical pivot of history h. According to this theory, the continental power was represented by the world island which consisted. Even though he never used the term geopolitics, mackinder is still considered to be its founder.
This theory was proposed by sir halford mackinder in his 1904 essay, the geographical pivot of history. He was the first principal of university extension college, reading which became the university of reading from 1892 to 1903, and director of the london school of economics. This theory regards political history as a continuous struggle between land and sea powers with the ultimate victory going to the continental power. Mackinder s heartland theory highlighted the probability of imperial russia, which occupies the vast, interior, pivotal position in eurasia, and which enjoys direct territorial access to all the other regions inner crescent, or rimland in spykman s formulation of the eurasian landmass west asia, south asia, east asia and europe, expanding its. The heartland theory and the presentday geopolitical. On the basis of physical map of the world, he concluded that there is. Pdf mackinder and the heartland theory in postsoviet. As part of secondary source of data the paper uses mackinders thesis statement who rules the heartland commands the world to conduct an analysis that.
He argued that russias vast, central territories were outside of the reach of british sea power, that the vast eurasian territory possessed an invulnerable heartland, and that whoever controlled this heartland would dominate the world. Mackinders theory was a counterargument to notions that maritime supremacy was sufficient for a power such as great britain to safeguard its hegemony. The geographical pivot of history is an article submitted by halford john mackinder in 1904 to the royal geographical society that advances his heartland theory. Full text of 1904 heartland theory halford mackinder. He argued that control of the eurasian landmass europe, asia and the middle east, which contained the bulk of the worlds population and natural resources, was the major geopolitical prize. While nazi leaders did not explicitly adopt mackinders theory, it did influence german geostrategists of the early 20th century, and hitlers strategy did follow the theorys general contours. Check out our top free essays on mackinder s heartland theory to help you write your own essay free essays on mackinder s heartland theory. The heartland theory then and now article pdf available in journal of strategic studies 2223. China has emerged as a new contender for control over mackinders heartland. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Mackinder divided the world and call europe, asia and africa as world island which has 23rd of world land and 78th of population. This represented, an attempt to update and reassess pragmatically, the geopolitical validity, of the heartland theory. Later he was one of the founders of the famous london school of economics lse and.
Natos intervention in afghanistan and the protracted engagement by coalition forces in iraq confirm rather than undermine the value of conventional military capabilities, albeit in the form of lighter and more flexible. Geopolitics british geopolitical theorist halford mackinder. Apr 24, 2020 the heartland theory is important to anyone taking the ap human geography exam. This is why an analysis of his article is in order.
Mackinders oftquoted cherub whispered in the ears of the peacemakers in versailles that, to paraphrase, who controls the heartland controls the world. Mackinders interest in politics was evident from his days at oxford where he followed men much wealthier and of higher social status than himself as president of the oxford union, a debating society where the politicians of tomorrow cut their teeth in, sometimes whimsical but always. Rostows model of development includes fives stages which include all of the following except a the traditional society. The geographical environment of the eurasian continent in 1943 was, in theory, to be the testing ground for mackinder s. Here, mackinder presented his heartland theory, which was later expanded and explained in more detail in his book. In 1904, british geographer halford mackinder reintroduced the concept of geopolitics to international politics via his heartland theory. The heartland theory of mackinder placed the pivot in the center of the planet, which includes the river basins of the volga, yenisey, amu draya, syr draya, and two seas the caspian and the aral. Mackinders heartland theory and spykmans rimland theory heartland theory. In a 1990 document for national security strategy, the first bush administration noted that for most of the century, the united states has deemed it a vital. Abstract mackinder was fond of geography which he taught at several universities, and became the first principal of university of extension college, which became the university of reading.
Sir halford john mackinder 15 february 1861 6 march 1947 was an english geographer, academic and politician, who is regarded as one of the founding fathers of both geopolitics and geostrategy. May 26, 2005 sir halford john mackinder 18611947, a british geographer, developed the heartland theory in the beginning of the 20th century. Over time, the influence of mackinders heartland theory was profound, used by a disparate set of later geopolitical strategists and reflected in the theory of pan regions espoused by german general karl 1 see mackinders 1904 classic the geographical pivot of history. Application of mackinders heartland theory to past and present geopolitical significance of central asia today, the prevailing political discourse revolves around one concept geopolitics. Halford mackinders last view of the round world the diplomat all sections search. Question of relevance, applicability of mackinders. This paper reassesses the theory in the context of todays foreign policy by examining u. It followed the 1904 book titled the geographic pivot of the history, and presented his theory of the heartland and made a case for fully taking into account geopolitical factors at the paris peace conference and contrasted geographical reality with woodrow wilson s idealism.
This theory contend that the state is like an organism attached to the earth that competes with other states to thrive. Sir halford john mackinder pc 15 february 1861 6 march 1947 was an english geographer, academic, politician, the first principal of university extension college, reading which became the university of reading and director of the london school of economics, who is regarded as one of the founding fathers of both geopolitics and geostrategy. He first published it in his essay to the royal geographical society, titled the geographical pivot of history, in 1904 in the essay, he came to the conclusion that controlling the pivot, a region in central and eastern europe, would allow a. General karl hauschofer was a leading proponent of mackinders heartland theory and he developed a theory of pan regions. Halford mackinderthe heartland theory by bailey b on prezi. Sir halford john mackinder was a british geographer who wrote a paper in 1904 called the geographical pivot of history. Heartland theory mackinder did not take into account of modern technology such as missiles and planes he went to epsom college boarding school in 1874 1880 from 1880 to 1883 he studied animal morphology and his fourth year he was elected a research scholarship in geology 1885. Mackinder and the heartland theory in postsoviet geopolitical discourse article pdf available in geopolitics 111. The geographical environment of the eurasian continent in 1943 was, in theory, to be the testing ground for mackinders. Mackinders article the geographical pivot of history, published in 1904, posited probably the first geopolitical concept to spark significant debates and was one of the most important prescriptive geopolitical theories. During wwii, the great british political geographer updated his heartland theory, with typical prescience. The theory states that a country that controls eastern europe also known as the heartland will also gain control over the.
Jul 26, 2018 6 the heartland theory itself might bring some interest to its eurasian placement, the thesis being quite rational in its construction. S, russian, china, and european union policy towards central asia. Geopolitics british geopolitical theorist halford mackinder 18611947. The influence of heartland theory in great power politics by margaret scott and westenley alcenat macalester college may 9th, 2008 abstract. Mackinders heartland theory states that in order to dominate the world a power must control a the eurasian core. This was recognised by sir halford mackinder 18611947 one of the founders of modern geopolitical theory. Halford mackinder british political geographer britannica. He first published it in his essay to the royal geographical society, titled the geographical pivot of history, in 1904. His formulation of the heartland theory was set out in his article entitled the geographical pivot of history, published in england in 1904. He believed that eurasia was the most important area in the world containing a pivot area extending from eastern. But has mackinders heartland theory indeed become obsolete. Mackinder believed that a landbased power, not a seabased power, would ultimately rule the world. Halford mackinder, british political geographer noted for his work as an educator and for his geopolitical conception of the globe as divided into two camps, the ascendant eurasian heartland and the subordinate maritime lands, including the other continents.
The heartland theory held that a north america was the best place from which to launch a campaign for world domination b sea power was the dominant form of military advanatage c britian should give its colonies independence. Mar 02, 2020 halford mackinder, british political geographer noted for his work as an educator and for his geopolitical conception of the globe as divided into two camps, the ascendant eurasian heartland and the subordinate maritime lands, including the other continents. Mackinder theory of heartland pdf 11 download 3b9d4819c4 revisiting the pivot. There is a lot to this theory and its importance, so lets outline some key terms. Overlooked heartlands physical and climateological difficulties. Sir halford mackinders 1904 speach in which he outlined his heartland theory was a founding moment for geopolitics. Mackinders heartland theory highlighted the probability of imperial russia, which occupies the vast, interior, pivotal position in eurasia, and which enjoys direct territorial access to all the other regions inner crescent, or rimland in spykmans formulation of the eurasian landmass west asia, south asia, east asia and europe, expanding its. He believed that eurasia was the most important area in the world containing a pivot area extending from eastern europe to eastern siberia. His view was biased because of imperial british interests were central focus of his theory. Yet eurasia lacks the necessary features to render it a good fit for the location many scholars have assumed for it.
Sir h j mackinder presented his views about the geopolitics of the world in his paper the geographical pivot of history in 1904 which came to be known as the heartland theory. Mackinders doctrine of geopolitics involved concepts diametrically opposed to the notion of alfred thayer mahan about the significance of navies he coined the term sea power in world conflict. The importance of the heartland, it might be noted, is positional in mackinders theory. The heartland theory then and now geoffrey sloan deputy head of the department of strategic studies and international affairs, britannia royal naval college, dartmouth pages 1538. A mackindermahan geopolitical view of chinas belt and. This article is a precise and critical analysis of mackinders famed 1904 article the geographical pivot of history. Mackinders heartland theory regards political history as a continuous struggle between land power and sea power with the ultimate victory going to continental power. Halford mackinder project gutenberg selfpublishing. Mar 23, 2015 during wwii, the great british political geographer updated his heartland theory, with typical prescience. Mackinder, grew concerned with the changing balance of international power. Geopolitics attempts to explain why some countries have. A mackindermahan geopolitical view of chinas belt and road. Mackinders heartland theory regards political history as a continuous struggle betwee. Mackinders paper suggested that the control of eastern europe was vital to control of the world.
The heartland theory of mackinder placed the pivot in. An isotherm is an imaginary line drawn on a weather chart or map to join places of equal temperature. Mackinders heartland theory, which states that the power that controls central asiathe great pivotwould eventually emerge as the most powerful state in international politics. The heartland theory is a theory on geopolitical relations the study of the effects of geography on international politics. Halford mackinders last view of the round world the.