This document discusses several theories of geopolitics, including those proposed by Wallerstein, Ratzel, Mackinder, and Spykman. It analyzes their similarities and differences in explaining the arrangements and forces transforming the global political landscape. Wallerstein's world-systems theory describes a three-tier global economic structure of core, periphery, and semi-periphery states. Mackinder's heartland theory claims that whoever controls Eastern Europe and Siberia could dominate the world. Spykman modified this view, arguing that control of the rimland regions surrounding Eurasia would be key to global power.

1. Objective: Understand the concept of geopolitics.
Analyze the similarities and differences between the
theories of Wallerstein, Ratzel, Mackinder and Spykman.

2. 1. I believe that America should try and gain more land
around the world.
2. I believe that weak countries should be taken over by
stronger countries.
3. I believe that every state should make attempts to expand
their borders.
4. I believe that each state is doomed to fail no matter what
resources they have.
5. Like all great states in history, I believe that America will
fall to a greater state.

3.  Geography + power + politics + international relations
 Helps us understand the arrangements & forces that are
transforming the map of the world
 Classical geopolitics
 German School – sought to explain why certain states are powerful and
how to become powerful
 British/America School – sought to offer strategic advice for states and
explain why countries interact at the global scale the way they do
 Most geo-politicians today fall into the British/American school
of thought

4.  Immanuel Wallerstein
 Explains how the Capitalist World Economy was created
 Connections between economic & political factors of states
 Core
 Periphery
 Semi-periphery
 Colonialism
 Capitalism

5. Howdoeseachcountryfitintothebig picturetoday?
Key Assumptions:
1. The world economy has one market (Capitalism) and a global division
of labor.
2. Although the world has many states, almost everything takes place
within the context of the world economy.
3. The world economy is a three-tier structure.

6. Periphery
Semi-
periphery
CORE
• Low Technology
• Lack of Education
• Little Wealth
• Both Core and
Periphery
processes occur.
• Technology
• Education
• Wealth

7.  Europeans laid ground rules for state system and for the rules of
capitalist world economy – (Colonialism set this up…& every state
is interdependent now.)
 Concentration of wealth brought to Europe during colonialism is
the reason for today’s uneven global distribution of power
 Each state fits in somehow
 Need to understand spatial & functional relationships within
world economy to understand any state
 Political independence is possible not economic independence
 Wealth allows for ability to influence others or achieve political
goals
 Often, political power is lacking where there is no wealth

8. What do you notice about the location of Core / Semi-Periphery / Periphery?
How does this connect to previous units on:
Population
Migration
Religion
Colonization
Globalization

9.  Overemphasizes economic factors in political development
 Very state-centric
 No consideration of internal factors
 No clear identification of core/semi-periphery/periphery

10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubEhjuDBRKM

11. German 1844-1904 – What’s going on then?
• Why are some states powerful?
• How do states become more powerful?
Main Idea: States must grow, they can only thrive when they attain more
territory (Organic State Theory)
Details:
State resembles a living organism & goes through the life cycle
To thrive, state needs nourishment through lebensraum (living space)
If state is confined, it will die
Borders are temporary
Colonialism / imperialism drive this theory

12.  Criticisms
 Based on speculation
 Ultimately led to Nazi expansionism, Hitler embraced
geopolitics to justify the right for lebensraum because of racial
superiority

13.  Main Idea: Whichever state controls the Heartland could eventually dominate the world
 Details:
 Determination of most strategic places on Earth
 Land-based power, not sea-based will ultimately rule the world
 Heartland = eastern Europe – eastern Siberia
 World Island = Europe, Asia, Africa – contains 50% of the world’s resources

14.  Q. Where would the conflicts be?
 A. The Rimland…also called the Shatterbelt.

15.  Emergence of USSR & control over Eastern Europe gave theory
more attention
 Mackinder issued advice before he died:
 Keep Soviets in check by creating alliance around North Atlantic
 Shortly after, US began containment (policy to stop spread of
communism) and NATO formed
 Domino Theory – if one country falls to communism, many more will
https://ww
w.youtube.
com/watch
?v=rF1BvsT
MxqU
1:45 Min.

16.  Main Idea: The Eurasian Rimland (Western Europe, North
Africa, Asia), not the Heartland would be key to global power
 Details:
 “Who controls the Rimland rules Eurasia, who rules Eurasia
controls the destinies of the world
 Known as the godfather of containment

17.  Must control the
Heartland…but how?
 Warsaw Pact response was
response to NATO.