Published in: The Geographical Journal by the Royal Geographical Society
Main Idea: Introduces the Heartland Theory, emphasizing the strategic geopolitical importance of the 'Heartland' in Eurasia.
Key Concepts
World Island
Definition: Comprises the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe (Afro-Eurasia).
Components:
World Island: Largest, most populous, richest land combination.
Offshore Islands: British Isles, Hainan, Japanese Archipelago, etc.
Outlying Islands: Americas and Oceania.
Heartland
Location: Centrally located in the World Island, from the Volga to the Yangtze, and from the Arctic to the Himalayas.
Historical Relevance: Initially controlled by the Russian Empire, subsequently the Soviet Union (excluding Kamchatka).
Strategic Importance: Believed to be the key to controlling the World Island and thus the world.
Eastern Europe
Strategic Summary: "Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; who rules the World-Island commands the world."
Control Implications:
Control of the World-Island means control over 50% of global resources.
Historical efforts to prevent Russian expansion by Western European powers.
Heartland's protection by natural barriers like ice, mountains, and deserts.
Introduction of railroads could facilitate land invasions.
Global Domination Scenarios
Western Invasion of Russia: Possible through advances like railroads.
Russo-German Alliance: Potential alliance against Western democratic powers.
Sino-Japanese Conquest: Potential large East Asian sea power.
Modern Implications
Heartland Theory Relevance: Some modern developments support the theory's relevance, such as Russia's oil exports.
Influence on Geopolitical Models
Related Concepts:
James Fairgrieve's "Crush Zone"
Nicholas Spykman's "Rimland"
Saul Cohen's "Shatterbelt"
Dimitri Kitsikis' "Intermediate Region"
Overlap: Geographical overlap exists among these models and Mackinder's theory.
Criticism
Geographical Determinism: Criticized for over-reliance on physiography for political strategy.
Technological Evolution: Considered outdated due to modern technological warfare capabilities.
Assumptions of Conflict: Critiqued for presuming conflict where it may not exist.
Historical Inaccuracy: Claims the theory was never truly proven as no single power has controlled the Heartland, World-Island, and the world simultaneously.
Related Topics
Intermediate Region
The Grand Chessboard
Intermarium
Land Hemisphere
Rimland
Eurasianism
Invasion of the United States
Further Reading
Mackinder's "The Geographical Pivot of History" and "Democratic Ideals and Reality"
Studies on the Soviet Union and geopolitics
External Links
Original publication in The Geographical Journal, April 1904