Definitions

“A branch of geography which considers
the strategic value of land and sea area in
the context of the national economic and
military power and ambitions.”

“The study of the interplay between
international political relations and the
territorial/environmental context in which
they occur.”
Definitions

“Another name for political geography.”

“The study of how geographic
considerations influence long-run
international relations.”

“The use of geographic information and
concepts to attain political goals.”
Examples of Geopolitics

Manifest Destiny
 19th century
 Mexican War

Monroe Doctrine
 European Colonies
 Effectiveness
○ US Civil War
○ Cinco de Mayo

Roosevelt Corollary
Friedrich Ratzel
Organic Theory of
States
 “lebensraum”
 Influence on WWII

Sir Halford Mackinder
Heartland Theory
 Pivot area
 Geopolitik

 Karl Haushofer
 German Exploitation
of Mackinder’s ideas
Nicolas Spykman
Rimland Theory
 Containment
 Domino Theory

 Cold War
○ Korea (1950)
○ Vietnam (1964)
○ Afghanistan (1980)
Bush Doctrine

Two main pillars are
identified for the
doctrine:
 1. preemptive strikes
against potential
enemies, and
 2. promoting
democratic regime
change.
Bush Doctrine




preventive war,
depose foreign regimes that represented a potential or
perceived threat
a policy of spreading democracy around the world, especially
in the Middle East
pursue U.S. military interests in a unilateral way