The Political Organization of
Space
Supranationalism
• Global organizations that extend state borders
through the assistance and/or establishment
of other organizations to further economic
and/or political cooperation.
• Examples include: EU, EEC, UN, NAFTA,NATO
Boundaries, Control, and
Disagreements
• Disagreements can lead to conflict
• Conflict meaning military engagement
• There have been several agreements forged to
curb military deployment.
• Organizations include:
– NATO http://www.nato.int/nato-welcome/
– CENTO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Treaty_Organiza
tion
– SEATO https://history.state.gov/milestones/19531960/seato
• Generally, these organizations were
established to stop the spread of communism
and force states around the world to “pick a
side”
• US v. Soviet Union
Warsaw Pact and Satellite States
• Was created in reaction to the Warsaw Pact
which united countries under Soviet
Communism.
• Countries that were apart of the Warsaw Pact
were considered to be ‘satellite states’.
• This created a cultural boundary known as the
“Iron Curtain”
Shatterbelt Region
• Conflict between the two super powers would
often times include, or were centered around
other states.
• These states were called ‘shatterbelt regions’
East Asia
• Korean War
• Vietnam War
Middle East
• Soviet occupation of
Afghanistan
Central America
• Nicaragua Contra supported groups by US
• Shatterbelt regions have a history of unrest
and was ripe for communist and democratic
control but it never really stuck.
• Geographically they tended to be isolated,
mountainous regions with little governmental
control.
Buffer State
• Neutral countries that lye between two
conflicting states.
• Mongolia has been an example of conflicts
between China and the Soviet Union
Theories of Control and
Political Power
• The Heartland Theory
• The Rimland Theory
• The Domino Theory
Geopolitics
• Geopolitics – the interplay among geography, power,
politics, and international relations.
Mackinder’s Heartland Theory:
“Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland
Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island
Who rules the World Island commands the world”
The Heartland Theory
• Whoever owns Eastern Europe and Western
Asia has the political power and capital to rule
the world.
• Eastern Europe is extremely rich in agricultural
resources.
– i.e Ukraine could produce enough wheat to
sustain a large population.
– Coal production
The Heartland Theory Cont
• Fans: Hitler
• Fails: Hitler- he couldn’t complete with tough
resolve and harsh climate.
• Technological advancements
• When asked about Russia in 2012 Mitt
Romney said “This is without question our No.
1 geopolitical foe”
The Rimland Theory
• Nicholas Spykman, “Containment”
• The belief that forming alliances in necessary
to keep the Heartland in check.
• The heartland is so powerful that no country
alone contain it.
• NATO, SEATO,CENTO are evidence of this
theory
• Also, the heartland may control the land, but
the rimland controls the sea.
The Domino Theory
• When one country experiences rebellion or
political disunity, other countries around it will
also experience turmoil as a result leading to a
domino effect of political instability in the
region.
• Used as propaganda for involvement in
Southeast Asia conflicts like Korea and
Vietnam
• Critics say US is fine even when Mexico isnt.
Irredentism
• US foreign policy model
• An attempt by one country to provoke coups
or separatist movements in another country.
• Example: Country A tries to spark a separatist
movement from a nationality within country
B.
• This can be done through radio, literature,
radio programs, or television ads.
Examples of US irredentism
• US companies like Facebook are used to spark
revolution in Arab countries by
communicating the benefits of capitalism and
democracy.
• Used a lot also during WWII and cold war
against Germany and Soviet Union
Other Forces
• Centripetal and Centrifugal forces to
influences states and their populations.
• Centrifugal forces- forces that break up a
state.
• Centripetal forces-forces that tend to unite a
state.
• To make an enemy out of the enemy and a
hero of yourself
C.C Forces
•
•
•
•
•
•
Religion
Language
Government
Ethnicities
Morphology
External Threat
Religion
• Centrifugal:
Language
• Centripetal:
Government
• Centrifugal:
Ethnicities
• Centrifugal
Morphology
• Centrifugal
External Threat
???? Which one?