• Friedrich Ratzel (1844-1904) AN ORGANIC
STATE
• “The state resembles a biological organism whose life cycle extends from birth through maturity and, ultimately, decline and death.
• To prolong its existence, the state requires nourishment , just as an organism needs food.
• Such nourishment is provided by the acquisition of territories belonging to less powerful competitors” -lebensraum.

• Halford Mackinder , Jr.(1861-1947)
English geographer
• Believed the greatest powers would control the land, not the seas
• The greatest land would be in Eurasia,
“the world island” b/c it contains largest landmass and population aka the heartland or the “pivot area”

• The world island could be best controlled from the pivot area.
• A pivot is a central point in which one can move in all directions.
• The heartland would guarantee selfsufficiency in terms of food for the country dominating the region
• The heartland would also provide safety as it

• Mackinder theorized that
• He who rules East Europe commands the
Heartland.
• He who rules the Heartland commands the
World-Island
• He who rules the World-Island commands the World.

• Alfred T. Mahan – US (1840-1914) to gain power one must control the sea.
• Mahan theorized that command of the sea was the decisive factor in controlling international relations.
• Mahan used the British to prove his case and he attributed their success to their correct use of sea power.

• US equated the Heartland theory w/the USSR so adopted containment in reaction to the
Domino Theory
• Creating alliances in the Rimland:
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) in West Asia
• Southeast Treaty Organization (SEATO)
• Eastern Europe became a shatterbelt or shatter zone during the Cold War – countries located strategically within the spheres of influence of larger, competing countries. Common for countries to have economic problems and political instability

• Nicholas Spykman (1894-1943) agreed with Mackinder that Eurasia was the likely base for world domination, but instead argued that control of the coast was most important
• Spyman asserted that the Rimland contained dense population, abundant resources, coastal access and access to the interior