Geopolitics &
Supranationalism
What is Geopolitics?
Organic Theory
Lebensraum
Heartland Theory
Rimland Theory
Supranationalism & EU
How do Geopolitics Help us
Understand the World?
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“Geopolitics is the interplay among geography, power,
politics, and international relations. Geopolitics brings
locational considerations, environmental contexts,
territorial perspectives, and spatial assumptions to the
fore.” -- de Blij 262
Geopoltics fit into two categories:
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German School: explanation why certain states are
powerful and how to be become powerful
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British/American School: offers strategic advice for
states and explains why countries interact at the
global scale the way they do
Critical Geopolitics
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Ideas of intellectuals of statecraft about
places
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Influence and reinforce their political behaviors
and policy choices
Less about prediction
Affect how ordinary people process notions
of places and politics
For example: Cold War was ‘us’ v. ‘them’
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‘us’ equals pro-democracy, independent, selfsufficient and free
‘them’ equals in some way all things opposite
Ratzel’s Organic State Theory
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Organic Theory: Friedrich Ratzel
Based on Darwin’s theories of evolution
Need of a state for territory and overseas
connections in order to survive
Described expansion of empires and large
states in the 19th century
Eventually contributed to Nazi expansion
Mackinder’s Heartland Theory
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Who rules East Europe commands the
Heartland
Who rules the Heartland commands the World
Island
Who rules the World Island commands the
world
What Are Supranational
Organizations?
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Supranational organization: A separate
entity composed of three or more states that
forge an association and form an
administrative structure for mutual benefit in
pursuit of shared goals
Examples:
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European Union
United Nations
WTO (World Trade Organization)
OPEC (Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries)
A European Timeline
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Shortly after WWII: Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Lux)
1947: OEEC (Organization for European Economic Cooperation)
1951: ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) Belgium, W.
Germany, France, Italy Luxembourg & Netherlands
1957: EEC (European Economic Community) Treaty of Rome- consisted
of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Italy
1973: EC (European Community) Ireland, UK and Denmark
Custom duties were abolished between all states in 1977
1981: Greece became a member
1986: Spain and Portugal became member of EC
1992: EU (European Union) Treaty of Maastricht
1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden joined EU
1999: Euro introduced in circulation
2004: EU expanded to include Cyprus, Malta, Czech Rep., Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia
2007: two new members, Romania and Bulgaria join Union
What is Unique about EU?
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It is not a state, nor a simple organization of states (unique in this
regard)
EU has multifaceted gov’t structure; three capitals (Brussels,
Strasbourg, Frankfurt & the Hague) and billions in monetary flow
EU extends into foreign relations, domestic issues, military policies
States have sovereignty within the EU, but must abide by EU
guidelines in order to remain a participant in the EU
EU membership is optional, but has proven to be highly sought
after
There is no Constitution, but a Treaty (Treaty of Lisbon 2007) that
binds member states to set standard of laws by 2009
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Parliament would be given more leeway in proposing and changing
laws
A Day in the Life of a Parliamentary Member
€ 2011
€ 2012
€ 2009
Lisbon Treaty
The EU Parliament
Member Nations of the European Union
Greenland
(Denmark)
Jan Mayen
(Norway)
Europe
Iceland
Atlantic Ocean
1957
Sweden
Norwegian Sea
blue
Finland
Faroe Islands
(Denmark)
1973
Russia
Norway
green
1981
Estonia
red
Latvia
Lithuania
1986
Denmark
yellow
Russia
1995
Belarus
Ireland
orange
U.K.
Neth.
2004
Germany
purple
Belgium
Lux.
2007
Liech.
lavender
France
Switz.
Ukraine
Czech Rep.
Slovakia
Austria Hungary
Slovenia
Croatia Bos.&
San Marino
Herz.
Monaco
Portugal
Poland
Moldova
Romania
Serbia Bulgaria
Mont.
Mace.
Alb.
Italy
Spain
Greece
Turkey
Mediterranean Sea
Cyprus
Morocco
Algeria
Tunisia
Malta
Reaction Prompt:
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Based on your understanding of ‘how
the EU works’ from what is being
discussed and read, determine the
level of sovereignty each member
state has. Is the European Union good
for Europe? Provide in-depth
reasoning.