Geopolitical Theories AP Human Geography

GEOPOLITICS The study of power relationships past, present, and future Branch of political geography that considers the strategic value of land and sea area in the context of national economic and military power and ambitions

Alfred Thayer Mahan: 1890 Sea power necessary to facilitate trade and peaceful commerce The country that possessed power would be one that could control the sea Development of a strong navy was essential ingredient to a powerful state as was the country’s location Most powerful country would have accessible and large coastline and good harbors

Mahan

Friedrich Ratzel Organic Theory of States “lebensraum”

ORGANIC STATE THEORY: 1897 * Founded by Friedrich Ratzel The state is an organism conforming to natural laws and forced to grow & expand into new territories in order to secure resources needed for survival. State requires lebensraum Translates to “living space” Adolf Hitler used this theory to invade surrounding countries and build German nationalism Must devour other territories to achieve this goal

HEARTLAND THEORY Founded by Sir Halford Mackinder World power is based on the assumption that the land based state controlling the EURASIAN heartland has the key to world domination. Advent of railroads released countries from dependence on navy to move to army Warfare would move from the water to land Railroads would make heartland easy to defend and hard to conquer

Heartland Theory Contd. Summary: Believed the physical geographical quantities (land) are the most important aspect of state Criticized for oversimplifying the complexity of factors that shape global geopolitics

DOMINO THEORY Cold War and Eastern Europe Destabilization from any cause in 1 country can result in the collapse of order in a neighboring country leading to a chain of events that affect adjoining states in turn. Korea (1950) Vietnam (1964) Afghanistan (1980)

Domino Theory Contd. President Eisenhower Speaks Out Against Communism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N1_JGG4XX8 Domino Theory – Presidents’ Perspective https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP9QDRDLw6c

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

Close Read and Annotate Independently, close read and annotate “Hitler and Lebensraum”