1. Geopolitics
Objective: Understand the concept of geopolitics. Analyze the similarities and differences between the theories of Wallerstein, Ratzel, Mackinder and Spykman.

2. What are your beliefs… On scale of 1 Agree – 5 Disagree
I believe that America should try and gain more land around the world.
I believe that weak countries should be taken over by stronger countries.
I believe that every state should make attempts to expand their borders.
I believe that each state is doomed to fail no matter what resources they have.
Like all great states in history, I believe that America will fall to a greater state.

3. What is Geopolitics?
Geography + power + politics + international relations
Helps us understand the arrangements & forces that are transforming the map of the world
Classical geopolitics
German School – sought to explain why certain states are powerful and how to become powerful
British/America School – sought to offer strategic advice for states and explain why countries interact at the global scale the way they do
Most geo-politicians today fall into the British/American school of thought & offer geostrategic perspectives on the world

4. World Systems Theory Immanuel Wallerstein
Explains how the Capitalist World Economy was created
Connections between economic & political factors of states
Change bottom section to “Relationship between economic and political power”

5. Key Vocab Core Periphery Semi-periphery Colonialism Capitalism

6. World Systems Theory (Wallerstein)
How does each country fit into the big picture today?
Key Assumptions:
The world economy has one market (Capitalism) and a global division of labor.
Although the world has many states, almost everything takes place within the context of the world economy.
(Colonialism set this up…& every state is interdependent now.)
3. The world economy is a three-tier structure.
It is about processes…but they occur in places.

7. Details of Model Europeans laid ground rules for state system
Europeans laid ground rules of capitalist world economy – interdependence that persists today
Concentration of wealth brought to Europe during colonialism is the reason for today’s uneven global distribution of power
Each state fits in somehow
Need to understand spatial & functional relationships within world economy to understand any state
Political independence is possible not economic independence
Wealth allows for ability to influence others or achieve political goals
Often, political power is lacking where there is no wealth

8. The Three Tier Structure
Periphery
Semi-periphery
CORE
Low Technology
Lack of Education
Little Wealth
Both Core and Periphery processes occur.
Technology
Education
Wealth

9. How does this connect to previous units on:
What do you notice about the location of Core / Semi-Periphery / Periphery?
How does this connect to previous units on:
Population
Migration
Religion
Colonization
Globalization

10. Criticisms Overemphasizes economic factors in political development
Very state-centric
No consideration of internal factors
No clear identification of core/semi-periphery/periphery

11. Classical Geopolitics (The German School = Ratzel)
German – What’s going on then?
Why are some states powerful?
How do states become more powerful?
Main Idea: States must grow, they can only thrive when they attain more territory
Details:
State resembles a living organism & goes through the life cycle
To thrive, state needs nourishment through lebensraum (living space)
If state is confined, it will die
Borders are temporary
Colonialism/imperialism drive this theory

12. Organic State Theory Criticisms Based on speculation
Ultimately led to Nazi expansionism, Hitler embraced geopolitics to justify the right for lebensraum because of racial superiority
1:10 Min.

13. Determination of most strategic places on Earth
Main Idea: Whichever state controls the Heartland could eventually dominate the world
Details:
Determination of most strategic places on Earth
Land-based power, not sea-based will ultimately rule the world
Heartland = eastern Europe – eastern Siberia
World Island = Europe, Asia, Africa – contains 50% of the world’s resources

14. Heartland Theory Q. Where would the conflicts be?
A. The Rimland…also called the Shatterbelt.

15. Details continued
Emergence of Soviet Union and control over Eastern Europe gave theory more attention
Mackinder issued advice before he died:
Keep Soviets in check by creating alliance around North Atlantic
Shortly after, US began containment (policy to stop spread of communism) and NATO formed
Domino Theory – if one country falls to communism, many more will
1:45 Min.

16. Rimland Theory (Spykman)
Main Idea: The Eurasian Rimland (Western Europe, North Africa, Asia), not the Heartland would be key to global power
Details:
“Who controls the Rimland rules Eurasia, who rules Eurasia controls the destinies of the world
Known as the godfather of containment

17. Rimland Theory - Spykman
Must control the Heartland…but how?
CONTAINMENT!
Creates NATO…Warsaw Pact response.
2:45 Min.