The Importance of Mackinder's Heartland Theory in the Current Geopolitical Context

Essay

Table of Contents
Topic: The importance of using Mackinder’s Heartland concepts and applying them to the
current geopolitical timeframe.........................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Heartland Theory and Relevance.....................................................................................................1
Mackinder’s concepts applied to modern times...............................................................................2
Factors determine the Heartland......................................................................................................3
Heartland Fluctuations.....................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Topic: The importance of using Mackinder’s Heartland concepts and
applying them to the current geopolitical timeframe
INTRODUCTION
Heartland theory refers to a geopolitical concept, that helps in analysing economic and
political success of a country, in terms of its geography. It was proposed by British geographer
Halford Mackinder in 90s, for reintroducing the concept of geopolitics in terms of international
politics (Guzzini, 2017). Using this theory, the way political power has undermined or reinforced
via geographical arrangements, can be evaluated more appropriately. For this purpose, a study is
undertaken to evaluate importance of addressing geopolitics, relevance of heartland theory in 21st
century and other others. A key argument is also made to determine if China needs to considered
new heartland theory, with its relevance.
Heartland Theory and Relevance
The Heartland theory was first time hypothesized by Halford Mackinder the British
geopolitical scholar, in its Royal Geographical Association paper that entitled with, “The
Geographical Pivot of History”. As per this theory, the core concept of global influence mainly
lies in pivot are, which is also known as Heartland (ORHON ÖZDAĞ, 2016). It is a region of
world that situated in Eurasia because of sheer size, dense population and a wealth of resources.
The author has stated that a country in control of pivot are has the potential for commanding the
world. This theory had boundless political ramifications, where historians believe that writer has
inspired through Germany’s invasion of Russia at the time of II World War (Martel, 2015).
Heartland theory of Mackinder highlighted Imperial Russia’s probability, that occupies the
pivotal, vast and interior position in Eurasia. In other words, a nation which enjoys the direct
territorial access towards other regions like Inner Crescent, of Eurasian landmass such as West
Asia, East Asia, Europe and expand their territorial extent along with these axes. Thus, this
theory seeks more dominance over entire regions world (Muir, 2015). However, it has seen that
this theory also received purchase during Cold War, where Soviet Union was considered as
aspiring for establishment of universal communist empire. But collapse of Soviet Union and
current economic difficulties of Russia has also limited the power projection capabilities.
Therefore, Mackinder's heartland theory seems not to be relevant in terms of organising principle
for any type of foreign policy formulation of a country.
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