Name of Model Heartland Theory
Area of Use
Creator
Political
Halford Mackinder
Premise (What
does it explain?)
Theorized that whoever controlled the heartland
controlled the world and that this heartland represented
the greatest natural fortress on earth.
Function (How is Make a case for the relevance of geography to statecraft,
& to argue that Eurasia had a key position for world
it used?)
land/sea power
Illustration
Strengths
Recognized that geographical boundaries were subject
to change & that the map of the world was continually
being redrawn as a consequence of imperialism.
Recognizes role geography places in our world
Weaknesses
Devotee of imperialist politics / reflected a deep-seated
great power dislike of a dominant East that grew out of
Mackinders’ belief that countries should be fearful of
alliances between Ger. & Russia or China organized by
Japan
Effectiveness in
the field (past &
present)
Really influential in early 20th cent. Geopolitical thought/
arguably the one who brought the study of geography
and international politics to public attention. One of the
best known contributions to the field of geopolitics.
Name of Model Rimland Theory
Area of Use
Creator
Premise (What
does it explain?)
Political
Nicholas Spykman
It explains how Eurasia/s periphery & not its cores are
the key to global power. This periphery should be known
as a rimland & rimland states such as Japan were likely
to become superpowers over time. The rimland received
more innovation because they had greater contact with
the outside world that were not part of the heartland &
they possess a wealth of natural resources. Controlling
the rim more important than the heartland
Function (How is To provide revisions to some of MacKinder’s concepts &
make predictions in terms of which areas would play
it used?)
significant roles in shaping geopolitics in the future.
Illustration
Strengths
Weaknesses
Effectiveness in
the field (past &
present)
Made accurate predictions concerning Brit., Russia, and
the US in terms of them becoming dominant actors within
the Eurasian heartland in the later part of the 20th cent.
Forecasted before WWII’s end that Jap. & Ger. would
lose the war, that China would emerge as a major power
in Asia, and there would be ongoing conflict between the
US and USSR
Reiterated the need for the US to remain strong &
influenced our push for Containment during the Cold War
Era, which led to poor practices & in some cases a
hatred of the US by certain countries that became
centers for the US/USSR power struggle
Considered the godfather of containment/ challenged
concepts proposed by MacKinder
Name of Model Organic Theory (Geopolitics)
Area of Use
Creator
Political
Friedrich Ratzel
Premise (What
does it explain?)
The nationa-state as a living organism that had to grow,
expand and to establish living frontiers that were dynamic
and subject to change
Function (How is
To support expansionist policies of states (such as Nazi
it used?)
Germany in WWII)
Illustration
Strengths
Recognizes the inevitable struggle for life that occurs
even in the case, of nation-states, which requires a state
to grow or to die, losing or gaining influence in direct
proportion to its capacity to overcome rivals.
Weaknesses
Supports principles of Social Darwinism & was influential
with Hitler and Nazi Germany
Draws too heavily on Malthus & Darwin
Effectiveness in
the field (past &
present)
Ratzel influenced many geographers/ one of the founding
fathers of geopolitics & influential in shaping subsequent
theories in the field