GEOPOLITICS

Halford Mackinder
(February 15, 1861 – March 6, 1947)
• Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire,
England
• An English geographer
• Politician
• Director of the London School of
Economics
• One of the founding fathers of both
Geopolitics and Geostrategy
The Geographical Pivot of History
“Heartland Theory”

born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England

 The Geographical Pivot of History
• Also Known as the Heartland Theory.
• Halford Mackinder argued that interior Asia and eastern Europe
(the Heartland) had become the strategic center of the “World
Island”.
• The Heartland became the strategic center of the world island as a
result of the relative decline of sea power as against land power and
of the economic and industrial development of southern Siberia.
 The Geographical Pivot of History
“Heartland theory”
According to Mackinder, the Earth land surface is divided into:

• The World Island - comprising the interlinked continents of Europe, Asia,

and Africa. This was the largest, most populous, and richest of all possible
land combinations.
• The offshore islands - including the British Isles and the islands of Japan.
• The outlying islands - including the continents of North America, South
America, and Australia.
• The Heartland - lay at the center of the world island.
 The Heartland Theory in Summary
"Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland;
who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island;
who rules the World-Island commands the world.“
Any power which controlled the World-Island would
control well over 50% of the world's resources. The
Heartland's size and central position made it the key to
controlling the World-Island.
 Alfred Thayer Mahan
(September 27, 1840 – December 1, 1914)

• Born in West Point, New York

• A United States naval officer
• A historian
• One of the most influential American
author of the nineteenth century
The Influence of Sea Power Upon History: 1660–1783
The Influence of Sea Power Upon History: 1660–1783

• It details the role of sea power during the seventeenth

and eighteenth centuries, and discusses the various
factors needed to support and achieve sea power, with
emphasis on having the largest and most powerful fleet.

• Scholars consider it the single most influential book in

naval strategy. Its policies were quickly adopted by most
major navies, ultimately leading to the World War I naval
arms race.
 Summary
Mahan argued that the education of naval officers
should be based on a rigorous study of history.
Mahan contended that with a command of the sea,
even if local and temporary, naval operations in
support of land forces could be of decisive importance.
Mahan also believed that in peacetime, states should
increase production and shipping capacities and
acquire overseas possessions.
 Sources/References
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Halford-Mackinder
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halford_Mackinder
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Geographical_Pivot_of_History
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Thayer_Mahan
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Influence_of_Sea_Power_upon_
History