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The Heartland Theory. What is the theory?. a theory of geopolitical relations proposed by Halford Mackinder after WWI whoever controls Eastern Europe controls the “World Island” (Asia, Europe and Africa) and then ultimately the entire world. Why Eastern Europe?.
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What is the theory? • a theory of geopolitical relations proposed by Halford Mackinder after WWI • whoever controls Eastern Europe controls the “World Island” (Asia, Europe and Africa) and then ultimately the entire world
Why Eastern Europe? • at the time the vast resources of Eastern Europe were considered incredibly important (coal, farmland, and lots of flat land for expansion, urbanization) • according to the theory, once a country controls the Heartland, it will seek to control the Inner Crescent - Africa and Asia (the rest of the World Island)
it will do this by first gaining control of the warm water ports of western Europe, which will give it control over sea lanes and the coasts of Asia and Africa
eventually the Americas and Oceania would collapse and succumb to the overwhelming power of the country controlling the World Island • and so, control of Eastern Europe was considered crucial
Against: • it did not take into consideration future rise of the USA as a major international power - militarily and economically • it did not foresee the rise of aircraft as a major military weapon • it did not foresee nuclear deterrence, nor intercontinental ballistic missiles
In support: • the USSR did try to expand out from the Heartland - it dominated the countries of Eastern Europe militarily and economically after WWII • NATO was the military alliance that was created to stop this expansion • Warsaw Pact and COMECON were alliances of the Soviet bloc
Hungary 1956, Czechoslovakia (Prague Spring 1968), Poland 1980s are examples of how the Soviet government tolerated no independence • USSR sponsored communist parties outside Eastern Bloc and tacitly supported terrorist movements to undermine the security of western nations (e.g., IRA (Britain), Red Brigades (Italy), Red Army (Japan)
Cuba, Vietnam and Afghanistan can also be seen as efforts by the USSR to expand beyond the Heartland • they also supported a variety of governments throughout the developing world
Containment • Containment was the West's response to Soviet expansionist threats as seen at first in the context the Heartland theory • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization – USA, Canada, Great Britain), SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organization - Philippines, Pakistan, Thailand, Australia ), and CENTO (Central Treaty Organization – Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan) were the military alliances set up, mainly through US pressure, to carry out the policy of containment. Seato and Cento are no more.
Basically, Soviet expansion was contained to the Heartland by the threat of first strike nuclear retaliation if the Soviets invaded any allied member or threatened the security of any member nation • Soviet response to containment was to leap-frog Western Europe and to establish pro-Soviet bases (countries) elsewhere - Angola, Vietnam, Nicaragua, Cuba
the Soviet response to containment was itself contained by the further threat of nuclear war - especially the case with Cuba (and the 1962 Missile Crisis) President John F. Kennedy, US President during 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
This theory has been modified (twisted) to fit a smaller scale like a country. The theory has also become an economic one (remember Wallerstein). In Canada we have the Heartland-Hinterland theory. The Heartland being southern Ontario and Quebec. Where all the industry, manufacturing, finances and other major functions are located. The Hinterland is the rest of Canada that supplies, labour and raw materials to the Heartland. The USA considers its Heartland the agricultural heart of the country – states like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas are considered the Heartland.
