Chapter 8 section 4 Text pages 245 - 248 How do Geopolitics and Critical Geopolitics help us Understand the World

Geopolitics Interplay among geography, power, politics, and international relations Geopoliticians’ ideas influence policy and decision making Example: Domino Theory if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect Ideas about power relationships Provided Strategy for U.S. Impacted relations globally (Korea and Vietnam)

Classical Geopolitics: German Focuses on Friedrich Ratzel Permanent, static boarders kill states Territories (especially overseas) are vital Helped justify Nazi land grabs in the 1930’s

Classical Geopolitics: British/American Focuses on Strategic advice Why states interact the way they do Sir Halford J. Mackinder Heartland Theory (1919) Belief that a land-based, not sea-based, power center would dominate the world Eurasia is the key “Pivot-Area” where the Heartland is located Advocated limiting the spread and influence of the Heartland and forming an organization to counter it (NATO) Nichols Spyman Rimland Theory countered Mackinder’s Heartland theory stated that Eurasia’s rimland, the coastal areas, is the key to controlling the World Island Influenced actions during the Cold War

Cold War U.S. vs. Russia (Federal vs. Unitary government, Capitalist vs. Communist economic systems) NATO North Atlantic Treaty organization, mutual defense organization formed by the U.S. and Britain Warsaw Pact Response to NATO, in 1945 that formed an alliance of the Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain; USSR, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania Iron Curtain Satellite state refers to a country which is formally independent, but under heavy influence or control by another country USSR Collapse 1989-1990

Critical Geopolitics Focusses on explaining the assumptions and perceptions of politicians Politicians of core states form ideas about places This in turn influences policy choices This in turn influences the people of the state Less focus on predicting and prescribing of classical geopolitics today Politicians identify against based on the perceptions Ronald Reagan labelling the Soviet Union the “Evil Empire” Arab and Persian nations viewing Israel as others and visa versa

Geopolitical World Order Temporary periods of stability in the way politics are conducted at a global scale Stable world order  breakdown  new stable world order After WWII old Colonialist order breaks down  enter into Cold War world over order  collapse of Soviet Union  U.S.- centered World Order Unilateralism – world order where one state dominates and allies follow instead of joining political discourse Is the world order still one of unilateralism? What are some challenges to the current world order? China, terrorism, the E.U., and Globalization