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Advanced Geography — Geopolitics

Theory and practice of geopolitical power and territorial control

H
heartland_theory 21 terms Sep 10, 2025
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Terms 21

1
Geopolitics
Study of how geography influences politics and international relations; spatial dimensions of power
2
Heartland Theory (Mackinder)
Who rules Eastern Europe rules the Heartland; who rules the Heartland rules the World-Island
3
Rimland Theory (Spykman)
Modified Mackinder; control of Eurasian rimland (coastal areas) is key to global power
4
Sea Power Theory (Mahan)
Naval supremacy enables commercial dominance; argues for strong navy and merchant marine
5
Air Power Theory
Control of air space enables dominance of land and sea; Douhet; strategic bombing
6
Critical Geopolitics
O'Tuathail: challenges classical geopolitics as political discourse serving power; deconstructs geographic claims
7
Territorial State
Modern state defined by sovereign control over territory and population; post-Westphalian
8
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
200 nautical miles from coast; state controls resources; UNCLOS framework
9
Chokepoints
Strategic narrow passages where traffic can be controlled; Hormuz, Malacca, Suez, Gibraltar
10
Buffer State
Small state between great powers absorbing tension; historically Belgium, Afghanistan, Korea
11
Sphere of Influence
Region where one state claims dominant interest; informal control without formal annexation
12
Lebensraum
Nazi concept of 'living space'; territorial expansion justified by need for resources and population
13
Frontiers vs Borders
Frontiers: zones of transition; borders: precise lines; modern states have borders
14
Maritime vs Continental Powers
Maritime (UK, US): navy-dependent, trade-oriented; continental (Russia): land power, buffer zones
15
Resource Curse
Paradox of natural resource wealth often correlating with poor economic development and governance
16
Balkanization
Fragmentation of region into small hostile states; after collapse of empires; e.g. former Yugoslavia
17
Pan-Regionalism
Haushofer: world divided into pan-regions; each dominated by one great power
18
Arctic Geopolitics
Climate change opens Arctic routes and resources; competition between Russia, Canada, US, Nordic states
19
South China Sea Dispute
China's nine-dash line claims; conflicts with Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia; UNCLOS arbitration rejected by China
20
Contested Territories
Kashmir (India-Pakistan-China), Taiwan (China), Crimea (Russia-Ukraine), Nagorno-Karabakh
21
Landlocked State
No coastline; reliant on neighbors for trade access; 44 landlocked states; development challenges