Criticism of Ratzel's Geo-Political Theory
Hasty generalizations:He
is criticized for making hasty generalizations in identifying the laws of the
spatial growth of the states and the theory that state is an organism.
Theory used by the
Nazis:
Critics were
displeased with the fact that the theory has been used by the Nazi Germany under
Hitler in the inter-world war period and moreover he himself was a german.
Application of the
‘law’ term in his theory:
His use of the term
‘law’ in the assessment of territorial growth is criticized. However, they
were’nt meant to be interpreted as the ‘law of necessity’.
Politics taken
over by historical movement:
As per Kost, he
failed to give precise concept of politics, as politics was taken over by the
concept of “historical movement”.
Crude determinist:
He is viewed in this
perspective because his theory is devoid of morality and ethics.
Ideological
dimension in political geography:
He is criticized for
giving an ideological dimension in political geography by emphasizing a
spiritual bond between the people of a nation and the citizens of that nation.this
has been used by the Nazis in a negative way. He aw state as the source of
power, which fitted Nazi ideology because Nazism believes state is superior to
it’s citizens.
Arrival from
different discipline:
He came from the discipline of zoology which resulted in
lack of exposure to political science and social science.
Created
fundamental hostility:
Pounds criticized him
for the creation of a fundamental hostility between the eastern and the western
blocs respectively. The struggle in Afghanistan, korean peninsula during the
Korean war, Vietnam war etc. bear a resemblance to that which the social Darwinists assume to exist between
states.
Overlooked
peaceful co-existence among nations of the world:
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