what is meant by Geostrategic ideas? Critically discuss the concept by spykeman.

Geostrategic ideas are ideas that can be defined as ideas which is concerned with the expansion, consolidation (military or economic) and political supremacy of macro-regions, which reflect groupings of states within the international system as a result of the supra national forces. It is a widely used concept in the political geography. These ideas result in the formation of geostrategic regions. Example:- H. Mackinder’s Heartland theory.

            Spykeman’s ‘Rimland  theory’ came in response to the Mackinder’s ‘Heartland theory’. He refused to accept the idea of struggle between land and sea forces. Spykeman believed USSR occupying the heartland have no basis in terms of economy and geography to become the world center of communication, mobility and power potential inspite of  it’s strategic position.

Nations	Pig iron (in million tonnes)	Steel (in million tonnes)	Coal (in million tonnes)	Electricity (in billion Kilowatts)
USSR	14.9	18.4	164.6	39.6
Germany(Deutschland)	31.9	47.2	395	115.9

1940’s production data reflecting Spykeman’s belief in heartland’s inefficiency(source:Mastering Modern World history by Norman Lowe,3^rd edition,MacMillan India Ltd.)

Spykeman saw geography as a n important factor in foreign policy because of it’s permanent nature. National power is the final determinant of the state’s  security and permanent security can come through collective security arrangement. His approach to this theory is from the point of the view of U.S.A. He advocated indirectly for the alliance between U.S.A., U.S.S.R. and Britain. He saw U.S.A.  as the strongest land power and an  unified  Rimland as a menace. He predicted the whoever rules rimland, rules Eurasia and whoever rules Eurasia rules the world.

            Rimland ,according  to, Spykeman comprises of the European coastland, Arabian Middle-East and the Asiatic monsoon land.

Critical Appraisal:-

a)      Correct prediction about USSR’s eco-military strengths:-

He was correct in predicting Russia’s inability to become the world power. Example:- from 1953- 64 (Kruschev’s reign) USSR economy started falling  and during Breznev era the economy stagnates.

b)USSR an union of occupied states under Russian hegemony:-

Heartland which was dominated by USSR was actually a union of several occupied nations like – Poland, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine etc. with pro-Russian communist governments most of whom were puppets. There was distinct sub-nationalism under USSR in these nations where there was absence of an ideal nation state.

c)Collective security became a reality:-

After the beginning of the Cold War, western block led by USA and the eastern block led by USSR formed economic and military alliances.Western block formed  military alliance like N.A.T.O.(1949), S.E.A.T.O.(1954) and C.E.N.T.O. while nations in the Eastern block signed the Warsaw Pact(1955). In response to the economic alliance by the Western Block in the European Recovery Programme (popularly known as the Marshall Aid) which led to the formation of the European Union (E.U.), USSR formed ‘Cominform’ an organization established by Stalin in 1947.

d)Law of inverse ratio of power  to distance validated:-

e)Determined U.S.A.’s foreign policy:-

This policies found expression through the ‘domino theory’ and a s statesmen like Truman, G. F. Kennan etc. this occurred as Western and Eastern Blocks indirectly clashed during the Vietnam War (1946-1954; 1961-1975), Korean War etc.

Criticism:-

a)considering Asiatic monsoon region as a single unit:

Presence of the Himalayan mountain ranges separates the Sub-continent from China and Burma etc. both meteorologically and politically

b)     underestimation of ‘indigenous military powers’:-

He is criticized  for believing that the Heartland in relation to the British Empire have the meaning only if the military strength to be applied at the frontier originates at Great Britain. This because of his failure to understand that British supremacy will fall in times to come, like most great empires have fallen. He failed to understand that the future indigenous  military strengths can equal those of the British  empire. India and China are the 2 formidable military strengths in this region currently.

c)      Prediction of central Asia’s future is vague:-

       This is because he gave no exact time period as to how long this region will fall under the low power potential category. The words ‘immediate future is vague and relative’. He did not mention any numerical value to project as to how long (i.e., 10 years, 15 yr., 100 yr. etc.) Central Asia will remain a region of low power potential. Moreover, formation of the Communist government in China rejuvenated the Chinese economy.

d)Concept of historical alignment is not applicable historically:-

Never always did Britain and Russia jointly or single handed with one of the Rimland nation moved (politically or militarily) against another Rimland nation. The case with the wars fought for German unification (1866-1871) where Russia and Britain remained neutral; annexation of Austria (1938) into Germany by  Hitler can be cited as another recent example.

e) Development of alliance against Russia during the Cold War:-

Military alliance between Russia, U.S.A. and Britain ended with the second world war and the beginning of the Cold War saw the counter alliances against Russia. He failed to understand the difference in the political ideology as a hindrance to the alliance formation of permanent nature.

f) USSR (strongest land power) defeated in 1904-’05 by japan:-

USSR has bee defeated in the hands of Japan in the battle fought in 1904-1905. Hence, historically this argument of his is weak and baseless.

g) Man-Enironment relationship overlooked:-

He overlooked the cause and effect relationship existing between the Man-Environment relationship.