Geo-Strategic Location

Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 9.1.5

MacKinder’s Geo-Strategic Location Theory

MacKinder's theory was developed in 1904.

MacKinder argued that whoever controlled Europe and Asia would control the world.
This is because they would control the world’s biggest landmass.
He believed that physical size was fundamental in superpower status.

MacKinder named a ‘heartland’ that stretched from Eastern Europe into Russia and said that this was the ‘pivot’ area.
He said that whoever ruled the most strategic part of Europe would control the heartland. Whoever ruled the heartland would control the landmasses of Europe and Russia and this influence would allow them to control the world.
According to this theory, Russia should be the global superpower because it has the most strategic location.

MacKinder did believe that the heartland could shift over time. At the time of writing his theory, this would be facilited by sea power.
He believed that the UK could dominate everywhere from Western Europe to the Pacific using its sea power. This would enable it to dominate the world.

Applying MacKinder's theory to geography today, it seems that the global pivot point has changed in the 21st century.
As China grows in global influence, it is likely that the global pivot will return to China. This is where the global economic centre was pre-1800.
China is an emerging and regional power that can challenge the USA's hegemony.