| | | Brzezinski is the author of The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives, a 1997 book on geopolitics that was based on Mackinder’s Heartland Theory. Brzezinski argued that the US could retain global supremacy only if it prevented the emergence of a single power on the World-Island.
The Brzezinski Doctrine remains influential in the US foreign-policy establishment. His protégés, among them Ukrainian émigré Victoria Nuland, undersecretary of state for political affairs, are a powerful voice in the US State Department. >>>> the Heartland, the region from Eastern Europe to Siberia. Protected from Western naval power, Mackinder called it “the ultimate citadel of land-power.” In his 1919 publication Democratic Ideals and Reality, he wrote: “Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; who rules the World-Island commands the world.”<<<<
I’m not familiar enough with this school of thought - from Mackinder to Brzezinski to Nuland and company… but clearly, there must be a reason for NATO - and for its expansion all the way towards Ukraine - where we are currently. So, if it makes anyone feel better - if we get blown up in a big war, it will be the conclusion of a respectable, 100 year old geopolitical strategy. Leaders know best.
I’ll have to get Brzezinski’s book. Curious whether or not he gives Mackinder credit for these grand ideas.
One more thought - it appears that modern technology gives additional advantages to land based “Heartland” powers — modern rockets make naval powers more vulnerable - as witnessed by the demise of “Moskva”. Some dude pushes a button - and a great ship is dead. |
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