Heartlandteooria

Heartlandteooria is a geopolitical concept that posits a strategically vital "heartland" in Eurasia. The theory, primarily associated with British geographer Sir Halford Mackinder, suggests that control over this vast interior landmass would grant dominance over the entire globe. Mackinder first articulated his ideas in his 1904 essay "The Geographical Pivot of History" and later expanded upon them in his 1919 book "Democratic Ideals and Reality."

The heartland, as defined by Mackinder, encompasses Eastern Europe, the Volga basin, the Ural Mountains, Siberia, and Central Asia. He argued that the peoples inhabiting this region, due to their equestrian traditions and the sheer size and inaccessibility of the territory, possessed a natural advantage in military power. Mackinder famously stated, "Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; who rules the World-Island commands the globe." The World-Island, in his terminology, refers to the combined landmass of Eurasia and Africa.

The theory has been influential in geopolitical thought, though it has also faced criticism and modifications. Subsequent scholars have debated the precise boundaries of the heartland and the enduring relevance of land power in an era of naval and air dominance. Despite these debates, the core idea of a strategically important continental core influencing global power dynamics continues to be a subject of discussion.