Heartland theory
Also called: Pivot area theory, Mackinder's heartland · Topic: Human Geography: Nature, Scope and Approaches · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Heartland theory was set out by Halford Mackinder in "The Geographical Pivot of History" (1904). He revised it in 1919. The "pivot area", or heartland, lies in inner Eurasia and runs roughly from the Volga to eastern Siberia. Sea power cannot reach it, so a land power that holds it is safe. Mackinder's 1919 formula was: "Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; who rules the World-Island commands the World." The World-Island means Europe, Asia and Africa together.
Example
The vast interior plains of Russia, from the Volga across Siberia, form Mackinder's heartland. They are far from open, ice-free seas, so navies could not threaten them.
Don't confuse with
- Rimland theory: Nicholas Spykman put this forward in 1944. It placed power in Eurasia's coastal rim, which joins land power with sea power. Heartland theory places power in the inland core.