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from Google AI:

The Mackinder Doctrine, or Heartland Theory, is a 1904 geopolitical concept by Sir Halford Mackinder positing that control of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (the "Heartland" or "Pivot Area") allows command of the "World-Island" (Eurasia and Africa), eventually leading to global domination. It prioritizes land power over maritime power, warning that a dominant power in this region could threaten world freedom.

Key Aspects of the Heartland Theory:

• The Geographic Formula: "Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; and who rules the World-Island commands the world".
• Heartland (Pivot Area): The largely inaccessible, resource-rich, and land-locked region of Eurasia, protected from naval power by ice, mountains, and deserts.
• World-Island: The combined landmass of Europe, Asia, and Africa, which contained two-thirds of the world's land and seven-eighths of its population.
• Shift from Sea to Land: Mackinder argued that, with the rise of railways, land-based powers could out-compete traditional maritime powers (like Britain) in mobility and resource accumulation.
• Strategic Objective: To warn Britain of the danger of a Eurasian power, such as Russia or Germany, establishing hegemony and to suggest preventing this by ensuring control over Eastern Europe as a buffer zone.

Evolution of the Theory:

• 1904 ("The Geographical Pivot of History"): Introduced the "Pivot Area" concept.
• 1919 ("Democratic Ideals and Reality"): Refined the theory post-WWI, focusing on Eastern Europe as the crucial, vulnerable gate to the Heartland.
• 1943 ("The Round World and the Winning of the Peace"): Modified to include the "Midland Ocean" (North Atlantic) as a counterbalance to a potential Soviet-dominated Heartland.

Relevance in Modern Geopolitics:

The theory is often cited in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, viewing control of Ukraine as a step toward dominating the Heartland. It is also seen as a precursor to modern strategic thinking regarding land-based Eurasian infrastructure (e.g., China's Belt and Road Initiative