The Rise of Eurasia: The BRICS Golden Corridor

The Mackinder Doctrine in Action!

from Google AI:

Counters to Halford Mackinder’s Heartland Theory (1904)—which asserts that control of Eastern Europe and the Eurasian interior ("Heartland") rules the world—focus on the supremacy of maritime power, the vital importance of the "Rimland" coastal zones, and modern technological advancements that make land-based control less decisive.

Key counters and alternative theories include:

Nicholas Spykman's Rimland Theory (1942): Spykman argued that the key to global power is not the inaccessible Heartland, but the "Rimland" (the coastal fringes of Eurasia, including Western Europe, the Middle East, India, and East Asia). He famously stated, "Who controls the Rimland rules Eurasia; who rules Eurasia controls the destinies of the world".

Alfred Thayer Mahan's Sea Power Theory: Pre-dating and contradicting Mackinder, Mahan emphasized that command of the sea, maritime trade routes, and naval choke points (like the Suez Canal or Strait of Malacca) are the true determinants of global supremacy, not land-based resources.

Technological Advancements: Critics argue that in the modern era, airpower, long-range missiles, and cyber-warfare allow for the projection of power without the need for physical, territorial control of the Eurasian landmass.

Economic Interdependence and Constraints: The development of global supply chains and the inefficiencies of land transport compared to maritime shipping mean that controlling the land interior does not automatically equate to global dominance. Furthermore, land powers face immense challenges in maintaining security over such a vast, resource-intensive area.

The "Rimland" as a Buffer: Instead of a vulnerable periphery, the Rimland acts as a containment zone that prevents the Heartland power from accessing the sea, effectively bottlenecking land-based expansion.

Regional Resistance: Historical and contemporary examples, such as the resistance in Eastern Europe, demonstrate that populations within the "pivot area" often act independently, undermining the notion that the Heartland is a monolith easily controlled by a single power.