Author: Phil Kelly, Guadalupe Barrera & Jack Jewett – 06/10/2020
Abstract: – Classical geopolitics remains under attack, the causes in part reminiscent of General Karl Haushofer’s fascist image in the United States press following World War Two and presently of the media and some scholars’ repeated distortions of this often-maligned concept. The best solution toward correcting this malaise rests on a continued expression by proponents of the many contributions of geopolitics to international-relations theory and practice.
Accordingly, the aim of this article will be to focus upon exposing and correcting such negative interpretations as contained in two recent articles, the authors’ intent being to elevate the true nature of classical geopolitics by showing and refuting the misleading depictions gleaned from these two articles:
Christopher J. Fettweis (2015) “On Heartlands and Chessboards: Classical Geopolitics, Then and Now” Orbis 59/2, 233-248
Zhengyu Wu (2018) “Classical Geopolitics, Realism, and Balance of Power Theory” The Journal of Strategic Studies 41/6, 766-823
This article divides into three parts, the first and second devoted to assessing the mistaken depictions of geopolitics taken from Fettweis and Wu and the third aimed to drawing on what the authors allege to be a more accurate description and application of the classical concept.
Key words: – classical geopolitics, realism, balance-of-power, sea power/land power, heartland and continental balancing
Continue reading, please download the Analytical Dossier AD_19_2020 ISSN 2704-6419
The Authors
Phil Kelly is the Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.
Other papers by Prof. Phil Kelly: