Geopolitics, Geography, and StrategyColin S. Gray, Geoffrey Sloan, Geoffrey R. Sloan Geopolitical conditions influence all strategic behaviour - even when cooperation among different kinds of military power is expected as the norm, action has to be planned and executed in specific physical environments. The geographical world cannot be avoided, and it happens to be 'organized' into land, sea, air and space - and possibly the electromagnetic spectrum including 'cyberspace'. Although the meaning of geography for strategy is a perpetual historical theme, explicit theory on the subject is only one hundred years old. Ideas about the implication of geographical, especially spatial, relationships for political power - which is to say 'geopolitics'- flourished early in the twentieth century. Divided into theory and practice sections, this volume covers the big names such as Mackinder, Mahan and Haushofer, as well as looking back at the vital influence of weather and geography on naval power in the long age of sail (sixteenth to nineteenth centuries). It also looks forward to the consequences of the revival of geopolitics in post-Soviet Russia and the new space-based field of "astropolitics". |
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Contents
Why Geopolitics? | 1 |
The Heartland Theory | 15 |
Air Power Space Power | 63 |
International Boundaries | 125 |
Strategy Geopolitics | 137 |
Inescapable Geography Colin S Gray | 161 |
Weather Geography and Naval Power | 178 |
Some Thoughts on War and Geography Williamson Murray | 201 |
Haushofer Hitler | 218 |
Abstracts | 269 |
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achieve air power allied American approach argued Army attack become boundaries British campaign century claim coast command complex concept concern course critical cultural defense dimension direct dominance early Earth East economic effect enemy environment Europe European example factors forces foreign French future geography geopolitical German global ground Haushofer heartland Hitler idea important influence information power infosphere interests issue land least less limited London Mackinder Mackinder's Mahan major matter means Mein Kampf military nature naval Navy North operations orbit particular physical political position possible practical present problem question reason region relations relationship relative result Russia satellites sea power sense ships significant Soviet space strategic success suggest tactical terrain territory theory threat understanding United warfare weapons West wind