Spykman's Rimland Theory

Spykman advanced the Rimland theory in opposition to Mackinder's Heartland theory. Working from the same premises as Mackinder, Spykman gave a very different interpretation of the relative importance of the Heartland vis-à-vis the surrounded tier, the Inner or Marginal Crescent, "partly continental and partly oceanic", which Spykman renamed as the "Rimland".

Historical Background

Nicholas J. Spykman was a professor of international relations at Yale University and the director of the Yale Institute of International Studies. The most outstanding contribution of the American scholar was his book, "The Geography of the Peace", published in 1944. Spykman considered that Mackinder’s reasoning suffered from several weaknesses as he overemphasised the potentialities of the Heartland.

Spykman’s Model

According to Nicholas J. Spykman, maritime mobility was the basis of the new type of geopolitical structure. Spykman emphasised that "it is sea power that has made it possible to conceive of the Eurasian continent as a unit, and it is sea power that governs the relationship between the Old and the New Worlds". To him, sea power appeared to be the key factor in global strategy. The following are the modifications Spykman made to this theory that differ from the Heartland and marginal crescent of Mackinder’s theory.

Inner Core

• It is a region of several physiographic barriers and climatic challenges.

• It is neither a natural fortress nor a protected land, making its resources dormant.

• The area is scarcely populated, inhabited by primitive civilizations that have no power to affect the geopolitical scenario of the world.

• The inner core is a land of misery with no prosperity.

Rimland

• The Marginal Crescent was termed the Rimland, symbolising sea power. Sea power allows for faster movement and mass transportation. Therefore, it is invincible. And strategically, the coastal location, indentation, and ports are natural advantages to a country.

• He further said that 2/3 of the world's population lives in the Rimland area, which has all the vital resources like petroleum, coal, forest resources, and human resources. Thus, Rimland is a far superior spatial unit than the Heartland.

Thus, Spykman arrived at the conclusion that Heartland is less significant than Rimland, and delivered his famous dictum

"Who controls the Rimland, rules Eurasia"

"Who rules Eurasia, controls destinies of the world".

Application of the Theory

• The naval powers of Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal demonstrated their superiority during the colonial era.

• Indian Ocean Rim was formed (including Australia and New Zealand) to consolidate the efforts of the rimland through the regional strategic groupings such as BIMSTEC and IOR-ARC.

• USA’s intervention in preventing the Russian influence into the rimland by creating NATO, SEATO, CENTO and Baghdad pact.

• Spykman’s theory became significant to the policy makers of the United States to contain the influence of communism in the rimland.

Criticism

• The Rimland theory has been criticized on the grounds of advancement of war technology and nuclear limiting.

• This theory was prominent only during the cold war, when Russia was trying to extend its hegemony over rimland countries. Post-cold war, the theory lost its significance.

• It has been criticised on the grounds that Spykman underestimated the role of the world community and that of the UNO.

• No world power has so far been able to control all the countries of the Rimland. In fact, the task is not only difficult but impossible.

• At present, international law does not permit any territorial expansion. In fact, the state is no longer a living organism in the sense of Ratzel’s Labensraum. It is the time of economic imperialism, not political colonization.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that national power is the final determinant of the security of a state, while lasting peace is possible only through a collective security arrangement of either an armed league of nations or an international balance of power arrangement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Spykman’s Rimland theory exactly define?

It is a geopolitical model that emphasises the superiority of the sea power and the land power being inaccessible, is inferior. Spykman believes that the Rimland is more important than the Heartland in controlling the power of the Eurasia continents.

What is the emphasis on sea power by Spykman?

It is sea power that has made it possible to conceive of the Eurasian continent as a unit, and it is sea power that governs the relationship between the Old and New Worlds.

What is the famous dictum of Spykman?

"Who controls the Rimland, rules Eurasia"

"Who rules Eurasia, controls destinies of the world".