Three main theories in the study of geopolitics

Undeclared War in the Atlantic

Geopolitics

The purpose of this paper is an exploration of geopolitical theories, including that of Hay's, Hadar, and Loucas. Specifically the researcher will review the geopolitical landscape of Europe, and the European Union in the last century, to ascertain which approaches to geopolitics is most persuasive and best provides a cause and effect factor for the current events in Europe to date.

According to William Hay, there are various approaches to geopolitics, including approaching geopolitics by studying the shifting union and relationships among nations. Geopolitics provides helpful "insights on Europe's history and current politics." Many things can affect relationships among states including topography, climate and resources within states, and reviewing the "map" can help clarify the "motives of statesmen and governments; Hay also believes that "geographic factors shape social and cultural developments" and that these factors may have their own political consequences. Geopolitics, according to Hay, can be promoted by globalization advocates, who use the correct approach by examining developments over time rather than simply viewing a snapshot of the map over one vantage point. Looking at a map over one period gives only a brief sample of historical information that does not allow a comprehensive overview of geopolitical conceptions in Europe or anywhere else.

Hadar (2010) states that the drive toward a unified Europe "takes a back seat to protecting national security and economic interests" creates a new geopolitical setting in Europe "that resembles the Realpolitik system of the 19th Century instead of a post-nationalism utopia" which requires "cautious management." The geopolitical climate of Europe requires a bi-diplomatic approach, according to Hadar, one where Europeans are left dependent on foreign energy sources and left in a mix of nationalism and balance of power competitions where European's have no sense of nationalism; essentially Europe is left in a mess. The country is not really allied; instead other countries including the U.S. are left forming "ad-hoc" alliances with various powers within the European "alliance" to deal with problems that are still unresolved with various "independent" countries within the "union" of Europe. Some countries distance themselves with the U.S., making the geopolitical climate seem very volatile indeed.

Ioannis Loucas (n.d.) presents a theory stating that according to the traditional geopolitical view, the Black Sea represents "an enormous liquid mass connecting Asia to Europe" (p. 4). This area is approached as connected with the "type and form of forces exerted by the West" which takes advantage of the largest production of raw material producing area "p. 4). This area is characterized "by the tension and friction between German and Russian interest creates" expressed by "western" and "eastern" factors accordingly. Loucas notes that at the end of the 20th century the first order changes in the European map include a new internal order including the increase in the European state emerging from the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, and new ideas regarding the eastern border of Europe, resulting from the "broadening of the Euro-Atlantic space to the east" confirmed by the Helsinki Resolution of December 1999 (p. 4). These changes imposed changes on the European geography as reflected on European maps; new realities were thus raised including European political, economic and military issues connected with the expansion of territories (Loucas, n.d., p. 5).

Analysis of Geopolitical Landscapes

Of these theories, Hay's and Loucas most align, because they consider the political, economic, and cultural ideologies that atomically arise when geographical landscapes are altered resulting from national mergers or territorial shifts occurring from geopolitical concerns and shifts in national borders. Hay's approach, addressing inter-national relationships, makes the most ideological sense, because relationships are what make economic, political, and national history. This occurred as Hay pointed out, following the EU shift and the resulting economic and financial mess that occurred following the EU merger or union. Hadar (2010) also notes the complications associated with the EU union, especially the shift in economy and failure of the economy in Greece following the union, and the effect this had on the geopolitical landscape of Greece.

Conclusions

There are many different approaches to geopolitics. No one theory alone encompasses the full depth of geopolitics. Some researchers suggest that geographical factors alone are to blame for economic, financial and social factors that contribute to economic downfall following the dissolution of nation-states. One may take a nationalistic approach, relational approach, and political or economic approaches however, to geopolitics.