Task – ‘Open-source’ task. Theory – 10 point task – a ‘Open-source’ task. Find/identify main postulates of given great thinker/scholar [from Martin Griffiths

mackinder's heartland theory
Halford Mackinder was a British geographer and politician who developed the "Heartland Theory," which was influential in shaping political geography and geopolitics in the early 20th century.
3 Main Postulates of Halford Mackinder's Heartland Theory:

1. 
   The Heartland, which includes Eastern Europe and the vast area stretching from the Volga River to the Yangtze River, is the key to controlling the world because it holds the majority of the world's resources and population.
   
2. 
   Control of the Heartland is crucial to controlling the World Island, which consists of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and would give a state a dominant position in the world.
   
3. 
   The sea power, or the coastal states surrounding the World Island, can never successfully challenge the land power of the Heartland unless they cooperate and mount a joint effort.
   

Illustrations of Halford Mackinder's Heartland Theory in international relations include:

1. 
   The geopolitical competition for control of Eastern Europe in the 20th century: The idea of the Heartland as the key to controlling the world was a major factor in the geopolitical struggles between the Soviet Union and the Western powers during the Cold War.
   
2. 
   The invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany in World War II: Hitler's decision to invade the Soviet Union was heavily influenced by the Heartland Theory, which saw control of the Heartland as essential to world domination.
   
3. 
   The Russian Federation's expansionist policies in the 21st century: The Russian Federation's efforts to extend its influence into former Soviet republics and Eastern Europe can be seen as an attempt to exert control over the Heartland and secure its position as a major world power.
   

spykman's (eurasian) rimland concept
Nicholas John Spykman was an American political geographer who developed the Rimland Concept in 1942. His work is considered as a response to Halford Mackinder's Heartland Theory. The main postulates of Spykman's Rimland Concept are as follows:

1. 
   The coastal or rimland areas are the most important areas in the world due to their strategic location, wealth, and influence.
   
2. 
   The rimlands of the world are interconnected and form a continuous belt of economic and political power that can challenge the heartlands.
   
3. 
   Control of the rimlands is crucial for maintaining global power and security.
   

Illustration of events / case in IR:

1. 
   The Cold War: The geopolitical competition between the US and the Soviet Union was largely focused on the rimlands of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
   
2. 
   The Gulf War: The US-led coalition's intervention in the Gulf War in 1991 was motivated by Spykman's idea that the rimlands were crucial for maintaining global power and security.
   
3. 
   The Russian Annexation of Crimea: The annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 was a significant event that illustrated Spykman's concept that control of the rimlands is crucial for maintaining global power and security. The Black Sea region is considered a crucial rimland area and the control of this area is considered important for Russian security and power projection in the region.