The Heartland theory of Sir Halford John Mackinder: justification of foreign policy of the United States and Russia in Central Asia

Abstract

"The paper examines the foreign policy of the United States and Russia towards Central Asia by reviewing selective foreign policy discourses in the context of the Heartland theory. In effect, the central formulation of the study rests on this research question: to what extent is the Heartland theory influential in the foreign policy of the United States and Russia? The analysis is therefore organized by first conducting a comparative/contrast approach of USA and Russian policies via each other. The analysis seeks to suggest and/or establish some relationship between the predictions of the theory and current foreign policy relations. The study has reached to a conclusion that literature around the United States and Russia is indicative to the relevancy of Heartland theory." (author's abstract)