Nicholas J. Spykman“Godfather of Containment”

Joey Bosco

Born in the Netherlands in 1893.Immigrated to the United States to attend the

University of California, Berkeley (Class of ‘23).

Founded the Institute of International Studies at Yale in 1936.

Taught at Yale until he died at age 49.

Biography

Henry R. Luce Hall, an area of the Institute of International Studies

The History of Rimland Theory

Mackinder’s theory, Heartland Theory, describes the Heartland in the World Island as the key to world dominance.

Mahan’s theory, based on his experience as a naval commander, stresses the importance of controlling coastal regions. His comprehensive ideas draw largely from different battles of naval history.

Adopts and changes the ideas of Halford Mackinder and Alfred Mahan.

Spykman sought to combine Mackinder and Mahan’s theories.Mackinder didn’t take into account:

Russia’s future as an agrarian society.The Industrial Revolution (Western Europe).Russia’s borders (ice, mountains, temperatures).The ocean.

Mahan didn’t take into account:Everything else.

History Continued

The key to controlling the World Island (and therefore the world) is the coast of Eurasia.Rimland contains most of the world’s people

and has access to land and sea.Split into three regions:

European CoastMiddle Eastern DesertAsiatic Monsoon

Further separated into Indian and Chinese

Based more on Mahan’s theory about sea access.

Rimland Theory

Originally used during World War II.Later used to explain/justify containment.Criticized for centering too much on the

Eastern Hemisphere.Doesn’t account for modern technology such

as nuclear weapons.Self-fulfilling prophecy.

-Side Note- Not in textbook; consult Chapter 8

Usage and Criticism

RIMLAND ANALYSES

Activity

Example

Country #1

Country #2

Country #3

Country #4

Country #5

Sempa, Francis. "Spykman's World." American Diplomacy. April 1, 2006. Accessed September 19, 2015.

Bordonaro, Federico. "Rediscovering Spykman." Exploring Geopolitics. May 1, 2009. Accessed September 19, 2015.

Sempa, Francis. "Nicholas Spykman and the Struggle for the Asiatic Mediterranean." The Diplomat. January 9, 2015. Accessed September 19, 2015.

Bibliography