7.1C Importance of mechanisms for maintaining power

• • The overall shift has been from the use of hard power to the use of soft power
  • Historically military force and power were frequently used to gain and maintain power over other nations
  • Power was strongly linked to military dominance.
• Mackinders heartland theory:

  • The 'heartland' is an area bordered by mountains on three sides and the Arctic to the north 
  • This makes it difficult to invade
  • Mackinder argued that the nation controlling the heartland would gain control over the rest of the world
  • This influenced world policy as the USA and many European countries believed that Russia needed to be controlled to prevent it achieving dominance
  • Geo-locational importance has declined as technology and transportation have increased