Geography vs. Geopolitics

Abstract

THE current discussion of German writings involves the names, outlook, and reputation of certain American geographers, my own included. What was their position respecting geopolitics before general condemnation of Hitler and the Nazi program began? Did they foresee the evil consequences of German perversion of truth in the alleged new science of geopolitics which made use of the overlapping data of history, political science, and geography? It has recently been declared that American geopolitics was developed before it was taken up in Germany. The bad effect of this assertion touches more than personal or professional repute. It has given the question a national context. Geopolitics presents a distorted view of the historical, political, and geographical relations of the world and its parts. It identifies no universal force or process like gravity. It is relative to the state to which it is applied. At least so say its advocates. Its arguments as developed in Germany are only made up to suit the case for German aggression. It contains, therefore, a poisonous self-destroying principle: when international interests conflict or overlap might alone shall decide the issue. Against geopolitical needs democracy opposes moral rights. Let us look first at the way in which this opposition arises.