THE RETURN OF CLASSICAL GEOPOLITICS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: A REVISION OF THE THEORIES OF H. MACKINDER AND N. SPYKMAN

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the return of classical geopolitics in the twenty-first century through a critical revision of the fundamental theories of Halford J. Mackinder and Nicholas J. Spykman. The renewed relevance of geopolitical thinking is обусловлена the transformation of the international system, the crisis of the liberal world order, the intensification of power competition among leading states, and the growing significance of spatial factors in global politics. The author substantiates the argument that classical geopolitical concepts, despite their historical limitations, regain analytical value when subjected to critical reinterpretation and adaptation to contemporary conditions.
The key provisions of Mackinder’s Heartland theory and Spykman’s Rimland concept are examined, their influence on the strategic thinking of major powers in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries is analyzed, and it is demonstrated how these theories are reflected in the contemporary geopolitical practices of the United States, China, and the Russian Federation. Particular attention is devoted to the interaction between classical geopolitical ideas and new dimensions of power—economic, technological, informational, and civilizational.
The methodological boundaries of applying classical geopolitical concepts within contemporary academic discourse are outlined, and an interpretative model is proposed that integrates spatial analysis with the study of geo-economic and information-technological factors. Special emphasis is placed on the Ukrainian case as an example of the актуалізація of Mackinderian and Spykmanian logic in the context of hybrid warfare and the transformation of the European security architecture. It is shown that revisiting classical theories makes it possible not only to explain contemporary forms of strategic competition but also to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of the world order in an era of multipolarity.
It is argued that modern geopolitics does not represent a mechanical reproduction of classical schemes but rather emerges as a hybrid model in which spatial patterns are combined with the network logic of globalization and digitalization. In this context, the geopolitical concepts of Mackinder and Spykman function not as deterministic forecasts but as instruments of strategic analysis capable of explaining the logic of state behavior in the struggle for control over key spaces. The article possesses both theoretical and practical significance for the study of contemporary international relations, security strategies, and regional conflicts.