Sir Halford John Mackinder fu un geografo inglese che contribuì in modo significativo a stabilire la geografia come disciplina distinta nel Regno Unito. La sua dedizione e il suo influsso plasmarono l'insegnamento della geografia più di qualsiasi altro singolo geografo britannico. La sua carriera accademica e il suo percorso politico riflettono un profondo interesse nella comprensione del mondo e della sua organizzazione. Il lavoro di Mackinder pose le basi per la ricerca e l'educazione geografica moderna.
In this paper, Mackinder advanced his so-called Heartland Theory, whereby the interior Asia and eastern Europe ("the Heartland") had become the strategic center of the world as a result of the relative decline of sea power against land power and of the economic and industrial development of southern Siberia.
"Halford Mackinder's trailblazing ideas have influenced international politics to this day. His concept that world domination depends on the control of the global "pivot area" or "heartland"--the centre of the large land mass of Europe and Asia--has informed the political tactics and wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe through the decades. His theories have influenced politicians and political scientists for generations, most notably Zbigniew Brzezinski, adviser to a long line of U.S. presidents. In our times, the importance of Mackinder's heartland theory for the United States' fight to enforce global hegemony, Russia's struggle to stay independent and relevant on a world stage, and China's plans to establish a trade route between East and West, make Heartland essential reading for understanding our world."-- from Amazon.com
Britain and the British Seas, which included the first comprehensive geomorphology of the British Isles, is one of Halford Mackinder's major works and a classic in regional geography.
Mackinder's message, his warning - addressed to the peacemakers at Versailles - was memorably summarized thus: 'Who Rules East Europe commands the Heartland: Who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island: Who rules the World-Island commands the World.' This book presents the study of imperial ambitions and geographical realities.