JEOPOLİTİK STRATEJİ - Deneme Sınavı - 3

The last concept linked with geopolitics and thus with both geo-economics and geostrategy is geo-culture. Geo-culture is generally placed under the umbrella of geopolitics. Geo-culture as a term was originally coined by Immanuel Wallerstein in his book “World Systems Analysis” to refer to the cultural framework of the modern world system. Therefore, the correct option is B.

Geo-culture in Wallerstein’s conception is a systemic phenomenon, but it has also been used to refer to the geo-cultures of states individually. While Wallerstein aims to explain the legitimizing ideology of the world system, the second usage of the term encompasses the geographical landscape where a certain culture is dominant even if geographically unconnected. In this line, geo-culture becomes a tool for foreign policies of states. Therefore, the correct option is A.

In the survey of geopolitics’ historical evolution, we encounter different periods where geopolitical ideas were produced. The pre-modern period is the period before geopolitics was founded as a scientific research area in the 19th century. The historical journey of geopolitical thought and theory passed through the classical era, the Cold War era and entered the current geopolitics of the postCold War era. Therefore, the correct option is A.

In ancient Chinese and Indian writings, geopolitical ideas were set forth in relation to war strategies and statecraft. In the writings of Confucius (Confucius, The Analects) and Sun-Tzu (Sun-Tzu, 2002) the focal point is geostrategy through which the two thinkers aimed to guide their state for political and military success. Control of resources, topographical access routes, building alliances, inhabiting empty lands after occupation weresome of the subjects they had considered in their analyses. Therefore, the correct option is C.

In ancient Chinese and Indian writings, geopolitical ideas were set forth in relation to war strategies and statecraft. In the writings of Confucius (Confucius, The Analects) and Sun-Tzu (Sun-Tzu, 2002) the focal point is geostrategy through which the two thinkers aimed to guide their state for political and military success. Control of resources, topographical access routes, building alliances, inhabiting empty lands after occupation weresome of the subjects they had considered in their analyses. Therefore, the correct option is D.

Montesquieu in the 18th century explained in his book “The Spirit of the Laws” the difference of legislative structures of states by relating it to geography, namely the climate. For example, according to Montesquieu, warm climates weaken people, and they become more prone to be enslaved, while people living in colder climates are braver and thus prone to be free. The geographical determinism in Montesquieu’s writing has beena phenomenon lasting since Aristoteles in geopolitical or geographical thought and this phenomenon is the main point where geopolitical thinking splits into premodern and modern categories. The pre-modern geopolitical thinking assumes the man as a part of the nature and therefore is not geopolitics in the sense of the word. In other words, what separates modern geopolitical thinking from the premodern one is the assumption that man and nature are distinct and geopolitics as a science aims to reveal and analyse the relationship between them.Therefore, the correct option is B.

Social Darwinism: The theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals. Social Darwinism was popular in late 19th and early 20th centuries and was used to justify racism and thus is no longer acceptable. Therefore, the correct option is D.

In 1919 Mackinder re-examined his argument and concluded that his thesis was still valid and applicable. In his new book “Democratic Ideals and Realities” he replaced the term pivot with heartland and expanded its boundaries as to encompass also Eastern and Central Europe. In this work, he also postulated that “Who rules Eastern Europe commands the Heartland. Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island. Who rules the World Island commands the world”. Therefore, the correct option is A.

This is the domino theory which essentially was based on the idea that if one country in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow it in a domino effect. It was first suggested in 1947 by William Bullit and was adapted in policies of the Kennedy and Nixon administrations. Therefore, the correct option is D.

In this sense, as an example, the US can be categorized as a global power which has a global geostrategy. The post-Cold War US geostrategy can be seen as a reflection of Brzezinski’s geostrategy which he has drawn in his “The Grand Chessboard” in 1997. The geostrategy suggested by Brzezinski is based on the idea of the global primacy of the US which in turn was linked to primacy in Eurasia. Brzezinski defined Eurasia as the grand chessboard where the struggle for global supremacy takes place and suggested that for maintaining its superpower position in world politics the US needs to develop a geostrategy focusing on Eurasia because “a power that dominates Eurasia would control two of the world’s three most advanced and economically productive regions”. The post-Cold War geostrategy of the US seems to have followed the path Brzezinski had formulated. This can be seen in US foreign policy pursued since 1990s until present which seems to enter a phase for change since the first quarter of the 2000’s. Therefore, the correct option is E.

Territory refers to a physical space, mostly to land. But it should be noted that territory is not an ordinary type of land and that it is a qualified and political component. As a physical space, territory is an integral element of the state which cannot possibly be separated from it. Therefore, the correct option is E.

Only one state has monopoly and control over a territory; therefore, there is connection between territory and the exclusive jurisdiction of a state. This jurisdiction and monopolistic authority by a state over a certain territory is assured under international law which, by the cardinal principle of non-intervention, protects the territorial integrity of all sovereign states. This means that territory, associated with the state and considered an inseparable part of it, is legally protected and that violations directed against its integrity lead to legal responsibility. Thus, it is fair to argue that territory holds a political, as well as legal meaning. Therefore, the correct option is B.