Pradeep Mahaur

This may sound alarming, but it’s not alarmist. It’s not a theory. It’s a close, critical observation of what’s unfolding in Asia today. For over a century, one geopolitical principle has shaped global strategy: “Who controls Eurasia, controls the world.” This idea, grounded in two powerful theories—the Heartland Theory and the Rimland Theory—has influenced the thinking of empires and superpowers alike. The Strategic Lens of Geopolitics In 1904, British geographer Halford Mackinder introduced the Heartland Theory, which claimed that the vast, resource-rich central region of Eurasia—the “Heartland”—was the key to global dominance. If any power could dominate this landmass, it would command the “World Island” (Eurasia and Africa) and eventually, the world. Later, American strategist Nicholas Spykman proposed the Rimland Theory, arguing that the coastal regions around Eurasia—the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia—were actually more crucial. The idea was that controlling th...