Author: Giuseppe Gagliano – 15/12/2024
Abstract – This article examines Nicholas Spykman’s contribution to American geopolitical strategy, focusing on his work “America’s Strategy in World Politics” (1942). Spykman critiques isolationism and emphasizes the need for the United States’ global engagement to maintain a balance of power worldwide. His analysis revolves around four main themes: the nature of power, balance of power, international relations, and political geography. While the Rimland theory was fully developed later, its foundations are evident in his observations on the strategic importance of Eurasia’s marginal areas. Spykman advocates for regional cooperation frameworks and collective security systems to manage global conflicts, anticipating Cold War dynamics. His realist perspective is enriched by a sociological foundation influenced by Georg Simmel, focusing on the interplay between conflict and socialization.
Keywords: American strategy, Rimland, Nicholas Spykman, Sociology, George Simmel.
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The Author: Giuseppe Gagliano – In 2011 he founded the international network Cestudec (Centro studi strategici Carlo de Cristoforis) based in Como, with the aim of studying the conflictual dynamics of international relations from a realistic perspective, placing emphasis on the dimension of intelligence and geopolitics in the light of the reflections of Christian Harbulot, founder and director of the School of Economic Warfare (EGE). Gagliano has published four essays in French on economic warfare and ten essays in Italian on geopolitics.