The paper argues that the ratzelian lebensraum must be viewed as a concept aimed towards a synthesis between biogeography and anthropogeography. Friedrich ratzel political organic theory of nationsnations act like living organisms must grow but eventually decline e. Friedrich ratzel was born on april 30, 1844, in karlsruhe, germany. Ratzel to the establishment of geography as a modern social science is also stressed, on the occasion of the centennial of his death on august 9, 1904. The paper argues that the ratzelian lebensraum must be viewed as a concept aimed towards a synthesis between biogeography. The raummotiv is a historicallydriving force, pushing peoples with great kultur to naturally expand. Ap human geography key geography concepts and models.
The state resembles a biological organism whose life cycle extends through birth, maturity, decline, and death. It is impossible to understand ratzel s politische geographie without placing the figure of its author in the perspective of the critical bourgeois geography of the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century. The paper will also trace how the ratzelian lebensraum came to play a vital part in. After his death and after the first world war, german. Imperialism and the nation state in friedrich ratzels. Its focus was political geography and combined mackinders heartland theory with friedrich ratzel s theory on the organic nature of the state. He explains that this was a natural offshoot of their strength. Friedrich ratzel and the origins of lebensraum woodruff d. Friedrich ratzel, german geographer and ethnographer and a principal influence in the modern development of both disciplines.
Alternatively understood as space, this concept relates to ratzel s 1940 conceptualization of organic state theory and states as spatial organisms that require the room or space in which growth is possible. From this point of view, ratzel is the last representative of this bourgeois movement born in the first part of the eighteenth century in germany with the name of. Lowie, the history of ethnological theory 1937, and marvin harris, the rise of anthropological theory 1968. Organic theory friedrich ratzel 1844 1904 mnemonic rats ratzel are organisms organic concepts of political power and territoriality organic theory. For example, it was ratzel who gave the earliest and most complete definition of the term raum, or room. Political geography is thought to have originated with the writings of friedrich ratzel, who defined it as the study of states.
The organic theory was a theory thought of by friedrich ratzel. He originated the concept of lebensraum, or living space, which relates human groups to the spatial units where they develop. Friedrich ratzel, halford mackinder, andre siegfried 19151949 world wars i and ii and the consequent remaking of the world political map. Ratzel s organic theory friedrich ratzelfridrich razel bourne 1844083030 august 1844carlsruh, badendiedugus 9, 1904 19040809 59 ammerland, lower saxonynationalitygerman university university of heidelberg university of jenahumboldt university in berlinnun forconception lebensraumthe teaching career physicsintographylecesig universityinfluencescharles darwinernst. Positing that states are organic and growing, with borders representing only a temporary. Jun 01, 2020 an introduction to the organic theory ratzel, friedrich geograph.
As a scientific theory, environmental determinism was founded in the latter 19th century. His twovolume anthropogeographie 188291 related the course of history to earths physical features, illustrating the principle of survival of the fittest. In this essay i will argue that the essence of friedrich ratzels. Theory ratzels organic theory viewed states as similar to. The organic theory, along with the heartland and rimland theories, falls under political geography, otherwise known as geopolitics. Philosophers such as friedrich ratzel came up with seven steps that strong states use to take over weak states. Why friedrich ratzel considered the father of modern human. Swedishgerman geopolitics for a new century rudolf kjellens the. Friedrich ratzel april 30, 1844 august 9, 1904, german. The concept of raum and the theory of regionalism jstor. Political entities seek nourishment by gaining territories to survive the same way a living organism seeks nourishment from food to survive. Its key founding theories were formulated by geographersratzels organic large. Friedrich ratzel, a nineteenthcentury german geographer, developed the organic theory. Nov, 2019 how the organic theory meets certain political ends.
Together with the political geographer fredrich ratzel, kjellen was the founder of. In addition, the organic theory of the state, as expanded by k. He believed that the state was organic because he believed that political bodies, such as countries, behave in a way similar to that of living organisms. Ap human geography theories and descriptions flashcards. He was in turn greatly influenced by herbert spencers perspective on charles darwins theory of natural selection that provided a. Though ratzel pointed out the propensity of a state to expand.
Friedrich ratzel biography, birth date, birth place and. Theory ratzel s organic theory, heartland theory, rimland theory, sea power theory, goepolitics, the domino theory. Analyzing the geopolitics of energy through the lens of long. His initial insight was that a social group of human beings in many ways functions similarly to an individual, organic organism, namely seeking the necessities for life and sufficient space in which to find or produce themlebensraum. The united states and japan eventually joined in this intense and increasingly competitive drive, the apotheosis of which was reached. Friedrich ratzel and his main ideas the science 2021. Pdf friedrich ratzel and the origins of lebensraum. He believed that the state was o rganic because he believed that political bodies, such as countries, behave in a way similar to that of living organisms. Ap human geography theories and descriptions quizlet.
A new term coined by german geographer and ethnographer friedrich ratzel just a few years before the herero and nama genocide began, lebensraum is a social darwinist theory that refers to the need for living space for a particular ethnic group. Jun 15, 2020 the organic theory was a theory thought of by friedrich ratzel. Geopolitical assemblages and complexity sage journals. Friedrich ratzel organic theory lebensraum works cited noakes, jeremy. Friedrich ratzel world encyclopedia i want to know. Rudolf kjellens later formulation of an organic theory of the state. Friedrich ratzel is viewed as one of the founders of german geopolitics. Friedrich ratzel, lebensraum and the death motif sciencedirect. Darwins contemporary was greatly influenced by the theory of evolution. An introduction to the organic theory ratzel, friedrich geograph. Friedrich ratzel and the nature of political geography.
They obtain this living space, or lebensraum usually by annexing territory from weaker states. Friedrich ratzel was a german geographer and ethnographer, notable for coining the term lebensraum living space. Ratzel viewed states as similar to living organisms, and believed that the forces of natural selection applied to relationships among them. In 1872, he visited italy, and the united states and mexico in 187475. Geographers and the discourse of annihilation, 18801933 taylor. Theory ratzels organic theory viewed states as similar. W rostow development modernization model 5 stages of economic development 1. Indeed, he develops a theory of the growth of states conceived as biological. To prolong its existence, the state needs food just as an organism needs food acquisition of territory. Intellectual, political, and economic effects of large areas. Ratzel, friedrich 1897b studies in political areas ii. First episode focuses on friedrich ratzel s organic theory. Friedrich ratzel 18441904, who published its most cogent statement in an essay in 1901. Friedrich ratzel how to the best guides selected addhowto.
The paper argues that the ratzelian lebensraum must be viewed as a concept. This intervention explores death as an interpretive key both to friedrich ratzel s lebensraum essay and his oeuvre more generally. Organic theory, as well as the heartland and rimland theories fall under a category called geopolitics. Friedrich ratzel august 30, 1844 august 9, 1904 was a german geographer and.
Friedrich ratzel 18441904, influenced by thinkers such as darwin and zoologist ernst heinrich haeckel, contributed to geopolitik by the expansion on the biological conception of geography, without a static conception of borders. Theory ratzel s organic theory viewed states as similar to living. Pdf friedrich ratzel and the origins of lebensraum elwood. Ratzel, whose early studies were in biology and anthropology, was much influenced by darwinian thinking when linking human societies to their physical environments. Friedrich ratzel biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. The german geographer friedrich ratzel has been attributed with the. Reich was a territorial concept that comprised raum, lebensraum, and strategic military shape. Ratzels idea of raum space would grow out of his organic state conception. This organic theory of the state could be said to re. His main work, which saw the light of day in 1897, is called the politische geographie. Which country used ratzel s organic theory as a philosophy of the expansion in the 1930s. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. Research on chinas one belt and road initia tive munin. Organic theory friedrich ratzel 1844 1904 mnemonic rats ratzel are organisms organic concepts of political power and territoriality organic theory influenced by the beliefs of charles darwin and claimed that states are similar to organisms and applied the idea of natural.
He traveled to eastern europe and worked in the universities of munich and leipzig. Geopolitics refers to how politics plays a role in geography and influences different geographic attributes such as. They have held his organism theory, his acceptance of the. In the later part of the 19th century friedrich ratzel dominated the geographical scene in germany. I introduction from the middle of the 1870s, the major european powers embarked upon the most ambitious programme of colonial acquisition the world had to that point witnessed.
The concept of the organic state 1119 words essay example. Environmental determinism the view is highly supported by most geographers and nongeographers from ancient to modern periods. A study on the theories of the state in political geography jstage. In developing lebensraum, ratzel drew most of his inspiration from native. Space, for ratzel, was a vague concept, theoretically. The father of friedrich ratzel was the manager of the household staff of the grand duke of baden. The organic theory argues that states are born and that they need nourishment and living space to survive. The mongol empire biggest empire in history conquered as much land as possible in order to stay in power and receive a surplus of resources. This book discusses the influence of friedrich ratzels ideas in more. Jun 11, 2018 a terse biography of ratzel is harriet wanklyn, friedrich ratzel. German organic school friedrich ratzel 1844 1904 can be considered the father of geopolitics, although he himself did not use this term in his writings. Ratzel s idea of raum space would grow out of his organic state conception. It was theorized in 1897 by friedrich ratzel, a nineteenthcentury german geographer and ethnographer. Born in 1844, ratzel was educated at several german universities.
Friedrich ratzel august 30, 1844 august 9, 1904 was a german geographer and ethnographer, notable for coining the term lebensraumliving space. Ratzel s theory of how a nation is like a living organism. Friedrich ratzel 18441904 trained as a biologist, influenced by darwin. Most powerful country would have accessible and large coastline and good harbors. Ratzel, i argue, was preoccupied with death in a number of ways, including a biogeographical concern with extinction, an ethnological interest in cannibalism and a fascination with the ruins of exterminated civilisations. Organic theory identified what as a a states essential life giving force. Organic theory of the state friedrich ratzel borders do not exist permanently. His early concept of lebensraum was not political or economic but spiritual and racial nationalist expansion. Environmental determinism the view is highly supported by most geographers and non geographers from ancient to modern periods.
Kjellen he is the student of friedrich ratzel who proposed organic state theory. The german geographer friedrich ratzel has been attributed with the first. The concept of lebensraumor living spaceserved as a critical component in renowned german geographer friedrich ratzel coined the term in. Friedrich ratzel natural environment was the prime mover that generated human activities, social paradigms, as well as human adaptations and responses. This thesis uses geopolitical theory and methods to study the traditional chi. Ratzel claims that it is an entirely erroneous opinion to believe that a people is stronger in every regard, the more uniform it is ratzel, 1906 and, referring to his experiences in the united states, explains, i have seen so many apparent differences between peoples come to be erased, that i cant.
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