Nicholas John Spykman, the Balance of Power, and International Order

Nicholas John Spykman was probably America's finest geopolitical theorist of the twentieth century, even though he was an active participant over the course only of five years (1938-43). He is rightly viewed as a worthy intellectual successor to Sir Halford Mackinder in Britain. Spykman originated the (Eurasian) Rimland concept, which is of continuing political and strategic utility today. He was controversial and notably outspoken while his writings make it quite clear that his concern with the acquisition of power was contextualised by serious concerns for world order.