New Rimland as Continuity of Old Rimland

• Main Author: Radovan Pavić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia 2006-01-01
• Series: Anali Hrvatskog Politološkog Društva
• Subjects: Heartland; Afghanistan; Iran; Russian Federation; Asian Balkans
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/60173
• ISSN: 1845-6707; 1847-5299

In this paper the relation between Old and New Rimland is examined. The author acknowledges alterations and supplementations, but he asserts that they merely emphasise the original ideas dating from the beginning of the 20th century. The introductory part points out the geopolitical foundations of the conference in Bandung (1955) and the Non-Alligned Movement (from 1961), when some basic geopolitical principles obtained a political signifi cance. In order to grasp the problem in its entirety, one must fi rst of all take into consideration the old Heartland from the perspective of new conditions of its territorial decrease, and in the overall context of ground and maritime power relations, but with the same old/new signifi cance.Furthermore, New Rimland is analysed with regard to the number of inhabitants, energy sources, new elements of power, and Islam. In particular, it is noted that the principal powers of Rimland have no territorial ambitions. Regarding the Heartland-Rimland relations, an important problem is the possibility of access to Heartland through the Rimland zone. In this context, notions of Croatia as a gateway to the Asian continent are rejected. Finally, this paper encompasses an analysis of the primary and secondary Rimland problems in Europe and Asia. It draws attention to the new role of Asian Balkans (in expanded Rimland) and focuses especially on the importance of the geopolitical position of Afghanistan.