Alfred Thayer Mahan and the geopolitics of Asia

Abstract

Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan's writings on geopolitics, although often overlooked, have proved prescient, sobering, and enlightening. Russia's secure position at the heart of the Eurasian land mass, according to Mahan's principles, gives it a preeminent power projection capability. Mahan advocated that the U.S. role toward Russia should be one of containment, because of Russia's incomparable land position. He also foresaw that a modernized China would eventually become a concern for the United States.