Was Geopolitics Born 60 Years Before Mahan and Mackinder? The Forgotten Contribution of Friedrich List

Abstract

This article examines the geopolitical dimension of Friedrich List’s thinking. It explores his interest in geographical factors, his vision and forecast of the world order, and his strategy proposal for nations willing to reach independence, wealth, and power. Further, the article shows that beyond his economic theory, the mid-19th century German economist developed geopolitical ideas that could be considered part of the tradition of imperialist geopolitics, besides Kjellén, Mahan, Ratzel, Mackinder, and Haushofer. Moreover, being the economist he was, List held a particular geopolitical thought that the other thinkers, mostly geographers, did not always share.

Keywords

• imperialist geopolitics
• classical geopolitics
• history of geopolitical thought
• Friedrich List