DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2706-6185/56/121-126
Nilufar Gadimalieva
Baku State University
Master’s student
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5883-0831
qadimalinilufar@gmail.com
Alfred Mahan and the Concept of Maritime Determinism in Geopolitics
Abstract
The article explores the intellectual legacy of prominent naval theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan and his role as the architect of the “maritime determinism” paradigm. The author posits that the increasing global economic interdependence at the end of 19th century necessitated a systemic concept to explain the laws governing the rise and fall of the world powers through the prism of maritime factors. Within the scope of this study, Mahan’s concept of “Sea Power” is analyzed not merely as a naval doctrine, but as a synthesis of geography, economics, and national will.
The article demonstrates that Mahan viewed maritime space as a realm of economic exchange and strategic influence, linking the historical development of states to their capacity to control maritime communications. Moreover, it examines the practical application of this theory in foreign policies of leading powers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, illustrating its transformation into an ideological factor in world politics.
The present study evaluates the contemporary relevance of Mahan’s theory and its adaptability to 21st century global challenges. The author concludes that “maritime determinism” remains a vital geopolitical tool that continues to shape the strategic thinking of modern states.
Keywords: maritime determinism, Alfred Mahan, geopolitics, sea power, global trade routes, strategic dominance