Group 3 Political Geography

WORLD WAR II

ALL HELL
BREAKS LOOSE
THE GREAT MANIPULATOR MANILA, PHILIPPINES NOVEMBER 24, 2023 GROUP 3

IN DEFENSE OF JAPANESE GEOPOLITICS

GERMAN POLITICS IN THE 1930'S
My father broke away the seal
He did not see the rising breath
AND 1940'S
of evil. He let the demon soar Japan believed that
into the world. education and school
textbooks are one of the
-Albrecht Haushofer, “The most efficient instruments of
Father”, The Moabit Sonnets nation-building or
FRIEDRICH RATZEL AND THE indoctrination of state
ideology. Aside from having
ORIGINS OF LEBENSRAUM the perspective of the mind
As the Germans continued to seek power, behind the chaos, this book
Lebensraum is one of its keys to achieve its ultimate let us see the perspective of
power. In this book, this talks about why Japan during the World War
Lebensraum, especially the agrarian sector, is very II and the state of its
important for Germany. It also covers their great
political geography after the
dilemma, Auswanderung, where they both solved
their state problem as well as gaining new territory.
war.

Even before Great Game

GGII: II was over, Great Game WHY GEOPOLITIK?
III has begun, from The World of General Haushofer (1942)
EMPIRE unleashing the anti-
“The admonitions “see what is,” and “keep away from
imperialist struggles of
whatever our national honor cannot tolerate,” are the
AGAINST Islamists on the world
stage.
pilot lights of our voyage. They are modest enough and
even hardly sufficient to help our ship of state gain the
COMMUNISM open sea.”
Karl Haushofer (1942)
Group 3 Political Geography

THE GREAT MANIPULATOR

WORLD WAR II MANILA, PHILIPPINES NOVEMBER 24, 2023

KARL HAUSHOFER’S “WHY

GEOPOLITIK?” (1942)
WHAT IS GEOPOLITIK?
Geopolitik
demonstrates the
dependence of all
political developments
on the permanent
reality of the soil
(Houshofer, 1942).
See and analyze the world as it is through scientific
equipment and concrete facts.
WHO IS KARL HAUSHOFER?
Not just the protection within Germany’s borders but Development of Nazi Germany’s geopolitical
also the right to a more extensive land.
strategies
Influential connections with Rudolf Hess and
GEOPOLITIK AS EDUCATION IN Adolf Hitler
“Intellectual Godfather of Hitler”
STATECRAFT
Geopolitik should be GEOPOLITIK AND PRACTICAL
taught to statemen and HISTORY
diplomats.
Geopolitik’s “successful ” applications can be seen in:
Jurisprudence and
Choosing the English bases in Hong Kong,
political science, which Singapore, and Penang.
have been considered the Reorganization of Australian Commonwealth and
sole prerequisites of choosing Canberra as its new capital.
education in statecraft, Establishment of a German base in Tsingtao, China.
do not provide adequate
training. THE MISSION OF GEOPOLITIK
Scientific geopolitical
analysis enables to make Ducunt volentem, nolentem trahunt
certain predictions. fata! [Only those who are willing are
Get rid of arid theories “The admonitions “see what is,” guided by fate; the unwilling ones
and “senseless phrases” and “keep away from whatever
our national honor cannot are dragged!]
which might trap their
tolerate,” are the pilot lights of our
political leaders into voyage. They are modest enough
hopeless Utopias. It puts and even hardly sufficient to help Houshofer wants Germany to broaden
them back on solid
our ship of state gain the open its horizons - Germany must emerge
sea.”
ground. out of the narrowness of her present
Karl Haushofer (1942) living space into the freedom of the
world.
 Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

IN DEFENSE OF GERMAN POLITICS

KARL HAUSHOFER’S
IDEOLOGY AND Lebensraum (living
CONTRIBUTION spaces) - academic
justification of German “My country, right or
TO GERMAN and Japanese
Annexation
wrong”

GEOPOLITICS Organic State Theory -

belief that the state is an
(Karl Haushofer,
The existence of a state depended on
1948)
organism that has to
living spaces, and the pursuit of which grow.
must serve as the basis for all policies.

PERSONAL LIFE
Haushofer was married to Martha
Mayer-Doss (half-Jewish)

Two sons: Albrecht Haushofer and

Heinz Haushofer

SO WHAT DID HAUSHOFER WANT?
For geopolitics to be the geographical conscience of
the state. Germany should have been satisfied and
grateful for the solution reached at the Munich
Agreement of 1938.
Eurasianism - to advocate a policy of German-Russian
hegemony and alliance to offset Anglo-American
power structure’s potentially dominating influence in
Europe.
To achieve the possibility of excluding disorders in the
future, through mutual understanding of people and
their potentialities to develop on the basis of their
cultural foundations and living space.
IN DEFENSE OF...
KARL HAUSHOFER
He claimed that all his works, written and
printed, after 1933 was made “under
pressure” because of years of
imprisonment and limitation imposed on his
family
Imperialistic plans of conquest were never
favored.
“If National Socialism had revealed, by the
way it published its ideals in the early years
of its development, that they included the
conquest of alien-blooded peoples and their
territories, it would have brought about its
own retirement from power. I opposed such
plans of conquest. “
Political science in all Central Europe
suffered under the autocracy of one party
due to misuse and interpretation of state
officials.
 Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

JAPANESE
GEOPOLITICS
IN THE 1930'S
AND 1940'S
THE ENTER OF GEOPOLITICS IN JAPAN
CLAIM:
In 1925 after a book review by Chikao Fujisawa on
the work of Swede Rudolf Kjellen, geopolitics in Japan
officially commenced.
ACTUAL:
In 1925 after a book review by Chikao Fujisawa on
the work of Swede Rudolf Kjellen, geopolitics in Japan
officially commenced.

THE SCHOLARS’ DILEMMA:

WHAT IS GEOPOLITICS?
CHIKAO FUJISAWA TARO TSUJISIMA
Geopolitics would open up Political Geography was firmly
new horizons in the real based on the recognition of the
study of the phenomena of the interdependence or interaction
between the state and the
state.
physical and cultural landscape.

INTRODUCTION OF GERMAN
GEOPOLITICS IN JAPAN
In 1870s, it expanded Pre-1890s Movement: 1894 - 1905 is the
1 northwards into the 2 Japanese people were 3 beginning of the 15-
Korean Peninsula. deployed to spy on year War:
China and Russia.
1894 - 1895: Japan
battled against China
1908 to 1910: Haushofer, 1910 - 1930s: Nanshiron 1904 - 1905: Japan
4 a writer, was interested in 5 or southward battled against
German Geopolitik. He expansionism was about Russia
lived in Japan and loved the interests of the
his stay. With this, his private sector.
writings revolved around However, mid-1930s
the application of German when the government’s
Geopolitik with Japan’s naval interests
structure. were finally supported.
 Group 3 | World War II
TRENDS IN JAPANESE
GEOPOLITICAL THOUGHT
1 Haushofer
Geopolitical School of the
2
Imperial University directed
by Komaki.
TWO DEVELOPMENT PHASES
GEOPOLITICAL IDEAS IN JAPAN
PHASE ONE:
1920s-eraly 1930s:
Tsujimura and Sasaki
criticized Kjellen.
German Politics in the
application in Japan was
criticized as it lacked
coherent thought on the
justification of the facist
regime of Germany.
The teaching of Japanese
Geopolitics (manipulative,
wrong) was required for
Primary Teachers
seeking certification.
Japan’s political
geographical situation
differed from Germany.
KOMAKI AND KYOTO GROUP
Saneshige Komaki: He
1 argued that Japanese
Geopolitics must be viewed
through the lens of Japanese
ethics and mentality.
He managed to have a
2 group of students (Kyoto
Group) who specialized in
area studies of other
countries in different parts
of the world.
KG ACHIEVED
Political Geography
Faithful followers of Faithful followers of
3 Haushofer and German 5 Haushofer and German
geopolitical thoughts geopolitical thoughts
Japan Association for
4 Geopolitics/Chiseigaku.
PHASE TWO:
Reasons why Japan’s Keishi Ohara: Liked
geopolitical approach was German geopolitics in the
barely touched upon by first phase, but was
geopolitical thinkers. forced to resign from his
No freedom of speech position in a school
until 1927. because of a publication
Documents were under the premise of
destroyed. Japan having a controlled.
Censorship and Koji Izuka: Adapted to the
government thought calls of the time. Changed
control. his narratives depending
on the situation.
Watanabe’s criticism:
Geopolitics consists of Included Saneshige Komaki.
policy discussions.
PHASE TWO HIGHLIGHT:
KOMAKI AND KYOTO GROUP
KG UNCOVERED
There must be a study of
Asian countries from a
communal point of view as
The economic
Around the world, it is insufficient to blame
problems of Japan
were because of
there was racial
discrimination
the Western countries for
Japanese imperialist
the dominance of
against Japanese. policies.
Western powers in
East Asia.
Influenced the military in Allowed the ministry and military to
their decision-making. utilize their financial resources.
 Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

SOCIAL RELEVANCE OF GEOPOLITICAL

DISCOURSE
Japan believed that education and
Origins of the Japanese discourse of THE school textbooks are one of the most
INDOCTRINATION
Geopolitics efficient instruments of nation-
Premiere Fumimaro Konoe (1938), New OF THE STATE building or indoctrination of state
Order in East Asia (Towa Shinchitsujo). ideology.
A new concept of geopolitics that was
brought forth in order to establish M
recognition of the inevitable linkage E
between East Asia and Southeast Asia. R
C
Establishment of political system A
through Asianism. T
Masamichi Royama O
Japanese expansion is not imperialism R
but rather regionalism for purpose of M
defense or development. A
P

PRESENTATION OF GEOPOLITICAL GREATEST EAST ASIA CO-

DISCOURSE AND ITS SOCIAL RELEVAMCE PROSPERITY SPHERE

Who provides discourse

about geopolitics?

Kyoto School of
Japanese Geopolitics
Japan Association of
Geopolitics

Japan
What is the social relevance? Manchukuo
Manipulation of the mind of the China
Japanese citizens. Korea
For collective beliefs of French Indochina
superiority in Asia. Philippines
Who among the two really achieved the
social relevance of the geopolitical
Singapore Cover page of 5th and 6th
discourses? Thailand
graders textbooks in 1943
Kyoto School of Geopolitics (YES) Dutch East Indies
Japan Association of Geopolitics Parts of the Pacific Region
(NO) Other territories in Asia
Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

SOCIAL RELEVANCE OF
GEOPOLITICAL DISCOURSE
What were the relevance of the geopolitical discourse presented by these two in the society of
Japan?
Presentation of geopolitical discourse of the Japan Association of Geopolitics
Printed Japanese centered map in every last page of Chiseigaku
Presentation of geopolitical discourse of Kyoto School of Japanese Geopolitics
Manifesto by Sanishige Komaki
Direct connection with the military and government authorities.

JAPANESE GEOPOLITICAL
AFFAIRS THEREAFTER
Geopolitics as a discipline
thereafter
Focus of taboo
Became a thing of the past
Geopolitics thereafter
Either forced to resign in their
office or were purge from their
public posts.
At the end of Allied Forces in
1952, geopoliticians returned to
their posts but never talked or
wrote about Japanese geopolitics.
Geopolitics hereafter
In 1957, regional conference of
International Geographical Union (IGU)
was held in Japan.
The 1960s was the period of rapid
economic growth of Japan.
In 1962, Institute of Developing
Economy was established as extra-
departmental organization of the
Ministry of International Trade and
Industry (MITI).
Japan was considered as economic
giant.
Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

FRIEDRICH RATZEL AND

THE ORIGINS OF LEBENSRAUM
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Lebensraum - living space; policy of Nazi Germany
that involved expanding German territories to the
east to provide land and material resources for
German people, while driving out Jewish and Slavic
people.

Mittelstand - a group of stable business enterprises

in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland that proved
successful in enduring economic change and
turbulence.

Agrarian - place or country that makes its money

from farming rather than industry; relating to the
ownership and use of land.

Kultur - German culture held to be superior

especially by militant Nazi and Hohenzollern
AUSWANDERUNG
expansionists; German culture or civilization. Emigration (act of leaving one’s
country to settle permanently in
Weltpolitik - participation in the discussion and another; moving abroad).
decision of international problems; the policy of
participation in world affairs.
Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

FRIEDRICH RATZEL AND

THE ORIGINS OF LEBENSRAUM
Radical conservatives assembled popular
1 support by demanding an expansion of
Germany’s Lebensraum in early 1920s.

Lebensraum has contributed to Hitler’s

2 attack on Russia in 1941 and the
subsequent resettlement programs in
Eastern Europe.

Lebensraum was first formulated back in

3 the 1890s.

Lebensraum’s two (2) criteria of efficacy

4 for political concepts:

(1) It helped (2) It was accepted by

aggregate support employers as basis
for employers. for policy making.

Ratzel Lebensraum is defined Human culture

5 presented 6 as a geographical 7 depends directly on
Lebensraum as surface area required the working of the
uniform factor to support living land.
underlying species at its current
biological population size and
change and the mode of existence.
relationship
between living
species and
their
environment.

Two key elements (1) migration which (2) colonization, the

8 of Ratzel’s concept the behavioral effective occupation
of Lebensraum: consequence of the and exploration of
need to expand. new space by species.
Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

FRIEDRICH RATZEL AND

THE ORIGINS OF LEBENSRAUM
WHY LEBENSRAUM?
Agriculture is one In 1890s, parties
9 of the fundamental 10 turned towards
aspects of Mittelstand and
Lebensraum. agrarianism.
Lebensraum is a Mittelstand-
11 scientific support 12 oriented agrarian
for the peasant. ideology was a
cover for the
Permanent
13 commercial
interest of self-
conscious big land
expansion can only owners.
take place if it has
a secure By definition, a
agricultural 14 society who does
foundation and not have a large
adequate and dominant
Lebensraum. agrarian based
was not cultured.

Ratzel used the

15 term colonization
in descriptive way
where species
establishes itself in
a new area.
Auswanderung was due to
Ratzel’s view of 18 unavoidable overpopulation in the
16 colonialism was countryside.
occupation of new
Colonies were seen as solution to
farming land to 19 Auswanderung and to social
maintain peasant
dissolution.
agriculture.
Migration theory, according to
20 Wagner, pertains to living species
Emigrationist migrated over Earth’s surface as
17 colonialism was a natural consequence of life.
result to
Auswanderung
that begun after
1815 to 1890s.
Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

GGII:
EMPIRE AGAINST COMMUNISM
BEGINNINGS OF GGII
AND GOALS
GREAT GAME II
Called as super imperialism
(Michael Hudson).
Unique role of the US
dollar on the play.
Great Game II playing field
provides modicum hope the
dependency model of
imperialism could be broken
through anti-imperialist
alliances and farsighted
planning.

THE IDEOLOGIES
Mix of liberalism, socialism, and anti-communism.
US Hegemony Capitalism against the Soviet Union’s
Communism.
Introduction of neo-colonialism.
Soviet Union did not have any plant to kill, slander, or
violate any rights of individuals despite the different goals
of both parties.
Communism almost ended Imperialism.
THE GOALS Stalin countered the emergence of Socialism through the
Cold War.
Bring the benefits of Western Goebell’s big lie.
civilization to the Domino theory / Mafia Doctrine
underdeveloped nations.
Use of Christianity
Align ex-colonies against
communism.
Capture the most market control
in competition with the now
Soviet-Chinese heartland and the
anti-colonial movement.
Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

RULES OF THE GAME AND STRATEGIES

THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN GGI & GGII
Colonies had the right to their independence.
GGII required more subterfuge in contrast to
GGI.
US was obsessed with destroying communism.

IMPERIAL STRATEGY
Aimed to cover up real age-old imperial objectives
with both liberal and anti-communist ideologies.
To create the problem, provide the solution.
Make US dollar as the world reserve currency.
Two games against: THE BIRTH OF
Soviet Union and its European socialist allies.
Nations struggling for independence from
NEOCOLONIZATION
imperial control.
Newly independent countries were expected to
continue to abide by the rules set down by the
ex-imperial mother country.
FINANCIAL STRATEGY
The US took the opportunity of the post-WWII world
order when Britain and France were sunk in war debts
and Germany and Japan just lost and were building
from blank slate.
Propagandization of Capitalism.
Neo-colonization - expectation
Ascendancy of the US dollar as world reserve to respect private property and
currency. US possessed 72 per cent of the world’s gold the market, to follow the western
(Institutionalization of the International Monetary practices of electoral democracy,
Fund). and to observe “human rights”.
Any sign of challenge to US hegemony
THE PARADOX OF THE US DOLLAR legitimized empire exceptionalism through
soft-power techniques.
The US bankrupt on the international account during
their lost on the Vietnam War of 1971 exerted even
greater force in the world of nations than being a
solvent creditor. All the capitalist world has become a
guarantor of America’s credit.

All the capitalist world has become a guarantor of

America’s credit.

As a result, the goal became to protect US dollar at all

cost, substantiating the US position as the world
leader.
Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

THE INSURGENCY
OF PETRODOLLARS
The US manipulation of oil
prices.
US-British Big Oil or Big Oil
Seven Sisters - a name used to
describe the world's six or
seven largest publicly traded
and investor-owned oil and gas
companies, also known as
supermajors.

Strong relations By 1979, the THE INFLUENCE OF WORLD BANK

with the Middle hegemonic power of
East: Saudi Arabia, the Anglo-American AND IMB
Iran, and financial Manipulation of statistics to justify huge
establishment over the loans that would funnel money back to his
Venezuela.
world’s economic and consulting firm and other US companies and
Establishment of industrial potential enriching a few already wealthy families in
the Organization of had been reasserted, those countries but bankrupting the
the Petroleum with continued control country.
Exporting of world oil flows, in Influence over military bases, UN votes,
Countries (OPEC). dollars, through or access to oil and other natural
primarily US banks. resources.

THE CONFLICT AGAINST
THE SOVIET UNION
Through the Bank of Credit and
Commerce International (BCCI),
the US funded the Afghan
mujahideen that led to the
collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Cold War became the
ideological cornerstone of US
geopolitical strategy to dominate
the postwar global order, using
the Russian and Chinese
communists as the pretext for US
military dominance of “the free
world” both directly as well as
through NATO and various Asian
defense pacts.
Soviet union was portrayed as a
threat to western ideals of
democracy and freedom.
The professed fear of the communist domino effect was really
fear of the possibility of eroding the global system of domination.
There was no ·no serious attempt to achieve a modus vivendi
(way of living/toleration) with the Soviet Union in the post-WWII
world, despite the wartime alliance and goodwill, as this would
have allowed the emerging ex-colonies to opt for socialism as
opposed to incorporation into the US empire.
FEW VICTORIES
DECOLONIZATION
AGAINST THE US
US, together with Britain, and EMPIRE
other Cold War allies tried to China 1949
control the process of Ghana, Egypt, and
decolonization at the end of Cuba, 1950s
WWII, the beginning of GGII, to
give them an advantage over
their communist rivals.
The platform for doing this:
the United Nations.
Group 3 Political Geography

THE GREAT MANIPULATOR

WORLD WAR II MANILA, PHILIPPINES NOVEMBER 24, 2023

RULES OF THE GAME

AND STRATEGIES
INSTITUTIONS:
United Nations - pursuing
world peace after the war. Its
first move were Korean
partition and recognition of
Israel in 1948.
European Coal and Steel
Community - Cold War anti-
domino measure.
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) - Counter
the Soviet threat.

THE LEADER, ACTOR, AND MANIPULATOR

HARD POWER
A nation’s ability to use
military force to influence the
behavior of other nations.
War
US-inspired black ops
Arms production
Mutually Assured
Destruction (MAD)
SOFT POWER
The non-coercive forms of
strategies to influence the
behavior of other nations.
Post-War Aid
Mass Media
Arming Islamist

THE NATION DEEMED AS A COLLATERAL

ENJOY THE
BEST
TASTE
PALESTINE BROUGHT
BY
ACIDITY!
Group 3 | World War II
WAR ENDS, NEW EVIL ARISES
CONTROL OF THE WORLD
RESOURCES
1. This period marks the highest point of US nuclear power and the
in terms of prestige and wealth, with rising ecological movement with
incomes among all classes.
2. Successful manipulation of oil prices and energy.
financial moves by Nixon ensured surplus of
raw materials and in monetary form
continued to flow from periphery to center.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
EMBARGO
An official ban on trade or other
commercial activity with a particular
country.
BULWARK
A solid wall-like structure raised for
defense.
PARAPOLITICS
Political actions of subterfuge,
secrecy, and deceit which are hidden
from the public; practice of politics in
which accountability is consciously
diminished.
ZERO-SUM STRATEGY
If one party loses, the other party
wins, and the net change in wealth is
zero.
QUAGMIRE
A difficult, complicated, or unpleasant
situation which is not easy to avoid or
escape from (Quagmire Theory).
3. Aside from the threat of
communism, the most
notable threat to Big Oil and
the big banks are the
the demands for renewable
ENDGAME 1979 - 1991
1. Israel has finally made
peace with Egypt, its main
protagonist, to achieve
greater Israel and regional
hegemony.
2. US used in their
advantage the occupation of
Soviet Union in Afghanistan
to prove and justify that the
Soviet plans world
domination.
8. Arab defeat in 1967 led to
a worldwide surge of
fundamentalism among
Muslims and the Palestinians
came close to overthrow the 7. CIA was busy trying to
king in Jordan.
9. According to Kessler, a from
CIA analyst, the 1973 war Indonesia, not because of
was a war fought under the communism, but because
name of Islam which marked they tried to become
the rise of political Islam.
Political Geography
4. Widespread use of
nuclear power and
renewable energy would
leave Big Oil with falling
profits as well as the end of
Big Oil’s economic
hegemony.
3. Muslim Brotherhood only
aims to spread Islamic
morals and good works but
later on involved in politics,
to get rid of British control
and Western influence.
4. US gained an
understanding of Islam,
viewing it as harmless,
reactionary ideology, and
best defense against
communism, that would
never harm Israel or the
pro-US regimes in the
Middle East.
5. Arab nationalists and
socialists posed a threat to
US-Israeli hegemony as well
as to the growing US energy
needs.
6. In 1952, Egyptz’s Nasser
took over wherein he
became the symbol of Arab
revolution, independence,
and self-determination.
overthrow such leaders
Guatemala to
independent.
Group 3 | World War II Political Geography

ENDGAME 1979 - 1991

10. Egyptian president Anwar
Sadat made an alliance with
Saudi Arabia after the 1973 war
which brought the Brotherhood
back to Cairo and realigned
Egypt with US.
11. In 1973, Saudi gained huge
amount of petrodollars and
increasing prominence of Islamic
banks after the oil embargo.
12. Economic preferences of
Saudi elite were all American -
in favor of capitalism but no
room for social welfare, land
15. Western intelligence services
reform, and state ownership.
13. Saudi also offered aid to poor overestimated the strength of
Muslim countries in exchange of the Soviet Union and failed to
political shift to the right. see the power of Islam as a
14. In 1976, Safari Club was worldwide movement,
established as secret network of propagandized by Israel’s
Western intelligence and
became the center of new continued expansion and
parapolitics. oppression of Palestinians.

16. US was locked into zero-
sum game strategy against
communism which began an
unprecedented campaign to
recruit, train, transport, and
pay ten thousands of Islamic
fighters.
17. Osama Bin Laden joined
the US sponsored jihad with
his own goal of freeing the
Muslim lands from foreign
control.
18. Funds were raised through
front organizations, drug
smuggling, and other illegal
activities with active support
from the Saudis.
19. US has no concern for
destroying Afghan state as
they care more on creating a
quagmire for the Soviet
Union.
20. China became the new
ally of US which supplied arms
and training jihadis.
21. US formed a strange
alliance with real enemies
against Soviet Union - China,
Iran, and Pakistan - aiding
their separate agendas which
are not aligned to US
geopolitical interest.
22. Even before Great Game II
was over, Great Game III has
begun, unleashing the anti-
imperialist struggles of
Islamists on the world stage.
WORLD WAR II
Political Geography

GROUP 3 | BAPS 3-4

Convento, Ma. Bianca Therese
Guadania, Gwyneth Divine G.
Mamaid, Rheana R.
Pañer, Ryle Owen C.
Payabyab, Ralph Angel B.
Tamura, Nikki L.