12256. HALFORD MACKINDER'S VIEWS ON GEOPOLITICS. Discusses how Mackinder's theory of the "Heartland" was applied to U.S. policies during the Cold War. According to this theory, a threat to world security would arise if Russia gained dominance in central Europe. Although this theory was used to justify U.S. policies of containment. It is argues that is too general and simplistic to adequately explain the Cold War situation in all its complexity. 7 pages, 24 footnotes, 6 bibliographic sources.