Strategic Resources

Definition

Strategic resources are natural or man-made assets that are essential for a nation's economic, military, and political power. These resources can provide a competitive advantage and influence a country's ability to achieve its strategic objectives on the global stage.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The control and access to strategic resources, such as oil, minerals, and agricultural land, was a key driver of European imperialism and the expansion of global empires in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. Alfred Thayer Mahan, a prominent American naval strategist, emphasized the importance of controlling strategic maritime chokepoints and sea lanes to project global power and influence.
3. Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier thesis argued that the availability of abundant natural resources and land in the American West played a crucial role in shaping the country's unique political and social development.
4. The pursuit of strategic resources, such as rubber, tin, and oil, was a significant factor in the colonial rivalries and conflicts that led to the outbreak of World War I.
5. The control of strategic resources, particularly energy resources, has remained a central concern for nations in the modern era, shaping foreign policy, military strategy, and global economic competition.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of strategic resources influenced the expansion of European empires in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • The desire to control and access strategic resources, such as raw materials, agricultural land, and natural resources, was a key driver of European imperialism during this period. Nations sought to establish economic and political dominance over territories that could provide them with a steady supply of valuable commodities, giving them a competitive advantage on the global stage. This pursuit of strategic resources led to the colonization of various regions, the establishment of trading networks, and the expansion of global empires as European powers competed to secure access to these vital assets.
• Describe the role of strategic maritime chokepoints and sea lanes in Alfred Thayer Mahan's naval strategy and its impact on the projection of global power.
  • According to Alfred Thayer Mahan, a prominent American naval strategist, the control of strategic maritime chokepoints and sea lanes was crucial for a nation's ability to project its military and economic influence globally. Mahan argued that by controlling these vital waterways, a country could effectively disrupt or control the movement of goods, resources, and military forces, thereby enhancing its geopolitical power and influence. This emphasis on naval power and the importance of strategic resources shaped the foreign policies and military strategies of major powers, as they sought to secure control over key maritime chokepoints and sea lanes to maintain their global dominance.
• Analyze how the availability of abundant natural resources and land in the American West, as described in Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier thesis, contributed to the unique political and social development of the United States.
  • Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier thesis posited that the availability of abundant natural resources and land in the American West played a crucial role in shaping the country's political and social development. The seemingly limitless expanse of natural resources and the ability to continually expand westward allowed the United States to develop a unique frontier spirit, self-reliance, and democratic institutions that were distinct from the more established societies of Europe. This access to strategic resources, such as fertile land, timber, and mineral deposits, fueled the country's economic growth and provided the foundation for its rise as a global power. The frontier experience and the exploitation of these strategic resources were central to the formation of American identity and the country's political and social trajectory.

Related terms

Geopolitics: The study of the geographic factors (such as location, size, climate, and natural resources) that influence a nation's political power and international relations.

Imperialism:

The policy of a country to extend its power and influence through the acquisition of land or the establishment of economic and political control over other countries.

Naval Power:

The ability of a nation to project its military and economic influence globally through the use of its naval forces, including ships, submarines, and aircraft carriers.