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Abstract This paper seeks to examine theoretical connections between geopolitics and contemporary realist theories. The author argues that the disengagement of geopolitics and contemporary realist theories was caused by the perceived connections between geopolitics and Nazi Germany’s expansion, and the scientific reorientation of the realist theories in the postwar era. The realist nature of the geopolitics was determined by three hardcore assumptions that it shares with the contemporary realist theories. These theoretical assumptions are acknowledged to be the trademark of any realist theories. The author contends that both geopolitics and contemporary realist theories have constructed theories of international relations around principle of the balance of power. However, there are qualitative distinctions between these two kinds of balance of power theory. Geopolitics, in essence, is a peculiar realist international theory between the balance of power and the hegemonic realist theories. Compared to structural realist theories, it has two distinctive analytic characteristics, namely, holistic and dynamic approaches. These characteristics also indicate the endurability of geopolitics.
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