Stát jako organismus? Kritická reflexe dosavadních interpretací konceptu státu Friedricha Ratzela

Friedrich Ratzel (1844–1904) is often portrayed in the Czech context as a controversial figure in the development of political-geographical or geopolitical thought. This is probably a consequence of the lack of attention and research interest in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, his conception of the state resonates quite strongly in the domestic literature. Available sources indicate that under the influence of Social Darwinism he came up with the idea of the state as a (living or biological) organism that must grow (expand its Lebensraum), become stronger and occupy more and more space in order to survive (in the struggle for life). This interpretation, which is in fact very misleading, forms an important pillar of Ratzel’s overall negative perception. For it implies that his conception of the state is an application of Darwin’s natural selection and the struggle for survival to human society, states and international relations. Such an interpretation of Ratzel’s thought sounds truly sinister, and in this vein could be used to justify territorial expansion as the natural right of the stronger. On closer examination, however, it turns out that the Social Darwinist interpretation of Ratzel’s thought is highly questionable and that his conception of the state cannot be used in this way.