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The manifesto is most notable for introducing [[Zbigniew Brzezinski]]'s "Eurasian Balkans" theory, an updated version of the earlier "Eurasian Heartland" theory introduced by British geostrategist Halford Mackinder in his 1904 essay ''The Geographical Pivot of History''.<ref>https://www.iwp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20131016_MackinderTheGeographicalJournal.pdf</ref> Mackinder's version of this theory in turn played a significant role in the development of the [[foreign policy|foreign policies]] of the [[Third Reich]], [[Cold War]]-era [[United States of America|America]], and post-Cold War [[Russia]].<ref>https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2019/01/halford-mackinder-father-geopolitics</ref><ref>https://americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2000/12/james-burnham-the-first-cold-warrior/</ref><ref>https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/07/27/geopolitics-russia-mackinder-eurasia-heartland-dugin-ukraine-eurasianism-manifest-destiny-putin/</ref>   

The manifesto is most notable for introducing [[Zbigniew Brzezinski]]'s "Eurasian Balkans" theory, an updated version of the earlier "Eurasian Heartland" theory introduced by British geostrategist Halford Mackinder in his 1904 essay ''The Geographical Pivot of History''.<ref>https://www.iwp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20131016_MackinderTheGeographicalJournal.pdf</ref> Mackinder's version of this theory in turn played a significant role in the development of the [[foreign policy|foreign policies]] of the [[Third Reich]], [[Cold War]]-era [[United States of America|America]], and post-Cold War [[Russia]].<ref>https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2019/01/halford-mackinder-father-geopolitics</ref><ref>https://americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2000/12/james-burnham-the-first-cold-warrior/</ref><ref>https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/07/27/geopolitics-russia-mackinder-eurasia-heartland-dugin-ukraine-eurasianism-manifest-destiny-putin/</ref>   

The "Eurasian Balkans" theory is elaborated upon primarily in the manifesto's second and fifth chapters. It emphasizes the existence of an "oblong" of instability stretching from northern [[Kazakhstan]] in the north; the [[Horn of Africa]] in the south; western [[East Turkestan (Country)|Xinjiang]] in the east; and the southeastern [[Balkans]] in the west.<ref>Brzezinski 53, 124.</ref> At the center of this "oblong" is a  

The "Eurasian Balkans" theory is elaborated upon primarily in the manifesto's second and fifth chapters. It emphasizes the existence of an "oblong" of instability stretching from northern [[Kazakhstan]] in the north; the [[Horn of Africa]] in the south; western [[East Turkestan (Country)|Xinjiang]] in the east; and the southeastern [[Balkans]] in the west.<ref>Brzezinski 53, 124.</ref> The central thesis can be stated as such:

"power void" consisting of the following countries: [[Afghanistan]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Republic of Georgia|Georgia]], Kazakhstan, [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], and [[Uzbekistan]]. In addition, [[Iran]] and [[Turkey]] are listed as possible  additional countries belonging in this "power void," and the map detailing the extent of this "power void" also includes parts of Xinjiang and most of the [[Russia|Russian]] [[Caucasus]].<ref>Brzezinski 124-25.</ref> Furthermore, Brzezinski identifies seven countries as potential competitors to American geostrategy in the region; the primary ones being Iran, Russia, and Turkey and the secondary ones being [[China]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Ukraine]].<ref>Brzezinski 124, 134-35.</ref>  

At the center of this "oblong" is a "power void" consisting of the following countries: [[Afghanistan]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Republic of Georgia|Georgia]], Kazakhstan, [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], and [[Uzbekistan]]. In addition, [[Iran]] and [[Turkey]] are listed as possible  additional countries belonging in this "power void," and the map detailing the extent of this "power void" also includes parts of Xinjiang and most of the [[Russia|Russian]] [[Caucasus]].<ref>Brzezinski 124-25.</ref> Furthermore, Brzezinski identifies seven countries as potential competitors to American geostrategy in the region; the primary ones being Iran, Russia, and Turkey and the secondary ones being [[China]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Ukraine]].<ref>Brzezinski 124, 134-35.</ref>  

[[File:Brzezinski Taliban.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Brzezinski meets with the [[Mujahideen]] [[Taliban]], 1979.<ref>https://youtu.be/kYvO3qAlyTg</ref>]]

[[File:Brzezinski Taliban.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Brzezinski meets with the [[Mujahideen]] [[Taliban]], 1979.<ref>https://youtu.be/kYvO3qAlyTg</ref>]]

Out of those seven potential "competitor" countries, Brzezinski identifies China, Iran, and Russia as being the most dangerous possible "anti-hegemonic" alliance combination.<ref>Brzezinski 55.</ref> It is likely that this particular statement is a central reason why those three countries are often cited together as being collectively responsible for the world's problems by both [[neoliberal]] and [[neoconservative]] media today. Brezinski forewarned, "A [[Sino-Russian Entente|grand coalition of China and Russia]] united not by [[ideology]] but by complementary grievances would pose the most dangerous scenario as far as threats to United States [[hegemony]] are concerned."<ref>[https://www.sott.net/article/404941-Americas-nightmare-The-Sino-Russian-entente America's nightmare: The Sino-Russian entente], John S. Van Oudenaren, Center for National Interest, 12 Jan 2019. www.sott.net</ref><ref>[https://strategic-culture.su/news/2023/01/29/other-america-or-three-missed-chances-to-avoid-world-war-iii/ The Other America (Or the Three Missed Chances to Avoid World War III)], Matthew Ehret, January 29, 2023. strategic-culture.su</ref>

Out of those seven potential "competitor" countries, Brzezinski identifies China, Iran, and Russia as being the most dangerous possible "anti-hegemonic" alliance combination.<ref>Brzezinski 55.</ref> It is likely that this particular statement is a central reason why those three countries are often cited together as being collectively responsible for the world's problems by both [[neoliberal]] and [[neoconservative]] media today. Brezinski forewarned, "A [[Sino-Russian Entente|grand coalition of China and Russia]] united not by [[ideology]] but by complementary grievances would pose the most dangerous scenario as far as threats to United States [[hegemony]] are concerned."<ref>[https://www.sott.net/article/404941-Americas-nightmare-The-Sino-Russian-entente America's nightmare: The Sino-Russian entente], John S. Van Oudenaren, Center for National Interest, 12 Jan 2019. www.sott.net</ref><ref>[https://strategic-culture.su/news/2023/01/29/other-america-or-three-missed-chances-to-avoid-world-war-iii/ The Other America (Or the Three Missed Chances to Avoid World War III)], Matthew Ehret, January 29, 2023. strategic-culture.su</ref>