SVEN HEDIN JAKO GEOPOLITYK
SVEN HEDIN AS A GEOPOLITICIAN

Summary/Abstract: Sven Anders Henin (1865-1952) was a Swedish geographer, geopolitician, topographer and explorer. He came from a financially well-situated environment of Swedish middle class. His father was the chief architect of Stockholm. In 1885, after graduating from high school, he started his studies interrupted by trips to the Middle East. Firstly, in Sweden he studied geology, mineralogy and zoology, then continued studying in Berlin under the direction of famous geographical Ferdinand von Richthofen, ending it obtained a doctorate in 1892. During four expeditions to Central Asia, he discovered the Transhimalaya and the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers, Lake Lop Nur, and the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin. Hedin revealed to the world its geopolitical position, publishing in 1915 a book titled “The people in arms”. Swedish geopolitician entered into polemics with Polish traveler and writer Ferynand Ossendowski and his book Beasts, Men and Gods. Hedin could not ignore the part of this book presenting the author’s alleged journey from Mongolia to the north-east Tibet and back. In his opinion nothing there did not agree with reality. After unpleasantness he suffered for his attitude during the war, he continued his research about Central Asia. In the book titled “From Beijing to Moscow” he once more questioned the veracity of Ossendowski’s book.

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