In his preface, Kaplan says that he intends The Revenge of Geography as a corrective to the numerous tomes about the coming triumph of globalization. Regardless of how "flat" the world is becoming, the fundamental facts of geography will continue to be a key influence on the geopolitics of the 21st century. For example, the fact that Iran is the only country with coasts on both the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf will continue to influence its policies, not to mention its relationships with neighbors China and Russia.
The book gives a great overview of the macro-geography of major world players -- Russia, China, India, the United States, and the Middle East -- and how their topography and position "explain" their history and worldview. It's full of delightful tidbits of geographical wisdom, such as the fact that human innovations tend to spread along lines of latitude where the climate is similar, or that North Africa and the northern countries of South America align with their neighbors across the Mediterranean/Caribbean rather their their continent-mates because of a major barrier to the south (the Sahara and Amazon basin respectively).
I don't think Kaplan manages to weave all of his interesting insights into a coherent geopolitical story. It's not for a lack of trying: Part 1 of the book spends far too much time describing the theories of analysts from the past -- all the way back to Herodotus! I also found his analysis of North America less convincing than his analysis of Asia.
The book gives a great overview of the macro-geography of major world players -- Russia, China, India, the United States, and the Middle East -- and how their topography and position "explain" their history and worldview. It's full of delightful tidbits of geographical wisdom, such as the fact that human innovations tend to spread along lines of latitude where the climate is similar, or that North Africa and the northern countries of South America align with their neighbors across the Mediterranean/Caribbean rather their their continent-mates because of a major barrier to the south (the Sahara and Amazon basin respectively).
I don't think Kaplan manages to weave all of his interesting insights into a coherent geopolitical story. It's not for a lack of trying: Part 1 of the book spends far too much time describing the theories of analysts from the past -- all the way back to Herodotus! I also found his analysis of North America less convincing than his analysis of Asia.
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