Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics
hardcover
Published Sept. 21, 2015 by Scribner, imusti.
In the bestselling tradition of Why Nations Fail and The Revenge of Geography, an award-winning journalist uses ten maps of crucial regions to explain the geo-political strategies of the world powers.
All leaders of nations are constrained by geography. Their choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas, and concrete. To understand world events, news organizations and other authorities often focus on people, ideas, and political movements, but without geography, we never have the full picture. Now, in the relevant and timely Prisoners of Geography, seasoned journalist Tim Marshall examines Russia, China, the USA, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Japan and Korea, and Greenland and the Arctic—their weather, seas, mountains, rivers, deserts, and borders—to provide a context often missing from our political reportage: how the physical characteristics of these countries affect their strengths and vulnerabilities and the decisions made by their leaders.
In ten, up-to-date maps of each region, …
In the bestselling tradition of Why Nations Fail and The Revenge of Geography, an award-winning journalist uses ten maps of crucial regions to explain the geo-political strategies of the world powers.
All leaders of nations are constrained by geography. Their choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas, and concrete. To understand world events, news organizations and other authorities often focus on people, ideas, and political movements, but without geography, we never have the full picture. Now, in the relevant and timely Prisoners of Geography, seasoned journalist Tim Marshall examines Russia, China, the USA, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Japan and Korea, and Greenland and the Arctic—their weather, seas, mountains, rivers, deserts, and borders—to provide a context often missing from our political reportage: how the physical characteristics of these countries affect their strengths and vulnerabilities and the decisions made by their leaders.
In ten, up-to-date maps of each region, Marshall explains in clear and engaging prose the complex geo-political strategies of these key parts of the globe. What does it mean that Russia must have a navy, but also has frozen ports six months a year? How does this affect Putin’s treatment of Ukraine? How is China’s future constrained by its geography? Why will Europe never be united? Why will America never be invaded? Shining a light on the unavoidable physical realities that shape all of our aspirations and endeavors, Prisoners of Geography is the critical guide to one of the major (and most often overlooked) determining factors in world history.
Pretty interesting explained the why of a lot of things that happened previously.
Would have been cool if he’d been able to use that knowledge in a more predictive manner, other than “this will be important”. Playing out a scenario given some assumptions would’ve been a nice way to walk through the same logic
I highly recommend this book. Written back in 2015, it opens with a geographic thesis on why Russia would want to invade Ukraine. (It's for a warm water port. )
The subtitle is clearly a lie. At best this book provides an overview of some the challenges some states face, but there's nothing particularly unique about the maps of the text that accompanies them.
That said, summarising an entire planets geopolitics is quite an achievement, but it is hamstrung by it's framing as many things simply can't be explained by geography alone. Technological development, philosophical and religious developments and many other factors have clearly influenced some of the issues the book discusses, but they have to be minimised or swept to the side to avoid them compromising the thesis of the book.
There are definitely some parts that stand out, the chapter on Africa for example, but the whole thing feels a bit dated and constrained, and there are many claims that I guess you're supposed to take on face value with very little substance to back them up.
It …
The subtitle is clearly a lie. At best this book provides an overview of some the challenges some states face, but there's nothing particularly unique about the maps of the text that accompanies them.
That said, summarising an entire planets geopolitics is quite an achievement, but it is hamstrung by it's framing as many things simply can't be explained by geography alone. Technological development, philosophical and religious developments and many other factors have clearly influenced some of the issues the book discusses, but they have to be minimised or swept to the side to avoid them compromising the thesis of the book.
There are definitely some parts that stand out, the chapter on Africa for example, but the whole thing feels a bit dated and constrained, and there are many claims that I guess you're supposed to take on face value with very little substance to back them up.
It was definitely an interesting book to be reading during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Overall, worth a read if geopolitics interests you, but the cover is more clever marketing than an accurate description of its contents.
Li a tradução portuguesa e fiquei bem esclarecido em que medida a geomorfologia dos terrenos da superfície da Terra molda as nações. Para cada continente, um capítulo, mas sempre a mesma mensagem: fronteiras naturais como rios e cordilheiras continuam agora, como há dois mil anos, a suster o avanço no terreno de invasões. No fim, um aviso sobre as alterações climáticas e as consequências que terão no Árctico onde a Rússia parece já ter colocado as suas peças no xadrez geográfico da região preparado para qualquer eventualidade de disputar a supremacia no que irá aparecer quando o gelo desaparecer por completo! Ficou por fazer um capítulo sobre a Antárctida!
An excellent overview of countries around the world and their advantages, troubles, and motivations. This is a great read for those interested in geopolitics or would just like to understand geoeconomic motivations better. All 7 continents are covered and broken down into major countries and regions. Easy to read and understand.
Woulb be a fiver but for the prose and the too short chapter on Siuth America (Read Chile). Must be read to get a better understanding of the big players in global politics.
