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Daren's Reviews > Prisoners of Geography
Prisoners of Geography
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Daren's review
bookshelves: non-fiction, history, uk-author, multi-continent, 4-star, geography
Feb 25, 2019
bookshelves: non-fiction, history, uk-author, multi-continent, 4-star, geography
Have to say Tim Marshall has done an excellent job of this book and providing a relatively simple baseline for geopolitics, and providing a plain English explanation for historical, and not so historical political decisions and the effects of geography related to these.
Marshall says in his introduction, which is a good paragraph summary:
The book benefits from it logical and organised structure - a chapter per continent (roughly), and the more basic principles explained first (with Russia) which are expanded upon in further chapters to explain their interactions with, for example China, then the USA. The chapter headings are: Russia, China, USA, Western Europe, Africa, The Middle East, India and Pakistan, Korea and Japan, Latin America, and The Arctic.
Secondary to the physical geography explained here, are the natural resources within a country. These clearly also influence politics, given the world dependency on oil and gas. Couple this with natural geography suitable for a harbour, and access to shipping lanes and a more rounded picture is painted.
First published in 2015, the edition I have says it is a revised and updated edition, published 2016, but makes various references to events in 2017, so has obviously been quickly updated again.
The only minor criticism I have is the subtitle (ten maps that tell you everything you need to know about global politics) - couldn't be farther from the truth - the maps are nothing special, just basic maps. The maps are nothing without the explanation that goes with it.
Others have been critical about the generality of the book, and lack of detail, but I think that misses the point - that the book is introductory, and aimed as a starting point for geopolitics, and I enjoyed that it was a quick easy read that didn't rely on me to think it all through for too long!
There is apparently to be a second book covering the smaller nations, which I will keep an eye out for.
4 stars.
Marshall says in his introduction, which is a good paragraph summary:
The land on which we live has always shaped us. It has shaped the wars, the power, politics and social development of the people that now inhabit nearly every part of the earth... The choices of those who lead the seven billion inhabitants of this planet will to some degree always be shaped by the rivers, mountains, deserts, lakes and seas that constrain us all - as they always have.
The book benefits from it logical and organised structure - a chapter per continent (roughly), and the more basic principles explained first (with Russia) which are expanded upon in further chapters to explain their interactions with, for example China, then the USA. The chapter headings are: Russia, China, USA, Western Europe, Africa, The Middle East, India and Pakistan, Korea and Japan, Latin America, and The Arctic.
Secondary to the physical geography explained here, are the natural resources within a country. These clearly also influence politics, given the world dependency on oil and gas. Couple this with natural geography suitable for a harbour, and access to shipping lanes and a more rounded picture is painted.
First published in 2015, the edition I have says it is a revised and updated edition, published 2016, but makes various references to events in 2017, so has obviously been quickly updated again.
The only minor criticism I have is the subtitle (ten maps that tell you everything you need to know about global politics) - couldn't be farther from the truth - the maps are nothing special, just basic maps. The maps are nothing without the explanation that goes with it.
Others have been critical about the generality of the book, and lack of detail, but I think that misses the point - that the book is introductory, and aimed as a starting point for geopolitics, and I enjoyed that it was a quick easy read that didn't rely on me to think it all through for too long!
There is apparently to be a second book covering the smaller nations, which I will keep an eye out for.
4 stars.
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Reading Progress
July 2, 2018
– Shelved
February 13, 2019
–
Started Reading
February 24, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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Camille
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rated it 4 stars
Feb 27, 2019 12:00AM
A great review Daren and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Great pick up on the ten maps too. As you point out there is nothing special about the maps, they don't point out anything much except borders - in the ebook the maps are even less prominent.
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Camille wrote: "A great review Daren and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Great pick up on the ten maps too..."Thanks Camille, it was your review which pushed this up my list. Even if the maps looked like the cover picture and had relevant words on them they would have been beneficial, although maybe gimmicky. As they were they offered nothing beyond google maps...
I noted that Marshall neglected to mention NZ in his survey.What's the fate of NZ in the middle of the 21st Century? Will NZ have food and energy security?
What will happen when the out-economied [sic] Americans retreat back across the Pacific to their bastion continent and Australia is sold to and colonized by Chinese State-run corporations, like the African countries?
Will there be a Hong Kong-style, PRC Chief Executive in Wellington with an Executive Council of quisling Kiwis? 🧐
NZ doesn't really rate a mention in the geopolitical superpowers. However, food and energy are not an issue - we have an abundance of both - loads of farmland and geothermal power (fairly minor) up north and hydro (fairly major) down south.However if China decided to annex NZ it would take them about 5 minutes to get through our military powers, if our reliance on Australia and other traditional allies was not called in. Reality is, it would be a rescue mission after the fact, given our remoteness!
Added to TBR and your review popped first. "Wow"ingly great review, Daren! Really catching title for me, the Uzbek guy, BSc in Economics and Management. As you may know, Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are notoriously known for being the world's only two double landlocked countries. I don't how is the economy kicking in Liechtenstein, but Uzbekistan for years has had great troubles with exporting manufactured stuff and attracting foreign investments.
Thanks Sharof. Others have been critical of this book, saying it is simplifying things - but this was, of course, to the benefit of readers without great knowledge of geopolitics. I think it was a great basic grounding.The NZ Economy is under plenty of stress at present, the construction industry is very slow (which I work in) and interest rates and inflation are high. Our exports are always effected by our remoteness from the market.
Sharof wrote: "Added to TBR and your review popped first. "Wow"ingly great review, Daren! Really catching title for me, the Uzbek guy, BSc in Economics..."
