Prisoners of Geography
Prisoners of Geography uses ten maps of crucial regions to explain the geopolitical strategies of the world powers. It examines Russia, China, the US, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Japan, 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. Offering a fresh way of looking at maps, this book explains the complex geopolitical strategies that shape the globe.
Praise for Prisoners of Geography
"Quite simply, one of the best books about geopolitics you could imagine: reading it is like having a light shone on your understanding."
― The Evening Standard
"In an ever more complex, chaotic and interlinked world, Prisoners of Geography is a concise and useful primer on geo-politics.”
― Newsweek Europe
"Marshall is excellent on some of the highways and byways of geopolitics."
“This is not a book about environmental determinism – the geography of a region is never presented as fatalistic; but it does send a timely reminder that despite technological advances, geography is always there, often forcing the hand of world leaders.”
― Geographical Magazine
"Fans of geography, history and politics (and maps) will be enthralled."
― Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“A convincing analysis of Russian geopolitical thinking. Also makes clear the terrible price the world has had to pay because European officials decided to create nation-states with borders that completely ignored cultural geography.”
― Washington Post