These timeless characteristics dictate international alliances for countries to know where the threats lie. Mountain ranges like the Pyrenees in Spain are excellent natural barriers against a ground invasion by a neighbouring country. For example, landlocked countries like Uganda would not need a navy as much as an island like Australia. Geography and a country’s defence interests are intertwined. The books simple format is easy to follow but could be accused of repetition, especially when referring to what keeps Generals awake at night appears constantly. Each chapter focuses on a country and starts by describing the key geographical characteristics and then a brief history before explaining how its current territory affects its geopolitics. Readers familiar with Marshall’s first book, Prisoners of Geography, will not be surprised with the format of each of the ten chapters. Marshall takes nine countries (and Space) and explains how their geographical makeup determines their geopolitical stories.

Countries with access to seas, rivers, mountain ranges, and even soil types all determine a country’s trade routes and defence concerns. Since the dawn of trade, geography has been the primary constraint in determining which trade routes grew and which economies developed. Nations have fought wars and built empires to source resources such as raw materials and even slaves. Marshall proves the importance that geography has on international trade and the development of countries around the world. In ten chapters covering Australia, The Sahel, Greece, Turkey, the UK, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Space, delivered with Marshall’s trademark wit and insight, this is a lucid and gripping exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity’s past, present – and future.Tim Marshall’s third book, The Power of Geography, is just as relevant for Economists as books about Adam Smith are. Find out why the Earth’s atmosphere is the world’s next battleground why the fight for the Pacific is just beginning and why Europe’s next refugee crisis is closer than it thinks. In this revelatory new book, Marshall takes us into ten regions that are set to shape global politics and power. Since then, the geography hasn’t changed, but the world has.

Tim Marshall’s global bestseller Prisoners of Geography showed how every nation’s choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. If you want to understand what’s happening in the world, look at a map. ‘Quite simply, one of the best books about geopolitics you could imagine: reading it is like having a light shone on your understanding’ – Nicholas Lezard, Evening Standard, on Prisoners of Geography

Power of geography tim marshall