The Landscape of Power
Geography and the Rise and Fall of Nations
Format:Hardback
Publisher:WW Norton & Co
Publishing:26th Jan '27
£24.00
This title is due to be published on 26th January, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
The world is a battleground again. The great-power peace that followed the Cold War is over: Russia violently menaces its neighbors; China pushes for supremacy on land and sea; America’s global leadership is in question; the laws of a prosperous, civilized world have come under ruthless assault. Navigating this moment requires grasping the strategic power of geography, one of the harshest, least forgiving forces in global affairs. The Landscape of Power analyzes how geography shapes the habits and histories of countries everywhere. Even in an age of rapid technological change and international upheaval, it remains indispensable in understanding the deeper patterns of geopolitics. A geographical mindset helps explain why Ukraine has so often been victimized by conquerors, or why Taiwan—a modest island off the coast of a giant continent—is the most dangerous spot on Earth. It illuminates why the Middle East has such a tortured history, and why oceanic chokepoints—from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca—are so crucial and so hotly contested. Historian Hal Brands carries readers across the tumultuous global landscape, showing how geography has long informed patterns of international conflict—and how it influences the rivalries, alliances, and struggles that shape our world today. He demonstrates how the behavior of so many states—whether an aggressive Russia, an expanding China, or an ambivalent America—is still rooted in stubborn physical facts. The Landscape of Power revives a geographical way of thinking—and offers a guide to navigating the trying times ahead.
"A masterful guide to the new contours of global power. In The Landscape of Power, Hal Brands once again demonstrates why he ranks with the foremost strategic thinkers of his generation. This is an important book for policymakers, business leaders, and anyone seeking to understand the strategic landscape of the twenty-first century." -- General David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.) and coauthor of Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Gaza
"Geography never surrendered its vote in history—Hal Brands proves it, chokepoint by chokepoint. For example, The Landscape of Power explains with brutal clarity why the fight over Taiwan could determine who runs the Pacific—or even the world. This is strategic thinking at its very sharpest!" -- Admiral James Stavridis, U.S. Navy (Ret.), 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, and author of The Turning Tide
"With his characteristic erudition and command of geopolitics, Hal Brands reminds us, once again, that geography still shapes outcomes in our complex and interconnected world. He modestly asserts that a ‘geographical mindset can produce piercing insights’ and proceeds to conclusively prove his case in The Landscape of Power. All students of geopolitics, including especially policymakers in Congress and the Executive Branch, will benefit from this impressive addition to Brands’ body of scholarly work." -- Senator John Cornyn
"In The Landscape of Power, Hal Brands lifts our attention from today’s battlefields to explore the power of geography in shaping every nation’s challenges and opportunities. With a remarkable blending of history, economics, geography, and geopolitics, Brands explains why withdrawal to the Western Hemisphere, and isolationism more broadly, pose great danger for the United States. A must-read for any student or practitioner of national security policy or international relations." -- Robert M. Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense (2006–2011)
ISBN: 9781324110903
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
352 pages