This very interesting and
accessible book, Prisoners of Geography, looks at maps of 10 regions
and/or countries around the world, including Russia, China, the USA, Latin
America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Japan and Korea, and Greenland and
the Arctic. In each case, Tim Marshall
highlights the impact of geography over time. For example, in the chapter on Latin
America, he describes South America as essentially being “a demographically
hollow continent [whose] coastline is often referred to as its ‘populated rim’.”
Marshall goes on to comment about how during the second half of the twentieth
century “Central and South America became a proxy battlefield of the Cold War,”
a topic that our students are currently studying. He turns to more modern
issues, too, noting the growing influence of China in the region with examples
like construction of the Nicaragua Grand Canal.
Marshall’s experience and knowledge
of geo-politics is extensive; he has reported for over 25 years from over 30
countries, covering conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and throughout the
Middle East. Also interesting for
our students is that he is looking through a European lens -- here is a short
video of him discussing Prisoners of Geography with a
correspondent from the BBC:
Our copy of Prisoners
of Geography is on order and will be available soon.
