In the process, oil made them important and Americans made them safe. The third chapter on Saudi Arabia explains how a tribe named Al Saud from an isolated region made their way to the throne of Arabia. Walking the reader through the mountains of Iran and its huge landscape it puts Iranian history into perspective due to its mountainous geography. Starting with Australia, the book defines Australia’s vastness but it also tells the reader that this vastness still doesn’t give Australia full advantages against the geopolitical threats it faces. These nations are already directly and indirectly involved in great power rivalry of the century. By doing so, he explains why that region matters and is crucial to the future of the world. Marshall approaches each by defining the location’s borders, its geographical characteristics, and taking the reader through a chronological journey of its history or origins to the present day.

In this revelatory new book, Marshall explores 10 regions that are set to shape global politics in a new age of great-power rivalry: Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain and Space. Physical features shape global politics, argues Tim Marshall, and with the world order in a flux, several countries are looking to expand their influence Since then, the geography hasn’t changed.

In other words, “Prisoners of Geography” showed how every nation’s choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. He acknowledges his previous work and takes a different approach by looking at 10 regions that will influence the global order and politics of the future. The Power of Geography is a follow-up and sequel to Prisoners of Geography, a work that explores how countries are constrained and restricted in their choices based on their geography and position in the world.

The power of geography by tim marshall