In 2015, British journalist Tim Marshall published Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics. This book breaks the globe into ten regions, analyzing how geographical features like rivers, mountains, and seas influence political decisions, military strategies, and economic development. Tim Marshall is praised for making a complex topic accessible and engaging. However, his book also faces criticism for certain omissions. Critics point out that by focusing solely on geography, Marshall sometimes neglects other significant factors in political decision-making. In any case, it is useful to learn from the ideas in Prisoners of Geography.
Below, there is a summary of the third chapter of the book, which focuses on the United States. You can find all available summaries of this book at the links below:
- Chapter 1 (Russia)
- Chapter 2 (China)
- Chapter 3 (United States)
- Chapter 4 (Western Europe)
- Chapter 5 (Africa)
- Chapter 6 (Middle East)
The United States is often considered a prime location for living due to its diverse geography, excellent transportation links, and peaceful neighbors. Its strength lies in its unity as a nation, something that sets it apart from the European Union, where member states often prioritize national identity over European unity. This unity is rooted in the U.S.’s geography and its history of unification.
Geographically, the U.S. can be divided into three parts. The East Coast Plain leads to the Appalachian Mountains, known for fertile soil and navigable rivers. The Great Plains extend to the Rocky Mountains, including the Mississippi basin with its vast network of rivers. West of the Rockies lies a desert area, the Sierra Nevada, and a narrow coastal plain before reaching the Pacific Ocean. To the north, the Canadian Shield poses a natural barrier, and to the south-west lies a desert. This geography played a crucial role in the U.S. becoming a major power, as it spans from coast to coast.
The early European settlers were drawn to the east coast’s natural harbors and fertile land, hoping for a life of freedom. This attraction led to the establishment of the thirteen colonies, stretching from Massachusetts to Georgia, with a combined population of about 2.5 million. The Appalachian Mountains formed a barrier to the west, and the British government further restricted expansion in this direction to maintain control over trade and taxes.
The Declaration of Independence in 1776 marked a significant moment, leading to the victory in the War of Independence and the birth of a new nation. However, in the early 1800s, the U.S. was unaware of its true geographical expanse. Explorers had only just penetrated the Appalachians and reached the Mississippi, thinking it might lead to the Pacific Ocean.
The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 was a strategic move that doubled the size of the U.S. and provided control over the Mississippi basin, a crucial route to the greatness of the country. This acquisition was a turning point, giving the U.S. geographical depth, fertile land, and an alternative route for trade.
The nation’s expansion continued with the acquisition of Florida from Spain in 1819, establishing a boundary to the Pacific and securing the core of the country’s territory. The Monroe Doctrine in 1823 warned European powers against further colonization in the Western Hemisphere. The Texas Revolution and the Mexican War further expanded U.S. territory, establishing its modern-day borders which are mostly natural: deserts, great lakes, and oceans.
By 1848, with no external threats, the U.S. focused on economic growth and territorial expansion. The California Gold Rush and the Homestead Act of 1862 attracted more settlers to the West. The acquisition of Alaska in 1867 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 further solidified U.S. expansion.
In addition, the U.S. developed a powerful navy to protect its coasts and trade routes. The Spanish-American War in 1898 resulted in the control of Cuba and other territories, enhancing U.S. strategic presence. The U.S. also annexed Hawaii and secured rights to the Panama Canal, further bolstering its trade capabilities.
Despite George Washington’s advice to avoid permanent alliances, the U.S. entered World War I and World War II. After this second conflict, the U.S. emerged as a global power, controlling key sea lanes and seizing British naval bases in the Western Hemisphere. This expansion of influence was necessary to maintain peace and support the global economy, positioning the U.S. as a superpower with a significant worldwide presence.
The United States’ post-World War II strategy involved ensuring stability in Europe to counter Soviet expansion, leading to the Marshall Plan and the establishment of a permanent military presence in Germany. In 1949, the U.S. spearheaded the formation of NATO, assuming leadership of the Western military might. The U.S.’s influence in NATO was evident during the Suez Crisis of 1956, when it pressured the UK and France to withdraw from Egypt, signaling its dominant role in strategic decisions.
The U.S. also extended its military reach globally, forming alliances in the Pacific and the Mediterranean. Despite setbacks like the Vietnam War, the U.S. maintained its global strategy, focusing on potential challenges from Europe, Russia, and China. The European Union’s dream of a unified foreign and security policy has been hindered by economic challenges and reliance on the U.S. for defense. Russia, despite recent assertiveness, is limited by geographical constraints and lacks the capacity to challenge U.S. dominance significantly.
China, however, presents a different scenario. While economically advancing, China still lags behind the U.S. in military capabilities. The U.S. aims to maintain this gap, using both economic and military strategies. This includes attempts to negotiate strategic stances with other governments, as seen in the responses to human rights issues in Syria and in Bahrain.
The U.S. focuses on strengthening alliances in Asia and the Pacific, recognizing the region’s growing economic and strategic importance. This involves balancing military actions and diplomatic efforts to reassure allies and contain potential conflicts. Examples of this include managing relations with North Korea and supporting regional allies like Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian countries, who are wary of China’s rise.
The U.S.’s strategy towards China involves a delicate balance of power and diplomacy. Both nations understand the need for compromise and are not seeking direct conflict. However, flashpoints like Taiwan pose significant risks. The U.S. has the commitment to defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression, but an overt move by either the U.S. or Taiwan could trigger a major conflict.
As the U.S. becomes less dependent on foreign oil, its foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, is likely to shift, impacting global geopolitics. This change in energy dependence, along with evolving relationships in the Asia-Pacific region, will influence U.S. foreign policy and international relations in the coming years.
The United States is on track to become not only self-sufficient in energy but also a net energy exporter by 2020, thanks to offshore drilling and fracking. This shift in energy dynamics will reduce America’s dependency on oil and gas from the Gulf region, altering its strategic interests there. While the U.S. will maintain a presence there, like the 5th Fleet in Bahrain, the urgency behind protecting Gulf energy resources may diminish, leading to questions about the purpose of such military deployments.
In the Middle East, the U.S. aims to prevent Iran from gaining too much power while also exploring the possibility of signing a comprehensive agreement to resolve longstanding conflicts with the Iranians. However, facing the complexity of regional politics, the U.S. is moving away from promoting democracy to a more pragmatic approach of managing the region from a distance.
The U.S. relationship with Israel might gradually change as the American demographic composition changes. The growing Hispanic and Asian populations may focus more on their regions of origin rather than the Middle East, which is losing strategic importance for the U.S.
In Latin America, U.S. interests are centered around ensuring access to the Panama Canal and monitoring the potential construction of another canal, in Nicaragua. The U.S. is also keeping an eye on Brazil’s growing influence, particularly in the Caribbean.
There is competiton for African natural resources, and China is a significant player in this dispute. Additionally, the U.S. observes the Islamist conflicts in North Africa but prefers to avoid deep involvement in them.
The U.S. seems to be moving away from its nation-building efforts overseas. Experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrated the challenges of overcoming deep-rooted historical and tribal divisions with democratic ideals. This shift suggests the perception that national unity is not always achievable in regions with long-standing internal conflicts.
Despite predictions of its decline, the United States continues to be a dominant global power. Its impending energy self-sufficiency, its economic preeminence, its huge military power, its younger population compared to Europe and Japan, and its appeal to immigrants all contribute to its sustained global influence.This reinforces the idea that the U.S. is blessed by God, as suggested by Otto von Bismarck over a century ago.
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