Picture credit: The Reading Room of the British Museum, by Riccardo Cambiass. Neighbouring Mali and the wider Sahel have become of increasing importance to French and U.S. counterterrorism missions as a result of the extremism and exploitation that has taken root in the region’s sovereignty vacuum. Freedman charts the course of the conflict, from its turbulent beginnings of pressure on former President Yanukovych to turn away from Europe, to the failure of the Minsk peace process and how domestic politics developed, both in Ukraine and in Russia. With all the world’s oceans safe for the first time in history, markets and resources were made available for everyone. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Genesis and download some geopolitics books mentioned below at your own risk. These attacks are, by definition, terrifying. As a renowned scholar in the inter-related fields of law, strategy, and history, Bobbitt’s Terror and Consent is absolutely indispensable in getting to grips with the changing world in which we live at the grand strategic level. They foster inter-group hatred perhaps in ways that nothing else can; they change the course of wars. Looking for the best Geopolitics books? War of a Thousand Deserts Brian DeLay, Yale University Press 2009, 496 pages. The herculean economic tasks he has set himself will only grow larger as public patience thins, and Brazil could begin to see more major protests of its own. He is seen as a legend and mentor amongst the US Military’s officer and enlisted ranks, and as such this is required reading for all seeking to understand the mindset of the US war-fighting machine. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Drawing on his experience as one of the foremost statesmen of the modern era—advising presidents, traveling the world, observing and shaping the central foreign policy events of recent decades—Kissinger now reveals his analysis of the ultimate challenge for the twenty-first century: how to build a shared international order in a world of divergent historical perspectives, violent conflict, proliferating… Author(s): Henry Kissinger, Bestselling author Robert D. Kaplan builds on the insights, discoveries, and theories of great geographers and geopolitical thinkers of the recent and distant past to look back at critical pivots in history and then to look forward at the evolving global scene. Author(s): Tim Marshall, History and geography delineate the operation of power, not only its range but also the capacity to plan and the ability to implement. The Silk Roads: A New History of the World (2017), 9. In the current era of populism, Trump, Brexit, Le Pen, and Five-Star, this is a lesson of crucial importance. From the stalled-but-ever-bloody war in Yemen to counter Iran-backed Houthi rebels, to their efforts to expand a presence across the Horn of Africa while building up their own military capabilities, the wealthy Gulf States appear to be scrambling to cement their own power in their near abroad. While many regimes may continue to target seemingly bigger issues throughout 2020, this may leave them under prepared for the driving undercurrents of the Middle Eastern street, and the following is recommended for deeper insight into the nuanced perspectives one should have about the coming changes: Asia has slipped somewhat from global focus in 2019, yet the situation remains as volatile as it did in 2018, as tensions between the United States and China have simmered on and President Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy course has placed economic relations in the region on a knife edge. Although many observers have been surprised by the level of restraint shown by Beijing in dealing with Hong Kong, the question remains as to how long the government will continue to tolerate the insurrection. It is an excellent primer on the complex subject of foreign affairs, though it does focus more on the present and less on the past. If this is the case and January’s election does return Tsai Ing-wen to power, China could well decide the damage has been done and take a harder line in dealing with Hong Kong’s dissenters. As the title aptly suggests, the book has three main themes. Despite the abrupt drop in Jihadi terrorism-related deaths in Europe in recent years, Islam and migration-related issues continue to be heavily scrutinised from a security and political perspective, and this year has seen several incidents of far-right, anti-immigrant/islamic violence. Through geopolitics we attempt to analyze and predict the actions and decisions of nations, or other forms of political power, by means of their geographical characteristics and location in the world. For its part, the United States’ regional engagement has appeared lacklustre at times, especially at the senior levels. Cases of bribery, money laundering, and meddling by foreign officials, including Western ones, are far more pervasive than might be openly admitted. With the world becoming ever closer connected in ever more complex and complicated ways, conflicts are more fluid, making them both greater drivers of change and more sensitive to change in seemingly unconnected spheres. On the contrary, although most Southeast Asian nations strongly wish to avoid choosing sides between the two main powers, unless the US ups its game and applies its diplomatic weight more skilfully this coming year will see parts of Southeast Asia slowly sliding ever closer towards China. For better understanding of the issue, the following are well worth reading: Despite celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, the People’s Republic of China has been dealing with its fair share of problems, none of which seem likely to disappear in 2020. 2019 has proven to be another exciting year for Encyclopedia Geopolitica, which celebrated its 3rd birthday earlier this month. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, it invaded Georgia. As this list contains a staggering 210 books, it may be worth considering Amazon’s Kindle “Unlimited” programme as a more cost-effective way to get through the reading list. Cohen, This new updated edition of Introduction to Geopolitics presents the overarching themes of geopolitical structures and agents in an engaging and accessible manner, which requires no previous knowledge of theory or current affairs. At least a quarter of a million people have been killed or injured by suicide attacks since Tsar Alexander II of Russia was assassinated in arguably the first planned suicidal explosion in 1881. Lewis Tallon – Chief Editor and EMEA Analyst. US military policy brings a lot of uncertainty heading in to 2020. GPF is non-ideological, analyzes the world and forecasts the future using geopolitics: political, economic, military and geographic dimensions at the foundation of a nation. It also sheds light on two other themes that are quite relevant for the so called ‘Asian Century’. Charlie Song – Espionage and Global Security Analyst, Sua Sponte: The Forging of a Modern American Ranger (Dick Couch). The freshly-re-elected Government in Maputo has bigger fish to fry, meanwhile, as it attempts to nip in the bud a burgeoning splinter movement from former RENAMO rebels in Sofala. India’s Spatial Imaginations of South Asia: Power, Commerce and Community (Shibashis Chatterjee). He shares some personal errors and doesn’t puff up his victories but humbly highlights that he was merely there to be a connector between his men and higher headquarters, filtered through the lens of the end state of the mission. Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World (Politics of Place) Frankopan teaches us that to understand what is at stake for the cities and nations built on these intricate trade routes, we must first understand their astounding pasts. Whilst the region lacks the cultural-historical significance of the Levant for the Islamic State movement, the return of thousands of battle-hardened fighters from the Islamic State, and the aftermath of attempts at establishing regional wilayats will likely continue to place strain on local counter-extremism efforts. Hardcover. The recently departed Secretary of Defense writes his (often standard and expected for the role) memoir, with a slight twist, covering Mattis’ lengthy service as a Marine as a foil to his service as a civilian. Reports suggest that Pakistan may actually be more indebted to China than the IMF, meaning that it is eroding its sovereignty for the sake of survival. As an independent publication, our writers are volunteers from within the professional geopolitical intelligence community, and referrals like this support our ability to create future content by funding server time and domain fees. Policies governing everything from trade and investment to energy and exchange rates are wielded as tools to win diplomatic allies, punish adversaries, and coerce those in between. Together these factors defined the liberal international order and sustained an era of rising global prosperity and declining international conflict. A relatively quick read for books in this genre, this book is a collection of 14 essays. If there’s one book that subtly demonstrates the ongoing movements in the Arab world, it’s this one. £7.00 #38. The theme of Power looks at India’s imagination of soft and hard power, and how it plays a role with its relations vis-a-vis its immediate neighbours. Geopolitics, Northern Europe, and Nordic Noir: What Television Series Tell Us About World Politics (P… The country has annexed much of Northern Syria, and has in recent months begun advancing into Kurdish-held territory. Using new pertinent case studies and guided exercises the title explains the contemporary global power of the United States and the challenges it is facing, the persistence of nationalist conflicts, migration, cyberwar, terrorism, and environmental geopolitics. Looking for the best Geopolitics books? Paperback. Understanding Israel’s place in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East will likely be highly important in 2020 as these developments continue, and the following are recommended reads: Moving north from the Gulf, the Levant is in a period of consolidation with the ground and air campaigns in Syria, and particularly Iraq, largely over. Keir Giles, senior expert on Russia at Chatham House, sets the landscape for this better grasp with his description of Russian political strategy and doctrine. Understanding the mercurial administration of President Trump in terms of both the White House’s geopolitical outlook, and those of individual cabinet members both past and present, will be crucial to anticipating US (and therefore global) geopolitical trajectories in 2020. To better understand the history and situation of Taipei and Beijing’s relationship, the following are suggested: China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) plan to revive the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road for the modern world continue despite economic uncertainty and debt-trap concerns amongst Beijing’s “partner” nations. Browse our list to find excellent book recommendations on the subject. The best of 2020, from a sweeping review of geopolitics to a satirical novel about Trumpland. Both books show young Western actors on a fracturing stage, and provide a warning to history against the failure to consider that the hardest part of any campaign begins after you have won. Our contributors include Military officers, Geopolitical Intelligence analysts, Corporate Security professionals, Government officials, Academics and Journalists from around the globe. Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of Pain, Europe’s Last Chance: Why the European States Must Form a More Perfect Union, Brexit: Why Britain Voted to Leave the European Union, The European Union: Politics and Policies, Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story of Brexit, Unlikely Allies: Britain, America and the Victorian Origins of the Special Relationship, Flashpoints: the emerging crisis in Europe, German-American Relations in the 21st Century: A Fragile Friendship, The Future of British Foreign Policy: Security and Diplomacy in a World after Brexit, The Struggle for Catalonia: Rebel Politics in Spain, Independence or Union: Scotland’s Past and Scotland’s Present, Disintegrative Tendencies in Global Political Economy: Exits and Conflicts, The Border: The Legacy of a Century of Anglo-Irish Politics, Twilight of the Elites: Prosperity, the Periphery, and the Future of France, Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest, 1968 in Europe: A History of Protest and Activism, Environmental Activism and the Media: The Politics of Protest, From Cairo to Wall Street: Voices from the Global Spring, In Putin’s Footsteps: Searching for the Soul of an Empire Across Russia’s Eleven Time Zones, The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past, All the Kremlin’s Men: Inside the Court of Vladimir Putin, Russia & the West After the Ukrainian Crisis, The Fight for Influence: Russia in Central Asia, Great Games, Local Rules: The New Great Power Contest in Central Asia, Sevastopol’s Wars: Crimea from Potemkin to Putin, The New Cold War: Putin’s Threat to Russia and the West, American Pravda: My Fight for Truth in the Era of Fake News, LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media, Security in Shared Neighbourhoods: Foreign Policy of Russia, Turkey and the EU, Defending Europe: The EU, NATO, and the Quest for European Autonomy, War with Russia: An Urgent Warning from Senior Military Command, Putin’s Master Plan: To Destroy Europe, Divide NATO, and Restore Russian Power and Global Influence, The Baltic Security Puzzle: Regional Patterns of Democratization, Integration, and Authoritarianism, The Pasdaran: Inside Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s Influence: A Religious-Political State and Society in its Region, Syria and Iran: Diplomatic Alliance and Power Politics in the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Policy Since 2001: Alone in the World, Iran and Pakistan: Security, Diplomacy and American Influence, Saudi Arabia & Iran: Power and Rivalry in the Middle East, The United Arab Emirates: Power, Politics and Policy-Making, The Changing Security Dynamics of the Persian Gulf, Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations, The Weapon Wizards: How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower, My Promised Land: the triumph and tragedy of Israel, Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, No Turning Back: Life, Loss, and Hope in Wartime Syria, The Terror Years: From al-Qaeda to the Islamic State, The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Evolution of an Insurgency, The Man Who Created the Middle East: A Story of Empire, Conflict and the Sykes-Picot Agreement, Republic of Fear: The Politics of Modern Iraq, The Struggle for Iraq’s Future: How Corruption, Incompetence and Sectarianism Have Undermined Democracy, They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate, Erdogan’s Empire: Turkey and the Politics of the Middle East.