Review: Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics by Tim Marshall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

//Disclaimer: The below review is colored by several regional biases, and a lot of rants which might piss off at least some people. You’ve been warned//

I can’t remember the last time I was in anticipation while reading the geopolitics of the globe. Or the last time I was so animated reading the nail biting saga of the scramble for territorial dominance in the Arctic.

Hailing from a subcontinent, whose entire post independence history was shaped due to arbitrary lines drawn on a map by some British dude, naturally this topic was something which resonated with me.

The book, as indicated, is quite well written and engaging. Really, it’s no small feat that Mr. Marshall was able to condense the entire centuries long history of entire continents into bite sized chunks and chapters.

This does make the content entirely dense when it comes to information and nomenclature. The chapter on Africa for example, is so jam packed with the formation and histories of its litany of nations, I got a migraine by the time I got through all the different names and places and historical events. Which is fitting, considering we’re talking about the dark continent, and Africa is a BIG boy.. Around here I believe, the author delves into the inaccuracy when it comes to world maps.

The Mercator projection, which is the ‘standard’ map which all of us learn growing up, is grossly inaccurate, when it comes to representing the true size of nations and entire continents. A fact which I learned while watching the witty and thought-provoking Aaron Sorkin series, the West wing. Here’s the link for reference: Gall--Peters Projection. Just one more reason as to why I’m grateful to that series for making me better informed in this and other things.

For comparison; Africa is so big, it could theoretically fit all of the United States, India, most of Western Europe & china in it, and still have space to spare. It’s so big, you could put the entirety of Russia, with its 11 time zones, in just its upper half.

Something which I had endless fun exploring in this nifty little website: The True Size Of …

Moving on, I’ll try and share my thoughts in regard to some of the more interesting chapters.

Russia.

There is this overwhelming urge in males I believe, to imagine and enact scenes of war and conquest. Personally this made me quite the addict of games such as Rise of Nations, Age of Empires and Age of Mythology.

The geography of Western Europe & Russia as a whole, makes for much intellectual fuel for such hypothetical scenarios. Especially when taking into consideration the horrendous, inhumane wars which plagued the regions leading up to the most bloody one, in the first half of the 20th century. They’re rife with ‘what-if’ scenarios, for what circumstances would have seen an axis victory during WWII (Not that I’m saying I wanted them to win. But as excellent works such as ‘The Man in the High Castle’ have shown, this particular line of thinking is fertile grounds for some good stories).

Where we always end up stonewalled in Russia. Much like the north in ‘A Song of Ice & Fire’, the vastness of the Russian Empire/Union/Federation is one which grounds invading armies to a standstill. From Napoleon to Hitler.

But then, turning the focus around, the book explores the perspective of the rulers of Russia over the ages. How, despite being virtually impenetrable from the east, they’re nonetheless always fearful of incursions from the rich and prosperous European plains. How, despite having vast land holdings, their geographical positioning, sparse population, and lack of access to warm water ports boxes them into an uncomfortable corner. One which can only be overcome thanks to abundant Natural fuel reserves, as well as an aggressive positioning strategy involving buffer states and posturing. Which, to an extent, explains their repeated forays into Crimea and now Ukraine. Explains, but not justifies.

Western Europe

Segwaying into the Europa, similar to how Russia was always concerned about incursions from the west, Europe, especially during the cold war era, was terrified of incursions from the Soviet Union and its allies. Which led them to form NATO, which scared Russia, causing it to form the Warsaw pact. And even after the collapse, these same concerns and fears still define the geopolitics of the region. With NATO and the USA always trying to expand their influence closer to Russia. While Russia strategically intrudes upon its immediate neighbors to prevent being placed in a weak geographical position. Much to the consternation of nations such as Poland and Ukraine caught in the middle. Poland, in this scenario is like the riverlands of GOT; doesn’t matter who starts the war, they get caught up in the middle.

Perhaps due to its well documented history, there are also a lot more details in regards to the diplomatic dance which goes on between different factions. Each trying to one up each other for their own benefit. Quite exciting to read.

This chapter also cleared for me some of the definitions of what comprise the Balkans, as well as the Nordic countries. A lot of it is the cliff notes versions of their collective history, especially in the latter half of the 20th century.


India (& Pakistan)

Funnily enough, this is the chapter which I have the least to offer. Perhaps because, growing up, you get inexorably intimated with the geopolitical situation near the Himalayas, history and all. And by now, I imagine, any amateur student of history knows at least the broad strokes of why this region is at times, locked in a deadly threeway deadlock between nations all of whom have nuclear weapons.

It was also gratifying to read how positive perceptions of India were compared to our problematic neighbor. Who, at the dusk of the year 2024, is renowned across the world for two things; being the terrorist capital, as well as the beggar capital. The former is particularly concerning, considering how they’re right next door to the Taliban.

Don’t get me wrong, I feel bad for the average people of Pakistan, who struggle for even basic amenities of life. But at the same time, the world’s most lucrative military industrial complex, a place where the army owns the nation, is filled with corrupt generals like Javed Bajwa, who, over the tenure of 6 years, turned his son and in-laws into veritable billionaires. All on the back of poor pakistanis. And he’s not the only one.

Being a next door neighbor to a volatile, fundamentalism fuelled poster child for corruption is not a comforting prospect for the average Indian citizen. We are however reassured by the track record of the ‘illustrious’ Pakistani military. Who have over the course of their history have ‘Never won a war; Never lost an election”

When it came to the point of the power project, I was surprised to note how little was explored regarding the southern tip of the subcontinent. With the strait of malacca to the east, and the suez canal to the west, the Indian navy has near free reign in what is essentially its backyard. Even with 2 Aircraft carriers to china’s three, these are more than enough to patrol the waters, one each for the Arabian sea and the bay of bengal. A fact which has the ccp sweating bullets, with its constant hunger for fuel.

Which brings us to,

China

In all the chapters regarding the different geographical regions, one constant was the interference of china. Either in the form of direct border disputes, with India, Russia, Japan, and much of SouthEast Asia. Or their influence in terms of bribes, coercion and shady deals in the likes of Africa & Latin America; china is everyone, trying its best to puff up their chest and pretend to be the next USA.

But most of it just highlights a tough exterior, filled with a whole bunch of hot air and bravado; and fear, mostly fear. Ironically, there is a chinese proverb which communicates this exact state of being. It translates to “gold and jade on the outside, rot and decay on the inside.”

You see, much like India and most other colonized nations, china too suffered at the hands of their colonizers, the British and mostly, Imperial Japan. Seventy plus years after the end of those wars and Independence, it is generally agreed upon that India has managed to put the past aside and look forwards to the future.

But quite pitiably, much of its current international policies and actions are driven by what they call ‘The Century of Humiliation’; a period which saw the country go through several rounds of defeats and subjugation by stronger nations.

Unlike the USA, which the author describes as the prime real estate on earth when it comes to geographical advantages, or Russia which makes up for its weaknesses with energy and strategy, china is in an even disadvantageous position. Surrounded by what it perceives as enemies set out to kill it dead. Presumably.

This fear caused them to perform a whole lot of deplorable actions. Including but not limited to:

> Invade the peaceful Tibet and subjugate their entire culture.
> To claim almost the entirety of the SCS, using an absurd construct called the nine-dash line, pissing off all of its neighbors.
> Constantly threaten to invade, harass and bully the free nation of Taiwan, claiming it as their own.
> To oppress and torture their own people in the Xinjiang province on accusations of Terrorism and extremism. Then to turn around and quite hypocritically foster trade with actual terrorists and extremists in Pakistan and the Taliban.
> To invade and steal large swatches of land from India, and continue to claim the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, pissing all of the nation.
> To promote and profit from the golden triangle in Southeast Asia, notorious for drugs, extortion and human trafficking.
> Majorly, keeping their own citizens in a constant state of mass surveillance, censorship, rule of fear and lies.
> Blatant overreach ignoring international laws, operating illegal overseas police stations, and kidnapping fleeing refugees and whistleblowers.
> Helping the North Korean dictatorship capture and repatriate the unfortunate souls which manage to escape the borders.
> Still not telling the world the truth of how many of their people died to Covid. That’s a biggie.

Really, one could fill entire tomes with the disturbing things that the chinese regime is up to, in all corners of the world.

Sure, the US and the western world also have a habit of interference. But at least, they have a veneer of democracy and don’t keep entire populations oppressed. Somewhere you need to draw the line.

I mean, at this point, people would reach mars, and some chinese diplomat is going to ‘uncover’ some historical documents laying claim to that land, as prescribed by some non-existent th century chinese emperor. I wouldn’t be surprised. All because they’re scared. Scared of their geography. Scared of their neighbors. Scared of their own people. Quite pitiful indeed.

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Ok, I’m Done. Rant End. Perhaps because that rant took out most of my energy, I’ll try and end the rest of it without much dragging.

Other than the above, the rest of the chapters deal with the all too familiar global geopolitical conflicts. Be it south-north Korea or Israel and the Middle east. Really, other than the fact that it’s a den of crime and drug cartels, and is struggling financially, Latin America might have the least convoluted history, at least in terms of geography.

Although I was slightly miffed, the author didn’t mention just how long the coastline of Chile is. I mean it’s Looooong. Despite being narrow, and not supporting as many people, it’s 1000kms longer than India from North to South. That’s Long!

As mentioned in the beginning, the chapter focused on the Arctic, is the one which I found to be most enlightening. Mostly because, prior to reading, I was someone who could barely tell the difference between the arctic and the antarctic.

Now, much like that scene from the west wing, the quick but detailed explanation of its geography and geopolitics, has left me that much more knowledgeable and engaged in the affairs at the top (or bottom based on your perspective), or the globe. As well as planted the seeds of a story, set in the dark, cold, desolation that is the Arctic; filled with imaginary pirates, monsters, and terrors which lurk in the abyss. Imagine that one scene of the deep, from the first Aquaman movie.

For anyone planning to get started with the book, my recommendation, take plenty of hydration breaks, and if you’re not savvy on your cursory geography and politics, have the map and Wikipedia handy.

But otherwise, I’d say this is arguably the best book, category non-fiction/ history/ geography, I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. Happy reading.

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