Geopolitics and the Great Powers in the 21st Century

Introduction: New Powers and Old Politics Mackinder and the Cold War. The Death of the Columbian Epoch. The Post-Columbian Epoch. The Center of the Action. The Revolution in Strategic Perspective. The Argument Part 1: Geopolitics in an Uncertain World: The Case for Classical Geopolitics An Unearned Infamy: The Reputation of Classical Geopolitics. Geopolitics as Counsel. The Usefulness of Classical Geopolitics. The Enduring Relevance of Geography. A Twenty-First Century Geopolitics. The Post-Columbian Epoch. Conclusion: Capturing the New Epoch Part 2: The Geography of Universal Empire - The Geopolitics of the Columbian Epoch Seeing One World, Whole. Strategic Culture and Geography. Strategic Learning and the Post-Columbian Epoch. The Stakes: Why the Politics of Eastern Eurasia are of Global Importance. Conclusion Part 3: The Grand Casino Reopens: Multi-Polarity and International Politics The Short Half-Life of Unipolarity. The Character of Multipolarity. Beyond Bipolarity: The Balancing of China. The American Factor Nightmare: The Possibility of a Great Power Axis. Great and Small Power Interactions. Conclusion Part 4: Leviathan Slimming: Guarding American Interests in a Multipolar Environment The Second American RMA. The Danger of Resting on Laurels. Rogues and Suckers: The Challenges of Preeminence. Leaving the Beltway: Moving Beyond Multipolarity. Comparing Nineteenth-Century Britain and the Twenty-First Century United States. Conclusion Part 5: Strategizing Without a License: The Non-State Challenge to World Order The Islamist Threat in Context. Rise of the Lilliputians. The Great Powers and the Terrorists. Conclusion Part 6: Strategy 2.0: Great Power Competition in an Era of Technological Revolution Faster, Cheaper, Better: The Technological Explosion. The RSP and the Next Revolution in Military Affairs. A Thought Experiment: The Military Application of Artificial Intelligence to Airpower. The Case for Technological Exuberance. Conclusion. Geopolitics and the Revolution in Strategic Perspective