The Geography of Power

Steppes and the Deep Roots of Autocracy

By: William R. Thompson, Leila Zakhirova

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Paperback | 3 September 2026

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Paperback
348 Pages

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22.8 x 15.2 x 1.8

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Why are most contemporary autocracies concentrated between Siberia and Central Africa, while other regions remain largely democratic? This book uncovers the deep historical forces behind that divide, tracing how geography â" particularly the vast steppe grasslands â" and politicalâ"economic conflicts between nomadic and sedentary societies shaped enduring patterns of power. These structured conflicts reinforced authoritarian persistence across half the globe, creating a binary world with starkly different opportunities and threats. The result is a long-standing geopolitical fault line that continues to shape global politics today, exemplified by the autocratic axis of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Combining insights from geography, history, and political economy, this book offers a compelling explanation of why authoritarianism thrives â" and why democracy prevails elsewhere.

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