Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall: book review

Prisoners of Geography (2015) is an interesting account of geo-politics and the key issues behind the division of land and countries.

The book covers ’10 maps that explain everything about the world’ and is divided into the following regions: Russia, China, United States, Western Europe, Africa, Middle East, India and Pakistan, Korea and Japan, Latin America, and the Arctic.

Marshall explains, in clearly understandable English, the political decisions made about land limited by physical geography – mountains, rivers, seas, deserts, and natural boundaries. He explains each country’s vulnerabilities and strengths – and why some countries are seemingly eternally in conflict over land issues.

There are countries and regions overlooked in this book, because it can’t cover everything. However, some omissions are quite noticeable and some regions are not mentioned at all. For example, the Middle East, in my opinion, is not comprehensively covered – nor is Africa.

Sudan, Darfur, and South Sudan (South Kordofan, Blue Nile, Abyei, Jodha, and Kafia Kingi) are not mentioned; Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland are not mentioned; Iraq is inadequately covered (Iraq, Kurdistan, Kirkuk, Ninevah, Salahaddin, Dyala, and three areas of Dohuk); and southeast Asia is not mentioned. Australia too is inadequately covered.

India and Pakistan is covered reasonably well except for the issue of Kashmir, which is not fully discussed, and neither is Nawalparasi (India-Nepal). However, I was interested in the Arctic and the Russian sections, which are particularly pertinent, and will be more prominent in terms of regional issues in the future.

Don’t get me wrong; this is a very interesting read, offering much food for thought. I enjoyed it very much, and it serves as a reference book. But, once started, the issues don’t go far enough. I want more, much more.

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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