What do you think?
Rate this book
Very Short Introductions #171
Il primo libro di geopolitica
Geopolitica è un termine complesso. Si riferisce alla politica delle grandi potenze e alle strategie che gli stati adottano nella corsa alle risorse, ma anche agli incontri quotidiani o a semplici oggetti come bandiere e mappe, e interessa cittadini, aziende, organismi internazionali, movimenti politici e governi. La geopolitica è molto più del mero impatto che le caratteristiche geografiche di fiumi e montagne o il clima producono sugli sviluppi politici. La geografia giocherà certo un ruolo importante, ma non necessariamente nel modo in cui presumono opinionisti e governanti. In questa esemplare introduzione, Klaus Dodds descrive la geopolitica tenendone presenti sia le sue origini storico-culturali sia gli attuali interessi in gioco. La lotta delle persone per attraversare i confini – quando spostarsi anche solo di pochi metri al di là di un confine territoriale può essere una questione di vita o di morte – evidenzia drammaticamente le connessioni tra luogo e politica. Anche lontano dalle frontiere, la geopolitica incide sulla vita quotidiana. I collegamenti, l’ubicazione, le dimensioni e le risorse di un paese influiscono sul modo in cui i suoi abitanti interagiscono con il resto del mondo. Dodds non tralascia di occuparsi dell’ascesa del populismo e del nazionalismo economico, considerandoli esempi di come stati, aziende e persone gestiscano i territori per alimentare progetti politici (dalla Brexit al celebre mantra di Trump “Make America Great Again”).
206 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2007
139 people are currently reading
1347 people want to read
About the author
Klaus Dodds
34 books40 followersKlaus Dodds is Professor of Geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London. He was educated at Wellington College and the University of Bristol where he completed degrees in geography and political science. After taking up a position at the University of Edinburgh, he was appointed to a lectureship at Royal Holloway in 1994.
In 2005 Klaus Doods was awarded the annual Philip Leverhulme Prize by the Leverhulme Trust for "an outstanding contribution to political geography and ‘critical geopolitics'"
In 2005 Klaus Doods was awarded the annual Philip Leverhulme Prize by the Leverhulme Trust for "an outstanding contribution to political geography and ‘critical geopolitics'"
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
November 27, 2011
International Relations is one of the topics that I am particularly interested in. So far I have been a citizen of two different countries and a resident of three, and have been directly affected by some of the late twentieth century international crises. I regularly go through the international section of any newspaper or a magazine that I read, and am subscribed to the “Foreign Affairs” which I read cover to cover. (My Amazon review of the Kindle edition of that journal is currently the highest rated review.) When it comes to international relations I consider myself to be very well informed and non-ideological in my views. I read foreign policy articles from people from all sides of the political spectrum, and have over the years supported policies from very heterogeneous assortment of politicians, statesmen and diplomats. This is why I am extremely disappointed with the blatant and oftentimes shrill one-sidedness of “Geopolitics: A Very Short Introduction.”
Klaus Dodds quite obviously comes from the Noam Chomsky school of international relations. Chomsky is mentioned very early in the book, and the tone thus set is relentlessly pursued throughout the rest of the book. This is fine if you happen to be a far-left armchair political activist, but for the vast majority of the rest of us this short introduction leaves too much to be desired. It is quite simply the shallowest ideological propaganda, and has nothing to do with serious scholarly work on international relations and related topics. Dodds is oftentimes engaging in the most sophomoric polemics, painting those who support his worldview and policies as unquestioningly righteous, while those on the opposite side are either perfidious or deluded and brainwashed by the “media”. This is the kind of problematization of political topics that one would expect from a student newspaper, and not from a serious scholar. One of the main problems with pushing a particular set of issues in a book like this one is that it makes the book date very, very quickly. Even though this book was first published only four years ago, it already feels very quaint and passé. This is the problem when you write books with a very limited audience in mind, both in terms of ideological inclinations as well as in terms of the time period. Nothing ages faster than books that aim to be fresh and contemporary.
I have never read a purportedly scholarly book that was this froth with tendentiousness, misleading information, and downright bald-faced lies. It baffles the mind that the Oxford University Press, in this collection aimed at the general audience, would publish a book like this one. I would say that I am really surprised by this were it not for the fact that many of their books (especially the more recent ones) have also failed all standards of responsible academic integrity.
There are a few interesting tidbits of information early in the book. The development of the very term “Geopolitics” over the years, and its comings and goings into and out of fashion, are particularly fascinating. However, such worthy sections are not able to redeem this book as a whole. If you want to learn more about Geopolitics from an objective and unbiased perspective you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Klaus Dodds quite obviously comes from the Noam Chomsky school of international relations. Chomsky is mentioned very early in the book, and the tone thus set is relentlessly pursued throughout the rest of the book. This is fine if you happen to be a far-left armchair political activist, but for the vast majority of the rest of us this short introduction leaves too much to be desired. It is quite simply the shallowest ideological propaganda, and has nothing to do with serious scholarly work on international relations and related topics. Dodds is oftentimes engaging in the most sophomoric polemics, painting those who support his worldview and policies as unquestioningly righteous, while those on the opposite side are either perfidious or deluded and brainwashed by the “media”. This is the kind of problematization of political topics that one would expect from a student newspaper, and not from a serious scholar. One of the main problems with pushing a particular set of issues in a book like this one is that it makes the book date very, very quickly. Even though this book was first published only four years ago, it already feels very quaint and passé. This is the problem when you write books with a very limited audience in mind, both in terms of ideological inclinations as well as in terms of the time period. Nothing ages faster than books that aim to be fresh and contemporary.
I have never read a purportedly scholarly book that was this froth with tendentiousness, misleading information, and downright bald-faced lies. It baffles the mind that the Oxford University Press, in this collection aimed at the general audience, would publish a book like this one. I would say that I am really surprised by this were it not for the fact that many of their books (especially the more recent ones) have also failed all standards of responsible academic integrity.
There are a few interesting tidbits of information early in the book. The development of the very term “Geopolitics” over the years, and its comings and goings into and out of fashion, are particularly fascinating. However, such worthy sections are not able to redeem this book as a whole. If you want to learn more about Geopolitics from an objective and unbiased perspective you’ll have to look elsewhere.
July 2, 2021
I'm not sure this book does what it advertises to do -- introduce us to geopolitics.
Chapters 2 and 3 have solid materials that introduce the reader to mainstream geopolitics. However, the later chapters delve more into what I consider "Critical Geopolitics" and the "Violent Cartographies" literature. I think the distinction is important because these two subjects don't produce geopolitics, they take "geopolitics" as their subject of study. Perhaps they deserve their own volume!
For that reason, most readers of this book will leave with a skeptical view of "geopolitics." Is that a good thing? Possibly, possibly not. I'd have to read another introductory to geopolitics to have a less biased opinion.
Another weak point of this book is just how much of it is rooted in the anxieties of the early to mid-2000s. The book has many references to the Iraq War, the Global War on Terror, Hugo Chavez, and other events that seemed very important at the time, but that now seem to languish in the shadow of more recent controversies such as global populism, Black Lives Matter, the Corona Virus, and the explosion of global debt (to say nothing of the 2008 financial crisis).
I think it's important to write introductions to subject with as little recency bias as possible to prevent a book from spoiling or having to be constantly updated. I would love to read a book about geopolitics that takes us from the early 2000s to the present day. But that book shouldn't be an introduction to the larger subject of Geopolitics.
For this reason, Chapter 2 (and perhaps 3) are the best chapters of the book as they take the long view of Geopolitics and offer the best basic information about the subject matter. The book is certainly worth reading, but one should be warned that has become a bit dated and might not be as comprehensive as one would hope.
Chapters 2 and 3 have solid materials that introduce the reader to mainstream geopolitics. However, the later chapters delve more into what I consider "Critical Geopolitics" and the "Violent Cartographies" literature. I think the distinction is important because these two subjects don't produce geopolitics, they take "geopolitics" as their subject of study. Perhaps they deserve their own volume!
For that reason, most readers of this book will leave with a skeptical view of "geopolitics." Is that a good thing? Possibly, possibly not. I'd have to read another introductory to geopolitics to have a less biased opinion.
Another weak point of this book is just how much of it is rooted in the anxieties of the early to mid-2000s. The book has many references to the Iraq War, the Global War on Terror, Hugo Chavez, and other events that seemed very important at the time, but that now seem to languish in the shadow of more recent controversies such as global populism, Black Lives Matter, the Corona Virus, and the explosion of global debt (to say nothing of the 2008 financial crisis).
I think it's important to write introductions to subject with as little recency bias as possible to prevent a book from spoiling or having to be constantly updated. I would love to read a book about geopolitics that takes us from the early 2000s to the present day. But that book shouldn't be an introduction to the larger subject of Geopolitics.
For this reason, Chapter 2 (and perhaps 3) are the best chapters of the book as they take the long view of Geopolitics and offer the best basic information about the subject matter. The book is certainly worth reading, but one should be warned that has become a bit dated and might not be as comprehensive as one would hope.
July 26, 2024
This is a good book to read if one wants to get a brief idea of why geopolitical reality is the way it is during our current time. Geopolitics has an impact on everyone currently living on this earth, as it paints our perception of our own identity, as well as how we perceive others. The clear divide present today between the Western and Eastern world is explored in depth during this book, going back to the early 1900s and the impacts of the two World Wars as well as the Cold Wars on geopolitical dynamics. The role of media is also discussed, and examples are given on how Hollywood made use of certain movie tropes to warm the public's opinions on controversial political decisions such as the Iraq war.
I recommend this book as a light dip into the world of geopolitics, and it is a good way to get a taste of its many different aspects to help decide on future more in-depth readings in regard to certain topics.
I recommend this book as a light dip into the world of geopolitics, and it is a good way to get a taste of its many different aspects to help decide on future more in-depth readings in regard to certain topics.
July 6, 2020
ช่วงนี้ตั้งเป้าหมายอ่านหนังสือนอกเวลาให้ได้วันละเล่ม คืนนี้เลยเลือกเล่มนี้ของ อ. Klauss Dodds อ่านเพลินมาก ผู้เขียนใช้แนวทางภูมิรัฐศาสตร์เชิงวิพากษ์ (critical geopolitics) ศึกษาประเด็นทางภูมิศาสตร์ผ่านทฤษฎีวิพากษ์ ตั้งแต่ทฤษฎีภาพแทน ไปจนถึงการศึกษาวัตถุสภาพของข้าวของทางภูมิศาสตร์ เช่น แผนที่ ธง ท่อก๊าซ และให้ความสำคัญกับตัวแสดงที่ไม่ใช่รัฐ คือ สื่อสารมวลชนและคนชายขอบ ซึ่งมีส่วนสำคัญเช่นกันในการสร้างจินตนาการทางภูมิศาสตร์ แตกต่างจาก geopolitics แบบดั้งเดิมดังเช่นที่ถูกใช้โดยลัทธินาซีซึ่งเน้นปัจจัยทางกายภาพบนฐานคิดแบบ environmental determinism และ realism ทั้งยังให้ความสำคัญกับตัวแสดงที่เป็นรัฐมากกว่าตัวแสดงอื่น ๆ
October 30, 2020
Un buen libro para los que nos gusta la política internacional y no tenemos con apenas nadie con la que hablar sobre ella. Aunque realmente no cuenta nada que una persona un poco informada en el asunto no pueda saber.
Sin embargo, si queréis tener un pequeño acercamiento a la materia, este ensayo podría ser una buena entrada.
Sin embargo, si queréis tener un pequeño acercamiento a la materia, este ensayo podría ser una buena entrada.
April 23, 2011
"Geopolitics: A very short Introduction", gives you some interesting details about geopolitical issues. However it rather states the obvious changes which geopolitcs has undergone during the last century.
Klaus Dodds starts of with a short history of geopolitcs. He depicts how the Nazis used the science to evaluate their ideas of a state as an organism and social Darwinism. In addition to that Dodds describes how important the national identity is in connection to geopolitics. This is perhaps the most important information Dodds delivers. In cases like Falkland islands or Palestine we see how important a geographic identity can be and how little politics can change this.
The next big aspect of the book deals with maps and their role for geopolitics. Unfortunately Dodds merely states some general ideas.
The same goes for the internet part of the book. Here we are provided with ideas like: blogging makes international protest easier.
As this giving a general idea about something is obviously the nature of very short introductions it might not cause irritation. Yet this is also why I must say that this one is not necessarily useful. From geography courses in school and a general idea about the history of last century one already has many of the important facts which this book tackles.
Klaus Dodds starts of with a short history of geopolitcs. He depicts how the Nazis used the science to evaluate their ideas of a state as an organism and social Darwinism. In addition to that Dodds describes how important the national identity is in connection to geopolitics. This is perhaps the most important information Dodds delivers. In cases like Falkland islands or Palestine we see how important a geographic identity can be and how little politics can change this.
The next big aspect of the book deals with maps and their role for geopolitics. Unfortunately Dodds merely states some general ideas.
The same goes for the internet part of the book. Here we are provided with ideas like: blogging makes international protest easier.
As this giving a general idea about something is obviously the nature of very short introductions it might not cause irritation. Yet this is also why I must say that this one is not necessarily useful. From geography courses in school and a general idea about the history of last century one already has many of the important facts which this book tackles.
June 30, 2013
A less than stellar introduction to a topic I was very curious about. This book definitely could have been better.
May 10, 2022
empieza bien despues desvaria un poco a mi gusto y a veces usa terminologia q huele un poco ñe
May 27, 2021
News around us nowadays is replete with the word "geopolitics" which to me sounded like the simple enough amalgamation of two fields of study: geography and politics, that is: politics shaped by the geography of the land (and sea). Unsurprisingly, it is much more layered and much more fascinating than that, although that is also because politics and geography are multilayered themselves.
I really liked this book. Definitely floundered in the beginning, but that was expected. Also did not expect to have workable knowledge of this word by reading a mere 150 pages+. What I think this book does wonderfully is act like a good springboard for people interested in geopolitics in all its shapes and forms. What is more: I was able to connect quite of bit of what I was reading here with what I see in the news. Case in point being disputes over maps.
The last chapter on geopolitics and movies is very interesting, and something I'd never particularly paid any attention to. For example, recently I came across a Chinese drama where a character makes a reference to the Belt and Road Initiative, while talking about her fashion design project that incorporates traditional Chinese elements. Her design concept being "silk road of the sea" is her part as a proud citizen in joining the govt's efforts in promoting the BRI. I was more interested in this aspect of the drama than anything else, especially because of they also showcased traditional chinese handicrafts, like the Batik.
This could be relevant as popular drama, like popular music, is an extension of soft power diplomacy for any country. Probably also why all these dramas come with english subtitles, because they know they cater to a wider, global audience.
Reading the book thus came with an appreciation for these details that I would maybe miss otherwise.
On another note,
- I joined an IR memes group in Facebook. Dodds mentions how Jon Stewart's The Daily Show is the most important source of news for young Americans, and to that I say: yes. And also memes.
- I watched a couple of James Bonds movies - even the crap ones - while reading this book, and I definitely liked them more because I knew what to look for. Dodds has an actual book on Geopolitics in James Bonds, which I intend to read soon.
I really liked this book. Definitely floundered in the beginning, but that was expected. Also did not expect to have workable knowledge of this word by reading a mere 150 pages+. What I think this book does wonderfully is act like a good springboard for people interested in geopolitics in all its shapes and forms. What is more: I was able to connect quite of bit of what I was reading here with what I see in the news. Case in point being disputes over maps.
The last chapter on geopolitics and movies is very interesting, and something I'd never particularly paid any attention to. For example, recently I came across a Chinese drama where a character makes a reference to the Belt and Road Initiative, while talking about her fashion design project that incorporates traditional Chinese elements. Her design concept being "silk road of the sea" is her part as a proud citizen in joining the govt's efforts in promoting the BRI. I was more interested in this aspect of the drama than anything else, especially because of they also showcased traditional chinese handicrafts, like the Batik.
This could be relevant as popular drama, like popular music, is an extension of soft power diplomacy for any country. Probably also why all these dramas come with english subtitles, because they know they cater to a wider, global audience.
Reading the book thus came with an appreciation for these details that I would maybe miss otherwise.
On another note,
- I joined an IR memes group in Facebook. Dodds mentions how Jon Stewart's The Daily Show is the most important source of news for young Americans, and to that I say: yes. And also memes.
- I watched a couple of James Bonds movies - even the crap ones - while reading this book, and I definitely liked them more because I knew what to look for. Dodds has an actual book on Geopolitics in James Bonds, which I intend to read soon.
February 17, 2023
If you want an introduction into geopolitics, this book is not for you. Still, the book covers a lot of subjects that have to do with geopolitics, especially modern theories of critical geopolitics. However, i feel like this book made me know less about the meaning of "geopolitics" compared to what i knew about the subject before.. not your typical VSI! Still a nice read.
December 15, 2022
Product of its time
February 14, 2018
Es un libro muy entretenido e instructivo, de forma cómoda establece como su título lo indica un primer acercamiento al área de estudio de la Geopolítica.
Mis capítulos favoritos son los referentes a la Geopolítica y los objetos que hablan de y para el individuo entre las fronteras y los flujos de ideas, como pueden ser los mapas, los oleoductos, las banderas y más interesante aún la basura y los juguetes de acción.
La Geopolítica popular, está inmersa en mi vida, desde que tengo uso de razón, pedí alguna vez que mi papá me comprar un G.I.Joe, sin saber hoy que hubiese sido más digno que no me lo comprara. Películas como Top Gun, que hablan de una ideología de la era de Reagan, conflictos Pos-Guerra Fría y eventos Pre-11 de Septiembre. Y tantas cosas más que me ha tocado presenciar, aún recuerdo comprar un mapa con la URSS en la papelería de la esquina y mi libro de Historia Universal, que tenía en la portada una foto de unos berlineses rompiendo el muro, entre un ducto de agua que les mojaba una cara llena de júbilo. En mi juguetero tenía un portaaviones y una réplica del APOLO 11 que yo mismo armé y pinté. Es decir, el libro te dice sigilosamente, todo lo que ha sido Geopolítica en tu vida y no sabías que lo era.
¡Una joya!
Mis capítulos favoritos son los referentes a la Geopolítica y los objetos que hablan de y para el individuo entre las fronteras y los flujos de ideas, como pueden ser los mapas, los oleoductos, las banderas y más interesante aún la basura y los juguetes de acción.
La Geopolítica popular, está inmersa en mi vida, desde que tengo uso de razón, pedí alguna vez que mi papá me comprar un G.I.Joe, sin saber hoy que hubiese sido más digno que no me lo comprara. Películas como Top Gun, que hablan de una ideología de la era de Reagan, conflictos Pos-Guerra Fría y eventos Pre-11 de Septiembre. Y tantas cosas más que me ha tocado presenciar, aún recuerdo comprar un mapa con la URSS en la papelería de la esquina y mi libro de Historia Universal, que tenía en la portada una foto de unos berlineses rompiendo el muro, entre un ducto de agua que les mojaba una cara llena de júbilo. En mi juguetero tenía un portaaviones y una réplica del APOLO 11 que yo mismo armé y pinté. Es decir, el libro te dice sigilosamente, todo lo que ha sido Geopolítica en tu vida y no sabías que lo era.
¡Una joya!
January 12, 2024
I must admit that I expected more from this relatively short book: Geopolitics - a brief introduction. I think one reviewer correctly wrote that he is not sure if the book does what it advertises to do- "introduce us to geopolitics."
I got the impression that the author has too soft an attitude towards terrorists, justifying, almost always, their actions with Western imperialism. For example, he states that "one of the plane hijackers on September 11, while studying in Hamburg, became deeply disillusioned with German society. Furthermore, in France, the causes of the riot in the suburbs of Paris were identified as discrimination and racism to which young Muslims are exposed."
In the context of the global events that have taken place in the last few years (global migration, coronavirus, Russia - Ukraine), it is clear that the book is outdated (2009 edition). However, I would be interested in the current author's point of view regarding the new events. Aside from the fact that, for example, Sweden is fifth in the world according to the Highest Human Freedom Index, it is experiencing more significant social unrest today by the same group of people that Dodds mentions for France. Thus, the author excessively relativizes certain factors that led to this, emphasizes the geopolitical situation of the early 2000s (USA - Islamic world), and almost completely ignores the nature of religious factors.
I got the impression that the author has too soft an attitude towards terrorists, justifying, almost always, their actions with Western imperialism. For example, he states that "one of the plane hijackers on September 11, while studying in Hamburg, became deeply disillusioned with German society. Furthermore, in France, the causes of the riot in the suburbs of Paris were identified as discrimination and racism to which young Muslims are exposed."
In the context of the global events that have taken place in the last few years (global migration, coronavirus, Russia - Ukraine), it is clear that the book is outdated (2009 edition). However, I would be interested in the current author's point of view regarding the new events. Aside from the fact that, for example, Sweden is fifth in the world according to the Highest Human Freedom Index, it is experiencing more significant social unrest today by the same group of people that Dodds mentions for France. Thus, the author excessively relativizes certain factors that led to this, emphasizes the geopolitical situation of the early 2000s (USA - Islamic world), and almost completely ignores the nature of religious factors.
June 30, 2022
This book lacks substance. It labels a bewildering mélange of ideas as critical geopolitics. It is true that classical geopolitical fantasies, namely treating nations as super-organisms and history as a never ending series of contests amongst powerful states for space and resources, need to be challenged. It is also true that disparate areas such as media studies, subaltern discourses, and social psychology are relevant to geopolitics and worth examining. However, reading sinister intents (e.g. militarism, exploitation) into everything including films and toys - which is what I feel this book does - borders on paranoia. Globalisation and climate changes are touched on, but like other topics in the book, they are not discussed in any meaningful depth. The book at times feels like one of those incoherent documentaries by Adam Curtis. You do learn some fun facts about societies and international relations - but that’s about it. Two stars.
July 24, 2011
This book was absolutely thrilling and may actually be what my next degree is in
February 10, 2018
Could’ve been a lot better.
June 30, 2018
Really not a good Very Short Introduction - Prisoners of Geography is much better, or Gun, Germs and Steel.
September 26, 2022
Interesting perspective I hadn't previously considered. His writing style is indirect and can be confusing at times- the concepts would have been easier to digest with direct verbiage and examples.
February 15, 2024
Dodds, Klaus, Geopolitics: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, third edition, 2019). “Geopolitics involves three qualities,” writes Dodd in his introduction to this short book. “First, it is concerned with questions of influence and power over space and territory. Second, it uses geographical frames to make sense of world affairs. Popular geographical templates include 'sphere of influence', 'bloc', 'backyard', 'neighbourhood', and 'near abroad. Third, geopolitics is future-orientated. It offers insights into the likely behaviour of states because their interests are fundamentally unchanging.” (3)
However, it would be a mistake to assume that Dodd takes a classical approach to his subject. On the contrary, his treatment of geopolitics is more of an intellectual and a cultural history than a discourse in international relations. Dodd, who places himself in the ‘critical’ rather than ‘classical’ school of thought about geopolitics, sees the geographical as “rather more fluid and subject to interpretation.” He takes issue with the view which conceptualizes “geography as deterministic” (something which Charles de Gaulle, for instance, was wont to do). He underscores the dynamic nature of the interrelationship between the human and the physical, and even of geography itself (as the small island nations in the Pacific, threatened by rising sea levels, know all too well). Geopolitics is far from set in stone. Dodd: “We are not imprisoned by geography.” (9)
Following this approach, Dodd discusses, in chapter 2, geopolitical thinking as ‘intellectual poison’, having been associated with colonialism in the 19th century and having provided “intellectual muscle to German statecraft involving invasion, expulsion, and mass murder” in the 1930s and 1940s. (17) “For one thing, the notion of the state as an organism encouraged a view of the world that focused on how to preserve national self-interest in an ultracompetitive environment comprising other rapacious states.” (23)
After World War II, geopolitics had therefore become “ideologically bankrupt and morally suspect.” (17) Yet it was never absent from strategic or popular thought, as it only got mixed up with the ideological strife between the Free West and Communist East. And the ‘return’ of geopolitical thinking over the past decade or so, is not only to be blamed on Russia, China and other states. Dodd: “We need to be clear on one thing: the very liberal order that some are worried about in terms of its future health is the same one that many feel has been protecting the interests and wishes of the richer and more privileged segments of humanity, often at the expense of other peoples, species, and environments.” (70)
In the remainder of his book, Dodd discusses the interplay — and in some cases: tension — between, on the one hand, geopolitical thinking and, on the other hand, the post-Cold War reality of globalization, the emergence and problems of the liberal international order, a variety of cultural expressions (e.g. in popular films), the formation of (national) identities and states, and Huntington’s influential thesis about a ‘clash of civilizations’. All this is certainly interesting and enriching. Yet, at the same time, I can’t help yearning for a slightly more ‘classical’ treatment of geopolitics. For instance, how should the geopolitical views of leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump and Angela Merkel be understood? And how have the geopolitical identities of countries like the US, the UK, Russia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Egypt, Argentina, and — why not? — the Netherlands developed over time? Dodd is right in stating that “we are not imprisoned by geography.” Yet, as Charles de Gaulle remarked in his War Memoirs, “after all is said and done, Great Britain is an island; France the cape of a continent; the United States another world.”
However, it would be a mistake to assume that Dodd takes a classical approach to his subject. On the contrary, his treatment of geopolitics is more of an intellectual and a cultural history than a discourse in international relations. Dodd, who places himself in the ‘critical’ rather than ‘classical’ school of thought about geopolitics, sees the geographical as “rather more fluid and subject to interpretation.” He takes issue with the view which conceptualizes “geography as deterministic” (something which Charles de Gaulle, for instance, was wont to do). He underscores the dynamic nature of the interrelationship between the human and the physical, and even of geography itself (as the small island nations in the Pacific, threatened by rising sea levels, know all too well). Geopolitics is far from set in stone. Dodd: “We are not imprisoned by geography.” (9)
Following this approach, Dodd discusses, in chapter 2, geopolitical thinking as ‘intellectual poison’, having been associated with colonialism in the 19th century and having provided “intellectual muscle to German statecraft involving invasion, expulsion, and mass murder” in the 1930s and 1940s. (17) “For one thing, the notion of the state as an organism encouraged a view of the world that focused on how to preserve national self-interest in an ultracompetitive environment comprising other rapacious states.” (23)
After World War II, geopolitics had therefore become “ideologically bankrupt and morally suspect.” (17) Yet it was never absent from strategic or popular thought, as it only got mixed up with the ideological strife between the Free West and Communist East. And the ‘return’ of geopolitical thinking over the past decade or so, is not only to be blamed on Russia, China and other states. Dodd: “We need to be clear on one thing: the very liberal order that some are worried about in terms of its future health is the same one that many feel has been protecting the interests and wishes of the richer and more privileged segments of humanity, often at the expense of other peoples, species, and environments.” (70)
In the remainder of his book, Dodd discusses the interplay — and in some cases: tension — between, on the one hand, geopolitical thinking and, on the other hand, the post-Cold War reality of globalization, the emergence and problems of the liberal international order, a variety of cultural expressions (e.g. in popular films), the formation of (national) identities and states, and Huntington’s influential thesis about a ‘clash of civilizations’. All this is certainly interesting and enriching. Yet, at the same time, I can’t help yearning for a slightly more ‘classical’ treatment of geopolitics. For instance, how should the geopolitical views of leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump and Angela Merkel be understood? And how have the geopolitical identities of countries like the US, the UK, Russia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Egypt, Argentina, and — why not? — the Netherlands developed over time? Dodd is right in stating that “we are not imprisoned by geography.” Yet, as Charles de Gaulle remarked in his War Memoirs, “after all is said and done, Great Britain is an island; France the cape of a continent; the United States another world.”
February 27, 2022
The author of this introduction to geopolitics certainly brings with him some biases (I tend to agree with). He nonetheless manages to deliver a decent introduction into a subject that has a reputation for being inaccessible, mundane and dry. Already being acquainted with some key concepts like MacKinder's Heartland Theory I thought this relatively short book would have nothing new to offer.
The first chapter proved me wrong. It delved into the history of the discipline and it's controversial association with Nazism's expansive foreign policy. Both sides of the Cold War subsequently discredited geopolitics as a discipline. Renewed interest came once Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzeziński started using it as a lens through which to view and enact foreign policy. Today it is treated not just as a serious discipline, but as an absolute necessity in foreign policy decision making.
I was already somewhat aware how geopolitics can mold national identities. The chapter's two major examples, Argentina with its Falkland Islands territory held by the British and China with its US-backed Taiwan, help the reader visualise the connection.
What stops the book from getting dry is the author's emphasis in a later chapter on the connection between popular culture and geopolitics. Depending on the time and place average moviegoers are exposed to different mediums of entertainment and communication that reflect geopolitical realities (and propaganda). While this section might be better suited as a book of its own, it clearly demonstrates that geopolitics can successfully be implemented in a variety of different subjects.
This book was published in 2007 and is partially a time capsule of the Bush Years and the effects of its so-called War on Terror unleashed on the world. I completely understand the reader wanting insight into more current developments. For those I might have a suggestion. View this book as a toolbox. Concepts like the Heartland Theory, how policy making is in part formed by geography or the geopolitical implications of popular culture still apply today. It obviously cannot explain everything, but definitely makes politics national or international clearer in an ever more complex world.
If you consider yourself politically literate (or aim to be) then definitely check out Klaus Kodds's accessable introduction to the field of Geopolitics.
The first chapter proved me wrong. It delved into the history of the discipline and it's controversial association with Nazism's expansive foreign policy. Both sides of the Cold War subsequently discredited geopolitics as a discipline. Renewed interest came once Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzeziński started using it as a lens through which to view and enact foreign policy. Today it is treated not just as a serious discipline, but as an absolute necessity in foreign policy decision making.
I was already somewhat aware how geopolitics can mold national identities. The chapter's two major examples, Argentina with its Falkland Islands territory held by the British and China with its US-backed Taiwan, help the reader visualise the connection.
What stops the book from getting dry is the author's emphasis in a later chapter on the connection between popular culture and geopolitics. Depending on the time and place average moviegoers are exposed to different mediums of entertainment and communication that reflect geopolitical realities (and propaganda). While this section might be better suited as a book of its own, it clearly demonstrates that geopolitics can successfully be implemented in a variety of different subjects.
This book was published in 2007 and is partially a time capsule of the Bush Years and the effects of its so-called War on Terror unleashed on the world. I completely understand the reader wanting insight into more current developments. For those I might have a suggestion. View this book as a toolbox. Concepts like the Heartland Theory, how policy making is in part formed by geography or the geopolitical implications of popular culture still apply today. It obviously cannot explain everything, but definitely makes politics national or international clearer in an ever more complex world.
If you consider yourself politically literate (or aim to be) then definitely check out Klaus Kodds's accessable introduction to the field of Geopolitics.
February 10, 2025
Ova knjižica pretenduje da nam ukratko objasni šta je geopolitika i koji je njen značaj u savremenom svetu. Nažalost čini nam se da autor ne uspeva u ovom cilju i da u većem delu knjige gubi iz vida svoju prvobitnu nameru. Tako da se dobija utisak da je Dods dosta traljavo pristupio temi i da je u nedostatku dobre strukture počeo da se bavi filmovima i određenim medijskim kućama i njihovim uticajem na kreiranje raznih ,,geopolitičkih stereotipa". Međutim, problem je što ni tu nije dosledan, tako da ni ovi fenomeni nisu relevantno obrađeni.
Ono što upada u oči i predstavlja još jednu manjkavost ovog ,,uvodnika" jeste autorovo konstano referisanje na teroristički napad na Kule bliznakinje 11. septembra 2001. godine. Ovo je posledica što je knjiga pisana neposredno nakon napada. Zato se Dods konstano vraća na taj događaj iako on nije toliko relevantan u odnosu na samu temu. Cilj je bio da se takvim pristupom popularizuje knjiga, što je u velikoj meri uspelo. Međutim, kada se knjiga čita nakon više od 20 godina nakon tog događaja, pokazuje se sva nepovezanost tog napada sa opštom temom ,,šta je geopolitika".
Za čitaoce iz Srbije biće interesatno nekoliko mesta gde Dods spominje ratove i događaje vezane za sukobe devedesetih godina na jugoslovenskom prostoru. U tom kontekstu, autor tumači rat u Bosni i Hercegovini kao ,,srpsku agresiju". Značajno je spomenuti i da ratni zločin u Srebrenici označava kao ,,pokolj", a ne kao genocid.
Autor sažeto i pristupačno prikazuje istorijat geopolitičke misli i njeno formiranje kao zasebne discipline. Takođe, dobro prikazuje odnos geopolitike i nacističke politike, i posledice koje je ono imalo na razvoj geopolitike. Upravo ovi delovi su najbolji u ovoj knjižici.
Knjigu ne bih preporučio istinskim proučavaocima geopolitike. Može poslužiti čitaocima koji uopšte nisu upoznati sa ovom tematikom, ali i njima bih pre savetovao da pročitaju članke na Vikipediji nego ovo delo.
Ono što upada u oči i predstavlja još jednu manjkavost ovog ,,uvodnika" jeste autorovo konstano referisanje na teroristički napad na Kule bliznakinje 11. septembra 2001. godine. Ovo je posledica što je knjiga pisana neposredno nakon napada. Zato se Dods konstano vraća na taj događaj iako on nije toliko relevantan u odnosu na samu temu. Cilj je bio da se takvim pristupom popularizuje knjiga, što je u velikoj meri uspelo. Međutim, kada se knjiga čita nakon više od 20 godina nakon tog događaja, pokazuje se sva nepovezanost tog napada sa opštom temom ,,šta je geopolitika".
Za čitaoce iz Srbije biće interesatno nekoliko mesta gde Dods spominje ratove i događaje vezane za sukobe devedesetih godina na jugoslovenskom prostoru. U tom kontekstu, autor tumači rat u Bosni i Hercegovini kao ,,srpsku agresiju". Značajno je spomenuti i da ratni zločin u Srebrenici označava kao ,,pokolj", a ne kao genocid.
Autor sažeto i pristupačno prikazuje istorijat geopolitičke misli i njeno formiranje kao zasebne discipline. Takođe, dobro prikazuje odnos geopolitike i nacističke politike, i posledice koje je ono imalo na razvoj geopolitike. Upravo ovi delovi su najbolji u ovoj knjižici.
Knjigu ne bih preporučio istinskim proučavaocima geopolitike. Može poslužiti čitaocima koji uopšte nisu upoznati sa ovom tematikom, ali i njima bih pre savetovao da pročitaju članke na Vikipediji nego ovo delo.
July 22, 2024
What a strange little book. If you thought it's going to be difficult to base an introduction of Geopolitics on the author's love of movies, TV series, and the current must haves for any liberal writer - gender inequality, historical treatment of indigenous people and climate change, you'd be wrong. It starts OK, although it reads more like a rant of a lonely academic than a genuine introduction, it's light on sources and passes a lot of esoteric opinion as... insight on geopolitics, I guess? But it gets weirder fast, when the author tries to provide insight into modern Geopolitics by explaining an eclectic (Enemy of the State, really?) selection of movies and TV series. It all finishes with a chapter on "objects" - a flag, a pipeline, maps... it reads like psychoanalyst's notes of a political science student's dreams, not something the readers should've even been privy to. It would've passed for a series of weird, harmless blog posts on medium, but for some reason it was selected as an introduction to Geopolitics by none other than the Oxford University Press. The book actually mentions Dugin's Introduction to Geopolitics at some stage, and I have to say, Dugin's book is light years ahead as a useful introduction, even if it uses 70-year old sources and then quickly goes into a Russian orthodox imperial fantasy.
April 25, 2025
Here are the five main takeaways from Geopolitics: A Very Short Introduction by Klaus Dodds, based on its key themes and arguments:
1. Geopolitics is Dynamic and Contextual: Geopolitics is not just about maps or fixed power structures; it’s a dynamic field shaped by historical, cultural, and political contexts. Dodds emphasizes how geopolitical ideas evolve with global events, technology, and ideologies.
2. Power and Space are Central: Geopolitics revolves around the interplay of power and space. States, organizations, and individuals compete to control territory, resources, and influence, often using maps, narratives, and strategies to assert dominance.
3. Globalization Reshapes Geopolitics: The rise of globalization has transformed traditional geopolitical boundaries. Issues like climate change, migration, and digital networks transcend national borders, creating new challenges and power dynamics.
4. Geopolitical Narratives Shape Perceptions: Dodds highlights how geopolitical discourses—through media, education, and propaganda—shape public and political perceptions of "us" versus "them," influencing conflicts and alliances.
5. Everyday Geopolitics Matters: Geopolitics isn’t just about states or leaders; it affects everyday life. From passport controls to global trade, ordinary people experience and contribute to geopolitical processes.
These takeaways reflect Dodds’ approach to making geopolitics accessible while underscoring its complexity and relevance.
1. Geopolitics is Dynamic and Contextual: Geopolitics is not just about maps or fixed power structures; it’s a dynamic field shaped by historical, cultural, and political contexts. Dodds emphasizes how geopolitical ideas evolve with global events, technology, and ideologies.
2. Power and Space are Central: Geopolitics revolves around the interplay of power and space. States, organizations, and individuals compete to control territory, resources, and influence, often using maps, narratives, and strategies to assert dominance.
3. Globalization Reshapes Geopolitics: The rise of globalization has transformed traditional geopolitical boundaries. Issues like climate change, migration, and digital networks transcend national borders, creating new challenges and power dynamics.
4. Geopolitical Narratives Shape Perceptions: Dodds highlights how geopolitical discourses—through media, education, and propaganda—shape public and political perceptions of "us" versus "them," influencing conflicts and alliances.
5. Everyday Geopolitics Matters: Geopolitics isn’t just about states or leaders; it affects everyday life. From passport controls to global trade, ordinary people experience and contribute to geopolitical processes.
These takeaways reflect Dodds’ approach to making geopolitics accessible while underscoring its complexity and relevance.
December 26, 2024
The “Very Short Introduction” books are an interesting idea, for me I consider them a good read if I feel I have learned something new and significant about a topic I knew next to nothing about before.
I knew nothing about geopolitics before reading this book and while I certainly feel I learned new things, I’m not sure what I learned was significant. The book contains far too many geopolitical case studies and with only around 140 pages I do not feel enough attention was given to each individual example, for instance only 3 and a half pages were given to talking about the geopolitics of gas pipelines.
A significant length of the book went into the origins of the term “Geopolitics” and how it was avoided by some academic early on due to it having Nazi origins, this segment of the book while mildly interesting felt too long.
Its ok but the breadth of the topic is too much for a 140 page book.
I knew nothing about geopolitics before reading this book and while I certainly feel I learned new things, I’m not sure what I learned was significant. The book contains far too many geopolitical case studies and with only around 140 pages I do not feel enough attention was given to each individual example, for instance only 3 and a half pages were given to talking about the geopolitics of gas pipelines.
A significant length of the book went into the origins of the term “Geopolitics” and how it was avoided by some academic early on due to it having Nazi origins, this segment of the book while mildly interesting felt too long.
Its ok but the breadth of the topic is too much for a 140 page book.
September 6, 2022
Trước khi bắt đầu đọc cuốn này, người đọc cần nắm trước cách tiếp cận đa chiều ngành quan hệ quốc tế. Sau đấy, thì nên biết một chút các trường phái liên quan đến khái niệm của Quốc gia - dân tộc (Nation-State) thì sẽ thấy cuốn này dễ đọc hơn rất nhiều. Về cơ bản, địa chính trị mà KD nêu lên là nguyên mẫu của nghiên cứu khu vực học hiện nay, phóng chiếu yếu tố địa lý lên các góc nhìn liên quan đến việc mỗi quốc gi định nghĩ “vị trí địa lý” của các quốc gia khác bằng cách nào, thông qua yếu tố nào. Chương cuối viết về truyền thông trong địa chính trị có hơi lộn xộn, bản đồ có hơi sai còn lại mọi thứ rất cơ bản để có thể hiểu được địa chính trị là gì.
Sách kiểu cơ bản, không quá chuyên sâu.
Sách kiểu cơ bản, không quá chuyên sâu.
February 24, 2023
While the first 3 chapters provide a goodish introduction to geopolitics (mainly the historical origin of the term) the book then evolves to, in my opinion, focus way too much on the Irak war of terror after 9/11 (with an opinionated left POV). An introductory book should offer an unbiased perspective as much as possible. While it was a very important event at the moment, the book has hence gone pretty obsolete by now.
I'd give it 2 or 3 stars only based on the first 3 chapters, but can't do it to a book that talks so many times about neo-liberalism, a term completely empty of meaning with clear political implications.
I'd give it 2 or 3 stars only based on the first 3 chapters, but can't do it to a book that talks so many times about neo-liberalism, a term completely empty of meaning with clear political implications.
June 12, 2022
Very good overview, of a vast & difficult subject
The author gives a concise and neutral commentary on the topic that is the essence of international relations. This is a weighty, hard to summarize, topic which has benefited from the use of short chapters and sub-sections. The topic will always be changing and forever controversial to those of fixed opinions, but I cannot see how it could be significantly improved.
The author gives a concise and neutral commentary on the topic that is the essence of international relations. This is a weighty, hard to summarize, topic which has benefited from the use of short chapters and sub-sections. The topic will always be changing and forever controversial to those of fixed opinions, but I cannot see how it could be significantly improved.
July 6, 2022
Lo único acertado del título es que es breve. El autor no sigue un orden claro, el libro no está bien estructurado y de hecho creo que la selección de temas es bastante aleatoria, sin profundizar en lo que realmente sería de interés para un lector novato en el tema. Por momentos resulta interesante pero la sensación global es de "hueso" y no precisamente por la cantidad de información que incluye... Decepcionante :(
January 2, 2024
Si un manual de geopolítica tiene perlas como que Franco era el "líder" de España (y no dictador)... malo.
Libro con una buena introducción sobre el concepto a tratar, y su desenvolvimiento académico. Por lo demás, se pierde en ejemplos a veces caóticos y redundantes. Abusa de algunas inexactitudes hirientes desde lo historiográfico.
Libro con una buena introducción sobre el concepto a tratar, y su desenvolvimiento académico. Por lo demás, se pierde en ejemplos a veces caóticos y redundantes. Abusa de algunas inexactitudes hirientes desde lo historiográfico.
December 21, 2025
Less geopolitics than general sociology
If you want to understand Geopolitics, don't waste time reading this book. Invest some money and time and read the classics - Sir Halford Mackinder, Karl Haushofer and to grasp the Russia's idea of it - Alexander Dugin. To see how it can be applied in a state's politics, read Ahmed Davutoglu. There are no shortcuts....
If you want to understand Geopolitics, don't waste time reading this book. Invest some money and time and read the classics - Sir Halford Mackinder, Karl Haushofer and to grasp the Russia's idea of it - Alexander Dugin. To see how it can be applied in a state's politics, read Ahmed Davutoglu. There are no shortcuts....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews