Our future in their hands

The Power Of Geography Tim Marshall Elliott & Thompson, £16.99

The world is undergoing rapid change as we enter a new era of complex power rivalry. And, in The Power Of Geography, a sequel to the word-of-mouth bestseller Prisoners Of Geography, Tim Marshall looks at 10 key world regions and considers how they are likely to shape our futures. In his expert hands, it makes for fascinating reading.

The journey begins in Australia, increasingly taking centre stage because it sits below the world’s most economically and militarily powerful dictatorship – China.

So Australia finds itself adjacent to the economic powerhouse of the 21st century and keen to play a bigger role on the global stage. The big question is who they will choose to play with.

The Australians also face the challenge of climate change and the risk of large-scale population shifts. Marshall explores the fascinating possibility of governments being forced to build new major cities on more hospitable territory.

He goes on to consider The Sahel, a region below the Sahara, which has seen an estimated

3.8 million people displaced in recent years, many seeking to reach Europe, and that number is only set to climb.

On to Ethiopia which, with 12 large lakes and nine major rivers, is empowered by water. Its neighbours are reliant on its supplies, creating a region where future ‘water wars’ are likely.

Then there is Saudi Arabia, where oil is running out, and post-Brexit United Kingdom, which remains a powerful and influential nation.

London is still a dominant global financial powerhouse and the UK also has an astonishing output of culture, both of which earn immense sums for UK plc. It is also seeking new alliances but fears the economic and military consequences of an independent Scotland.

As well as assessing other key battlegrounds in Greece, Turkey, Iran and Spain, perhaps the most intriguing chapter considers the possibilities beyond our world.

As the space race gathers pace, and great powers including the US, Russia and China integrate space warfare into their military budgets, it is increasingly likely to become another source of geopolitical tension.

And throughout this accomplished book, the reader is frequently reminded that a new empire is relentlessly extending its sinister reach – the superpower that is China, exploiting every opportunity to gain power and undermine its rival, the US.

This subplot underpins a wonderfully entertaining and lucid account, written with wit, pace and clarity.

I can’t imagine reading a better book this year.