The Return of Marco Polo's World: War, Strategy, and American Interests in the Twenty-First Century

Before drafting this review I took a look at what others had said, including the one-star reviews, which I found shocking. For example, many groused that this book was just a collection of magazine articles, as if that were not appropriate; others, that some of the articles were outdated. I prefer to think even the oldest pieces convey wisdom that is not limited to the period in which they were first published. I do think it is fair to say that either one appreciates Kaplan or one doesn't, and that those of us who lack his encyclopedic knowledge of security issues adjudge him - up or down - at our peril. My generation (baby boomers) have largely flunked the test of coldhearted objectivity, which leads too many of us to disdain or even fear realist pundits like Kaplan. But having spent decades immersing myself in his many fine books, and appreciating the fact he has occasionally been harsh on his own shortcomings, I can honestly say my life has been enriched by his writings. "Marco Polo" is no exception even though I too initially considered it dispensible - until I actually read it. There is not an essay among the lot that isn't provocative, even moving - and a bit unsettling. We do not live in comfortable times and Kaplan reminds us of that, and why, better than anyone else who comes to mind.

Curiosity – and a joyful quest for wonder. For wonder is not something that hangs low on branches for the feckless or lazy to grasp. Wonder is a reward for hard work, searching and understanding and discovery – a journey which begins with curiosity.Robert D. Kaplan has two main, overarching theses that come through in all of his books. The first is what he sometimes calls “the revenge of geography”. That place matters, the mountains and the dales and the passes – the seas and the straits and the special experiences in faith and freedom and empire and tyranny of those who traverse them.The other is the importance of realism and the danger of utopia. People are not the same, ideology is a simplistic utopian panacea by which we like to pretend others see the world as we do and wish it to be as we wish it. But they don’t; a lesson hard-learned by evangelical nations like the United States which wears her morality on her sleeve, and etches her values along the lines of her fingers, to be observed and understood in either a handshake or a fist as part of the promise or the punishment of our power.“The Return of Marco Polo’s World” is about this. Anchored by an essay written for CNAS, it is a collection of other essays and treatises written over a period of perhaps ten or fifteen years about different areas which have aroused Kaplan’s curiosity. China; the Baltics; the Balkans; Russia; Iran and Turkey.It is a book written for US policymakers but not about US policy, at least not mostly. It is about the way the world is and what is going on and how we should see things and understand them; it is an eloquent appeal to be humble in our dealings with other nations and not allow our actions to be driven by hubris or our great and overflowing impetus for freedom – however good the latter might be.I find Kaplan’s writing comforting – for it is both sweeping and epic but brimming with the minutiae and anecdotes which lend power and truth to his observations. Its no surprise that I am not particularly sanguine about the future of our world or our arriving ordeal – but its also important to remember that America’s time at the top is but twinkle of a moment in relation to the march of empires. They ebb and flow as people change and the world changes around them – and yet still the grand story of humanity powers forward; captured by so great of thinkers as Robert D. Kaplan.

Kaplan's books cover a wide range of topics of history, geography and political science, and he has also written for a variety of publications, most notably the Atlantic. This collection of articles covers the major aspects of today's geopolitical challenges and gives us insight into what we might be seeing in the near future. A must -read for anyone interested in International affairs ( and given the number of places that conflict is likely to erupt - this should be everyone)

I read the Revenge of Geography and that is why I bought this book.The work itself is worth reading and has some great chapters linked to its title.Nevertheless, the book deviates from its main thesis when it starts to resemble a collection of non related articles ranging from Kissinger to Trump.At the end, No central theme was distilled in this piece of work and "Marco Polo" was forgotten.Though, I have to admit that it still a good read.

Have bought from them before. Never had a problem.

The first chapter and last 1/2 of the book were great in that they clearly remind readers that other jparts of the world have different views and interests and that our shortsightedness can be harmful to ourselves and others.I wish Kaplan had written a new book rather than rely on his old articles, because he has clearly become wiser as time has gone on.

Basically I could simply have continued to read my subscription to Foreign Affairs magazine and gleaned a lot of the same stuff. I bought two books for the beach...this one and "Leonardo da Vinci" by Issacson. da Vinci by a long shot. This was just a compendium of previously written articles that seem to bend back to support the new observation that Marco Polo's previous worlds are coming back into vogue. The Return of Marco Polo's World is the upfront introduction to the book, then the balance of the articles are presented that help support the newer piece.If you are a subscriber to FA, as I am, some of the pieces get to be very long, and sometimes dry as toast. A few spots here can claim that title. It does have some redeeming qualities as it introduces some folks that I have not heard of before and have gone off to review some of their writings.

Once again Kaplan is well worth reading- He has great ability to see and clarify the relevant issues. The only problem with this book is that since it consists of some 16 essays -some are a little dated, but still worth reading. On the whole the book is outstanding in almost every aspect.

More aligned towards neo conservatism, sometime swithout reasoning being clear, but the conclusion being obvious, I got it to get a informative view but what I get was more pop culture like references. If you get this to inform yourself of the new world order coming into affect look elsewhere.

Fascinating, intriguing and thought provoking. A must read for anybody interested in geopolitics or indeed why things happen the way they do around the globe.

I bought this book for a course about the politics geography can create. Was very inciteful and well writtten

The standouts of this volume, and indeed, what are unique to this volume, are the titular Return of Marco Polo's World and Marco Polo Redux, the former in itself justifies the purchase of the book, even if one does not read the whole thing.As for the rest, should one persevere? Well yes and no. For this reader, yes as Kaplan's writing style is immensely readable and informative, however, the earlier chapter, War and Its Costs, becomes very familiar very fast, and at times seems like an extended book review.The section on Thinkers, detailing Henry Kissing, Samuel Huntington and John Mearsheimer is an excellent insight in itself, and is worth reading for any international relations enthusiast who desires a better understanding of the field's greatest modern scholars of the past half century.The latter section, Reflections and Marco Polo Redux are what take us back to the crux of the matter, the re-emergence of Eurasia.A key reason for concern highlighted by Kaplan is that the geographical center of the world is shifting from the US and Europe toward Russia and China, essentially Eurasia, and the various vassals within the periphery.Russia is unstable and has unsound underpinnings to its economy, China less so, though it is weaker than it actually appears. A cautionary insight one can gain from reading is that the replacement of a Putin or Xi could actually herald something much worse.Kaplan's work, like many others, are a well written cry for greater understanding. Kaplan does not miss the important matters at all, he is not distracted by the trivial and sensational. His is a mind worthy of emulation, and his writing is stimulating and thought provoking.Enjoy his writing, heed his warnings.

Throughout this collection of essays, the quality varies wildly. The opening five essays under the title "strategy" are-with the exception of the essay related to North Korea which is clearly rather old-very insightful and provides an interesting view of how many in the US view the rise of states like China and India. In particular, the opening essay for which the book is named and which is by itself a worthwhile and insightful read. while I disagree with aspects of this section I still find many parts of it worthwhile including the essay on Naval power (4).Sadly, the quality of the essays in the following two sections is much the reverse. In particular essays 9 and 10. essay 9 entitled "no greater honor" is mostly an ode so US soldiers with very little knowledge to be gained from reading and Certainly seems out of place but it was the 10th essay which I thought was immensely flawed. "The defense of Henry Kissinger" is a poor attempt to defend one of the most controversial figures in US politics. However, rather than address many criticisms of Kissinger's actions and the immense suffering caused by them, he proceeds to focus exclusively on Vietnam (ignoring his policy in countries such as Nicaragua and Honduras) and proceeds to decry the barbarity of the NVA and Vietcong with absolutely no sense of irony (one need only look at the civilian deaths caused by the US in Vietnam of torture operations carried out all over the world to discount this argument). He fails to envision the sort of Machiavellian world in which Kissinger's actions could be justified and instead, presents a lucid one-sided argument and-through ignorance of indifference-ignores the aspects of the war that do not fit his narrative.There are other essays in the book that I would praise (2,4,12,13) which offer interesting and new perspectives on issues. Along with some which I thought were downright negligent, revisionist and failed to present any sort of nuanced argument and instead promote old and long disproven myths(15, 16). Overall the book is a real mixed bag and unless one is an ardent Americophile, You will find yourself deeply frustrated by some of these essays.