CSF 2014 | Robert Kaplan: The Geopolitics of the World

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Robert D. Kaplan, best-selling author and chief geopolitical analyst for Stratfor, discusses the geopolitics of the world at the 65th annual Current Strategy Forum at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, June 17, 2014.

*****
Disclaimer: The views expressed are the speaker's own and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Naval War College, the Department of the Navy, the Department of Defense, or any other branch or agency of the U.S. Government.

[tommyodonovan]

I think Robert Kaplan is the best Geopolitical Analyst/speaker/educators working today.

[lawoftheuniverse]

As Soren said below, We are watching this in 2021 and Robert just got it so right...I have been watching him for about one year now and am quite impressed with his Geo Political Astuteness...!!!

[donaldwhittaker]

More good stuff that belongs in the ideal middle school curriculum.

[parischarley]

Thank you its very interesting your speech.its too short . I think its important for comparative with other country in the world the geopolitics.
Votre geopolitique est interessante. Mais je pense qu il faudrait entendre les geopolitiques des autres pays du monde. De pouvoir comparer.👍👍🇫🇷🗼🇺🇸

[FOLIPE]

What I can't understand is how it be claimed that Iraq isn't a historical pocket of civilization (the Mesopotamia)? And what about the Mediterranean civilization - Rome, the Spanish and Portuguese empires, Italy - how is that area historically less developed than Germany?

[naweedsediq]

ethnic Hans now make up the majority in Inner Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang so those regions are not longer a threat. the Chines has a strict assimilation policy encouraging ethnic Hans to move to minority regions and creating jobs for ethnic minorities and moving them to big cities. he is a great speaker but he needs to update his research on minority issues in China

[kuryenlaindia]

that Arab guy at the end cracked me up LOL is there another movie from Sacha Baron Cohen incoming?

[karolmadrecki]

How it's possible to claim that syrians didn't erect any kind of nationality or country in ancient history. So who made Palmyra? And what was Herodot writing about in V cebtury b.c.?

[MadChad]

So africa, south asia, south america and australia are not on this planet

[hannibalbarca]

Bob needs to be talking to the folks in the executive branch. Not the archetypes who go into military intelligence. By the time they get this info anyway, its too late. What good will these over-funded squids cull from Kaplan's speech ?  Military brass still sends our ignorant 19 yr olds into destroyed cities to occupy and think they will be positive "good will ambassadors" Have you talked to a 20 year old soldier recently? Not the people you want representing you. Nor should that be expected of them. Its a f-ing blow-back machine, this Military industrial complex. Take a drive to the rustbelt, southern border and Appalachia. We have no place giving the Pakistanis ($16 billion since 2002) and Israel $4 million a day. I say enough Bob !!! You should say Enough

[shepherdsknoll]

I really prefer Zeihan’s view of geopolitics to this gentleman.

[dariknour]

with do respect, sir, Iraq, and Syria especially Iraq was the first known civilization of the human kind Mesopotamia; so putting it same category with Libya is well somewhat confusing.

[zoltan]

here i was not pressing for getting my social or some other needs met although i was in some direction so i dont realy know but others would say if they know myself i was not pressing others was also not but what if i receive hardware after only a forreign politics family members physicly injured my self (not realy local)

the view is shaken in prey so it is also shaken in peers for others, but now perhaps they was able to talk not so sure or if they was not then they are not able to talk and it makes no difference (its different outcomes people because they i dont know if but endanger others psychology, wich others initially dont seem to care or so so some times then not but they care for others as a fact, but i was saying to mind reading )

[AjarnMatt]

24:48 Explains why China isn't democratic.

[AdstarAPAD]

What an awkward moment when that guy started rambling on incoherently at 36:34
 

[jaysmith]

And now we have the United States and the Arab spring was a joke.

[dudeman]

He's wrong on China. China's geography makes the entire region very separated. Also note that the Yellow River is not navigable and the Yangtze is only navigable until you hit the Three Gorges Dam.

Foreign powers have always been strong in South China. Basically, any foreign power with a boat can come in and set the policy. The classic example would be Hong Kong, but there are other examples as well.

Kaplan also has a poor understanding of economics, but that's a different issue for a different day.

[ralphd]

What an awkward moment when that guy started rambling on incoherently at 00:14

[Htogrom]

Syria, vague geographical expressions...Syria exists for at least 3000 years!

[amenostalgique]

What a poor explanation of the Arab spring. I´d recommend read some books.