All powers great and small: Why bigger Isn’t always better in geopolitics
By: Menon, Shivshankar
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Material type: 
BookPublisher: Foreign Affairs Description: 103(3), May-Jun, 2024: p.167-174.Subject(s): Borders, international boundaries, colonialism, geopolitical changes, European empires, Ottoman dynasty, Qing dynasty, world wars, decolonization, nation-states, Treaty of Westphalia, Berlin Conference, Africa, Middle East, Cold War, Germany, Poland, Soviet Union, East Germany, West Germany, globalization, regional integration, border disputes, territorial shifts
In:
Foreign AffairsSummary: The borders that carve the world into today’s states may seem indelible, but expand the time frame, and the lines become much more fluid. It is hard to find an international boundary today that has not shifted in the last two centuries. States are born and disappear; great powers swell, shrink, and vanish. In 1910, roughly 80 percent of the planet belonged to just a handful of European empires—and much of the rest lay in the possession of the Ottoman and Qing dynasties. But world wars and decolonization saw the rise of many new and often quite small nation-states.Borders may seem permanent, but history tells a different story. Over the past two centuries, nearly every international boundary has shifted due to wars, colonialism, and geopolitical changes. In 1910, about 80% of the world was controlled by a few European empires, while the Ottoman and Qing dynasties held much of the remaining territory. However, world wars and decolonization led to the emergence of many new, often smaller, nation-states. The Treaty of Westphalia (1648) laid the foundation for modern state borders, but colonial powers like Britain and France later redrew maps to suit their interests, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. The Berlin Conference (1884–1885) saw European nations carve up Africa without regard for ethnic or cultural divisions, leading to lasting conflicts. The World Wars dramatically reshaped borders, with Germany, Poland, and the Soviet Union experiencing major territorial shifts. The Cold War further influenced boundary changes, such as the division of Germany into East and West. The decolonization movement after World War II saw former colonies gain independence, often inheriting arbitrarily drawn borders.
- Reproduced
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/all-powers-great-and-small-states
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Vol info | Status | Date due | Barcode |
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Articles
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Indian Institute of Public Administration | 103(3), May-Jun, 2024: p.167-174 | Available | AR132270 |
The borders that carve the world into today’s states may seem indelible, but expand the time frame, and the lines become much more fluid. It is hard to find an international boundary today that has not shifted in the last two centuries. States are born and disappear; great powers swell, shrink, and vanish. In 1910, roughly 80 percent of the planet belonged to just a handful of European empires—and much of the rest lay in the possession of the Ottoman and Qing dynasties. But world wars and decolonization saw the rise of many new and often quite small nation-states.Borders may seem permanent, but history tells a different story. Over the past two centuries, nearly every international boundary has shifted due to wars, colonialism, and geopolitical changes. In 1910, about 80% of the world was controlled by a few European empires, while the Ottoman and Qing dynasties held much of the remaining territory. However, world wars and decolonization led to the emergence of many new, often smaller, nation-states. The Treaty of Westphalia (1648) laid the foundation for modern state borders, but colonial powers like Britain and France later redrew maps to suit their interests, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. The Berlin Conference (1884–1885) saw European nations carve up Africa without regard for ethnic or cultural divisions, leading to lasting conflicts. The World Wars dramatically reshaped borders, with Germany, Poland, and the Soviet Union experiencing major territorial shifts. The Cold War further influenced boundary changes, such as the division of Germany into East and West. The decolonization movement after World War II saw former colonies gain independence, often inheriting arbitrarily drawn borders.
- Reproduced
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/all-powers-great-and-small-states
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