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1-Page Summary of The Accidental Superpower
Overview
The United States is the world’s police force, but that may change in the near future. The US has been involved in many international conflicts over the years and it still is, but that will soon change. This is because of a decrease in oil imports from overseas countries; therefore, there won’t be as much need for safe routes across oceans or stability within Middle Eastern countries.
However, what will happen to the world without US interventions? Before we answer that question, let’s look at the origins of superpowers like Egypt and America. You’ll understand why there is a rather gloomy outlook on our future. It’s an opinion you may not agree with though.
In this passage, you will learn why traveling might become more difficult in the next few decades; how the Mississippi River contributed to America’s power; and what could lead to another great European war.
Big Idea #1: Empires rise or fall depending on their geographic and geopolitical position.
Ancient Egyptians built an empire that dominated their region for hundreds of years. This was made possible by geography. An empire flourishes both culturally and economically when it has an advantageous geographic position, which is why ancient Egypt flourished because they had many resources nearby such as forests, rivers, oceans etc., but other regions in harsh mountainous areas struggled to survive just because of their location.
That’s why so many ancient empires were located near fertile land. A surplus of food and water allows a community to trade, grow their wealth, and focus more effort on cultural life and military power.
For example, in ancient Egypt the Nile River provided a constant water supply and trade routes; meanwhile, the surrounding desert served as a barrier to outsiders. The government forced people to build huge monuments that attested to the greatness of pharaohs.
Geopolitical factors are important in gaining power and influence. The geographic location of a society is an important factor. For example, Egypt was powerful for many years because they had no enemies who could challenge them from nearby nations.
The same factors that caused the success of ancient empires (like fertile soil and natural barriers) are also present in the modern United States.
Big Idea #2: The United States’ supreme global position is largely the result of its geopolitical situation.
The United States is now a dominant global power. It has been for some time. Why? Many factors, but one of them is that the United States was lucky enough to have plenty of room and distance from other countries with which it could interact peacefully, whereas European powers were constantly fighting each other in Europe itself.
The United States is the wealthiest nation in the world because of its waterway network. The country has 12 interconnected rivers, including the Mississippi River, which is the longest navigable river in the world and allows for a lot of trade. This fertile land also provides ideal conditions for growing crops that are used as goods to be traded around the globe.
The United States was also able to build up its military, which gave it more influence in the global political arena. The US bought Alaska and annexed Hawaii before entering World War II, so they already had defenses against external threats.
The United States has always been a safe country since World War II. It was able to protect itself by creating NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), which allowed it to be protected and have access from other countries for help if needed. The U.S. is also in a very secure position, as no country could take over the U.S.’s power or land because of its allies within NATO and its own military strength.
