School of War

Ep 198: Robert D. Kaplan on Crisis

70 snips
May 20, 2025
Robert D. Kaplan, the Robert Strausz-Hupé Chair in Geopolitics, dives into the world's enduring crises. He reflects on his formative experiences in Far Rockaway and the significant literary influences that shaped his worldview. Kaplan draws parallels between historical and contemporary conflicts, notably the Balkans and Weimar Germany. He critiques the decline of Western leadership in a rapidly changing global landscape, while also discussing the impact of AI on education and individualism in modern cities. A captivating exploration of political and cultural dynamics!
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ANECDOTE

Kaplan's "Balkan Ghosts" Story

  • Robert D. Kaplan wrote "Balkan Ghosts" after extensive travels and study in the Balkans during the 1980s.\n- The book became famous and controversial because it was one of the only recent works on the Balkans before the wars started.
INSIGHT

Technology Shrinks Geography Crisis

  • Technology shrinks geography, creating a claustrophobic world of permanent crises everywhere.\n- Crises in one region now affect others globally, leaving us stuck trying to manage an anxious, interconnected world.
INSIGHT

Weimar's Flawed Governance Legacy

  • The Weimar Constitution overly decentralized power, making Germany hard to govern and rife with crises.\n- This led to instability, with mediocrity in leadership unable to manage ongoing turmoil effectively.
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