Why geography?
After World War 2 the ‘geo’ in geopolitics fell out of fashion, but as a foreign correspondent, I always made sure to explain not just what was going on, but why it was going on – and I found that so often where it was going on played a big part. Geography often remains an overlooked factor in reporting on international affairs despite being one – I emphasize one – of the determining factors in what's happening. It’s important to remember that geography doesn’t just cover the topography of a place, but encompasses things such as demographics, economics, and technology, all of which can be key issues in global events.
Why this book?
The blindingly obvious finally became apparent to me. I'd been covering international relations for thirty years, and then I noticed that so much of it was increasingly happening in space. The more I looked at it the more I realised that the technological advances allowing the new space race were converging with the economic and military imperatives driving Space 2.0. What was taking place in space was reflective of our conflicts and alliances on Earth – and ultimately what happens up there is going to have a fundamental impact on us down here. So I believe it’s becoming more and more important that people are made aware of how this is all going to affect them.
Do you hold out any hope for things not going horribly wrong (in an astropolitical sense) in space?
Yes! It’s true that humans have a history of using new inventions for terrible acts. The printing press fuelled the witch-hunting craze by enabling the mass circulation of negative propaganda about them, contributing to many deaths. Planes were used to bomb cities. The internet led to social media… So while there are many accelerating negative effects that will be caused by competition in space, including militarisation, there are many positive opportunities that will arise, including potentially helping us to reverse climate change. There is an arms race in space, there will be 'incidents' but we will also reach a stage where the great powers realise they need new treaties to govern everyone’s activities and mitigate the risks, just as they did after a few years of the nuclear arms race.
What’s next?
Support the paperback version of The Future of Geography in the near future . . . I do have two possible new two projects in mind, so watch this space.
What’s exciting you at the moment?
The attacking formation of Leeds United FC! But in the realm of space, there are constant new developments that are worth getting excited about. The recent race to see whether Russia or India would be the next to land a craft on the moon was an interesting one, with all sorts of implications for international relations on Earth. The fact that Russia failed and India did not speaks volumes about their roles in the future of space exploration. The Caltech team that managed to wirelessly transfer energy from a solar panel in space down to earth is a significant breakthrough. These are events that have the potential to have huge ramifications for the future of humanity.
Interview by Brian Clegg - See all of Brian's online articles or subscribe to a digest free here
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