Mapping the geopolitical landscape. - Trouble Spots: The World Atlas of Strategic Information by Andrew Duncan and Michel Opatowski - book review

Joint Force Quarterly, Summer, 2002 by Ewan W. Anderson

Trouble Spots: The World Atlas of Strategic Information by Andrew Duncan and Michel Opatowski Stroud, United Kingdom: Sutton Publishing, 2000. 324 pp. $39.95 [ISBN: 0-7509-2171-4]

As the title implies, Trouble Spots: The World Atlas of Strategic Information is focused on areas of the world that have seen conflict in recent years. It is impossible to include every actual or potential trouble spot in a book of this size, but the major areas of strategic importance are covered. One problem with a regional approach is that not all conflicts are equally volatile. For instance, the section on the Middle East could have been developed further, while it was hard to identify many critical flashpoints in Latin America.

The book has 15 sections--12 of which are regionally focused on trouble spots--together with a useful stop-press addition. Each section is lavishly illustrated with maps and photographs, mostly in color, and there are helpful summaries and tables in the margins. Entries vary in level of detail, but are well written throughout.

As the delimitation of U.S. military commands illustrates, regions are essentially in the eye of the beholder. This volume contains sections on Europe and the Balkans, while what is normally deemed to be the Middle East is subdivided into three sections. One result of this partition is that Turkey is accorded relatively little attention. However, from the standpoint of the problems which are discussed, if not from geography, the subdivision is reasonable.

The section on the United States provides a sound analysis of the military reach and global intentions of the only superpower. In addition, there is a realistic examination of ballistic missile defense and a critical survey of sanctions. The treatment of Russia and the former Soviet Union raises many more problems, given the abundance of trouble spots. Apart from the development of Russia itself and its military capabilities, the areas considered are the northern Caucasus, the Baltic States, and the Kuril Islands. Though the northern Caucasus has been a scene of continuing crisis, a case could be made for including Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova. With regard to boundaries, the Sino-Russian frontier has produced greater tension than the Kuril Island maritime border.

In the case of Europe, save for the Balkans, boundary issues between Greece and Turkey including the partition of Cyprus seem to be paramount. Each is considered in some detail with emphasis on the difficulties that have arisen. The balance of the section is focused on NATO enlargement and the European Security and Defense Identity. The section on the Balkans presents the most complete coverage in the book. Each state is considered in the context of past, present, and future problems, and myriad issues are treated under the rubric of "The Crescent of Crisis." The highlights are oil in the Caspian Basin, the Kurds, and the Tigris and Euphrates. Among these trouble spots are the southern Caucasus and Afghanistan. Since there are so many issues to cover under the Caucasus and Central Asia, one must not be critical of omissions. But the desiccation of the Aral Sea, with its local, regional, and global effects, might have been included.

Middle East flashpoints appear in three sections entitled "The Middle East," "North Africa," and the "Middle East-African Interface." Prominence is given to the continuing Arab-Israel conflict and future water problems. Other significant subsections examine the future of Iraq and Iran. The section on North Africa is concerned with the Maghreb while the interface section deals with issues of African states abutting the Red Sea. However, neither Egypt nor Libya are considered.

The section which follows on "Sub-Saharan Africa" offers examples from each area of the continent. It is both detailed and well illustrated. All the major states are included in the section on South Asia, and there are useful sub-sections on Kashmir and Myanmar. The section on East and Southeast Asia considers most trouble spots in the region. Of particular note are East Timor and the South China Sea. The final section is focused on Latin America.

Throughout the regional parts of the text, historical background provides an appreciation of the current issues which are detailed in a clear and unbiased fashion. The key points are tabulated in the margins, and each section concludes with a bibliography and list of Web sites. As a concise guide to trouble spots, these sections compare well with other available reference works.

In many respects it is unfortunate that the remaining sections on strategic matters were included. Some subsections attempt to cover huge topics in only a few pages, while the overall selection reveals obvious omissions, such as pollution. The section on "Global Concerns" deals with a range of issues. Environmental challenges alone have occupied tomes and the treatment here can only be categorized as modest. Under "Freedom of the Seas," the treatment of maritime boundaries is incomplete at best. Chokepoints are mentioned but are not defined. The subsection on terrorism is contentious and lacks clarity. The next section on "Weapons of Mass Destruction" is more limited in scope and, like the last section on "Space--the New Battlefield," its inclusion as a separate entity is difficult to justify.