Ryan Bohl Geopolitics, Iran

What victory looks like to the Americans — and to the Iranians

Step back from the day to day media coverage and tactical details of the Iran-U.S. confrontation. Ignore the tanker attackers and whether or not they were a false flag (they almost surely weren't), blow past the Rouhani statements and the Trump tweets, fret less about E3 press releases and Russian hot air about defending Iran. … Continue reading What victory looks like to the Americans — and to the Iranians

Ryan Bohl Geopolitics

Here’s what the hell is happening in Israel’s elections

It's nationalist vs. nationalist. On Tuesday, April 9, Israelis will go to the polls to decide the fate of indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A towering figure in Israeli politics, wily Bibi is throwing everything and the kitchen sink towards staying in power - including by allying with the worst of the worst in Israel's … Continue reading Here’s what the hell is happening in Israel’s elections

Ryan Bohl Culture and geopolitics, Geopolitics, United States

American identity is key to understanding U.S. geopolitics

Go back to 2015. In the politically placid Obama years, the trends seemed logical, forwarding-looking, and strategic. America was pivoting to Asia, for China's rise was clearly a much greater threat to U.S. power than whatever might happen in the Middle East. It was signing a nuclear deal with Iran, for to have balance in … Continue reading American identity is key to understanding U.S. geopolitics

Ryan Bohl Geopolitics

The World Won’t Let Kurdistan Or Catalonia Come Quietly Onto The Map

Catalonia and Kurdistan couldn't seem farther away. One is nestled in the peace and prosperity of Western Europe, the other swims in the chaos of a dissolving Middle East. Yet the two independence referendums of these would-be nation states are revealing. Both raise questions about the meaning of their regional orders and have provoked pushback … Continue reading The World Won’t Let Kurdistan Or Catalonia Come Quietly Onto The Map

Ryan Bohl Culture and geopolitics, Geopolitics

Quit Talking About World War III

Especially after the downing of a Syrian jet by the Americans. It's in The Sun, on talk radio, and of course whispered by the "underground" corners of the Internet.  Passive monitoring of geopolitical movements have led far too many to conclude the next world war is right around the corner. It isn't.  Not that it can't be, just that it … Continue reading Quit Talking About World War III

Ryan Bohl Culture and geopolitics, Geopolitics

How Climate Change Will Be the Biggest Geopolitical Crisis of the 21st Century

America is out of the environmental protection businesses; so says the haughty god-emperor Trump, whose word is apparently law. Too bad even god-emperors cannot change facts.  Too bad, especially, for the billions who are almost certain to be disrupted, displaced, and decimated by the looming geopolitical effects of climate change. That basic truth is denied … Continue reading How Climate Change Will Be the Biggest Geopolitical Crisis of the 21st Century

Ryan Bohl Asia, China, East Asia, Geopolitics

Why Taiwan (Still) Could Start World War III

Surely you know already the tripwire: Taiwan is a de facto country but a de jure province of mainland China.  The People's Republic wants to bring it back under mainland China's rule, while the people of Taiwan want exactly the opposite.  Moreover, Taiwan's military security is guaranteed by the United States via the Taiwan Relations Act … Continue reading Why Taiwan (Still) Could Start World War III