Written by George Friedman
Review by Marcianne Miller

If you watch or read international news in a state of befuddlement, this book is for you. Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe focuses on Europe, that tiny spot of land on the planet that has caused so much trouble in the past – and very likely will do so again. The “flashpoints” of the title are the geographic areas, often the borderlands, that are the likely areas to erupt in armed conflict.

Author George Friedman is a scholar, best-selling author, and private industry geopolitical intelligence analyst with his company Stratfor. This is his eighth book. Though many Americans might not agree with Friedman’s pessimistic view of Europe’s potential for causing WWIII, I think his perspective is something that politically aware Americans should pay attention to.

The book’s look backward covers the last 500 years, with a focus on colonialism and how it has spawned so many of today’s problems. The geography of Europe is crucial to understanding it – why are mountainous regions so volatile, why is there such a difference between Northern Europe and Southern Europe? Many answers are fascinatingly specific – why do so many Muslims go to France but become resentful of their new country?

How did Germany end up starting two world Wars – yet is the most prosperous country in Europe today? Why are the British always stuffed shirts, no matter what beautiful and exotic countries they forced themselves on? Why do many Europeans hold on to ancient hurts as if they happened yesterday? What caused the terrible economic crises in so many countries that American tourists love, such as Greece and Spain? What is the European Union (EU) and why is it in such turmoil today? Most importantly, why does Russia continue to threaten Europe?

Although I read the audio version of Flashpoints and enjoyed it, I recommend that you choose to read this book on the page. I wish I had been able to underline passages and re-read others—that’s how important I found the book to be.

Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe, by George Friedman, Doubleday 2015, 288 pp. Random House Audio, 11.5 hours

Author’s geopolitical intelligence website: www.stratfor.com