The Accidental Superpower

In THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER international strategist Peter Zeihan examines how geography, combined with demography and energy independence, is paving the way for one of the great turning points in history, and one in which America reasserts its global dominance.

From a geographic standpoint, no modern country has a greater network of internal waterways, a greater command of deep-water navigation, or a firmer hold on industrialization technologies than America. Such factors have been historically significant in the success of past world powers, from the Ottoman Empire's control of the Danube, to England's mastery of the seas, to Germany's industrial infrastructure. Zeihan goes on to show how modern demographics have distorted, with America now the only developed country with enough young adults to maintain both economic growth and capital generation beyond 2020. Finally, THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER explores shale oil and its surprising key role not only in America's move towards energy independence but also how it will shape (and is already shaping) American power for the next twenty years.

“"In THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER, Peter Zeihan has explored a contemporary version of Napoleon's dictum that the power of countries derives from their geography. He brings a refreshingly novel and thought-provoking approach to understanding the rise of a U.S.-led global order, current threats, and why the U.S. will probably ride out the future better than others."-- George Magnus, former Chief Economist and current Senior Advisor, UBS, and author of The Age of Ageing and Uprising”

"In THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER, Peter Zeihan has explored a contemporary version of Napoleon's dictum that the power of countries derives from their geography. He brings a refreshingly novel and thought-provoking approach to understanding the rise of a U.S.-led global order, current threats, and why the U.S. will probably ride out the future better than others."--George Magnus, former Chief Economist and current Senior Advisor, UBS, and author of The Age of Ageing and Uprising "In THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER, Peter Zeihan deftly deploys his knowledge of demography and geography to show why America's growing energy independence will nurture its global dominance for the next quarter century. His contrarian thrust is a smart parry to forecasts of Washington's dwindling relevance in international affairs."--Stephen Glain, author of State vs. Defense "An adventurous anatomy of how geography, demographics, and resources will sway the American future."--Laurence C. Smith, Professor and Chair of Geography at UCLA, and author of The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilization's Northern Future "[A] lively, readable thesis on how the success or failure of nations may rest on the very ground beneath their feet...Anyone seeking a cogent, and provocative, take on where the world is heading should start here. Even if you don't fall in love with maps, you'll never look at them the same way again."-- The Wall Street Journal "[An] ingenious, optimistic overview of America's superpower status...readers will find it difficult to put down this fascinating addition to the 'rise and fall of nations' genre."--Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Peter Zeihan launched his own firm, Zeihan on Geopolitics, in 2012 after working for twelve years with the geopolitical analysis firm Stratfor, where he was Vice President of Analysis.

In THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER international strategist Peter Zeihan examines how geography, combined with demography and energy independence, is paving the way for one of the great turning points in history, and one in which America reasserts its global dominance. From a geographic standpoint, no modern country has a greater network of internal waterways, a greater command of deep-water navigation, or a firmer hold on industrialization technologies than America. Such factors have been historically significant in the success of past world powers, from the Ottoman Empire's control of the Danube, to England's mastery of the seas, to Germany's industrial infrastructure. Zeihan goes on to show how modern demographics have distorted, with America now the only developed country with enough young adults to maintain both economic growth and capital generation beyond 2020. Finally, THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER explores shale oil and its surprising key role not only in America's move towards energy independence but also how it will shape (and is already shaping) American power for the next twenty years.

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