Basic political geography is a problem that we have not yet solved, according to geopolitical expert Parag Khanna in a talk given at the TED conference in July. Border conflicts justify most of the world’s military expenditure and often derail economic progress. In 1945 there were 100 countries in the world; today there are 200 countries. Numerous border changes are currently happening without being recorded on maps.
Russia is the largest country geographically, but Russians are moving out of eastern Russia, while Chinese are moving in, taking advantage of eastern Russia’s vast areas of land to send agricultural products back to China. China has become the anchor of trade in the East Asia region. China is also exporting its culture through migration in the region. National cultures are emerging in the Far East in a much more fluid imperial zone.
In the Middle East, improved infrastructure could help to bring peace. Commuter railroads and other links between West Bank and Gaza can make Palestine an economically viable state. A century ago, during the Ottoman Empire, there was a rail link all the way from Istanbul to Medina via Damascus. Reconstruction would lead to greater peace in the region.