A crash course in geopolitics

Here's how it works

Geopolitics according to Merriam-Webster is:

“a study of the influence of such factors as geography, economics, and demography on the politics and especially the foreign policy of a state”

With the recent Russian Military Campaign in Eastern Urkaine (or autonomous Donbas region depending on who you talk to.) Americans have found themselves once again having to contend with the complicated game of brinksmanship that makes up the geopolitical landscape.

The problem of course is that the American Press has no vested interest in giving American’s a reasonable or worthwhile

I want to briefly share one fact and two tactics you can use to begin to understand the game being played in front of our eyes.

1: You are not in control

It may be the case you are encouraged to post your support, donate your dollars, or put another country’s flag on your social media profile. This doesn’t change the fact that you have no control over what is happening across the world. It may seem like an obvious remark, but it’s where you need to start your thinking. If you think that posting on social media or stating your support for the people of Ukraine is making a difference, it’s because you are watching consent being manufactured in real time.

2: Root for the home team

The way in which most humans understand geopolitics is by rooting for the home team. As a friend and patron put it to me recently “American Hegemony is pretty good for me.” As a sensemaker, it is my duty to dig deeper into stories and to find the appropriate context to present to my readers. It doesn’t follow from this that every can or wants to do the same thing. In fact, the safest thing for the casual observer to do is root for the home team AKA the country they live in.

3: Different stories shape the world

If everyone naturally roots for their home team, it implies that there are multiple stories being told. The real insights from geopolitics come as you peel back the layers of your own biases. Of course, by doing so you might find yourself under the eraser of tech censors. If you’re not careful you may even find yourself at odds with close friends and family. It takes bravery to stand up against the herd, but bravery alone won’t change the direction of popular opinion. For that, you need to build your network of trust and become the authority people turn to in times of crisis.