Introduction

     The physical location of governments is perhaps the most significant force which shapes geopolitics. Availability of natural resources and proximity to other political entities largely determine the direction and outcome of international affairs. Through this book search, I will be looking at how governments relate to one another and the impact of geography on these relations. My first choice of book is Power, Faith, and Fantasy by Michael B. Oren, a former professor at Harvard and Yale. This book details the development and progression of U.S. relations with the Middle East. I chose this book because Oren provides a succinct but nonetheless thorough account of his subject, and remains fairly objective in his writing. If for some reason this book proves unsuited for this project, I intend to read Tim Marshall's Prisoners of Geography: 10 Maps That Explain Everything About The World. Judging by reviews, it appears as though this book provides a comprehensive overview of political geography as a concept.