Welcome! Thanks for visiting. I consider myself a world politics generalist, trying to see the big picture without losing sight of the details. My main areas of interest are geopolitics, Eurasian affairs, and economic power politics. Contact: jholslag@vub.be
News:
In September, my new book comes out. It reviews why the walls of the Cold War are replaced by new walls, nationalism, and conflict (more).
A column explaining that NATO’s main new rival is not China, but hides inside (more).
A long television interview in Dutch on world politics and social resilience (more).
Balancing China’s rise: Why small countries matter. In this article, I explain the importance for small European countries to balance China’s rise. Balancing, it clarifies, is not necessarily about excluding any form of cooperation, but about making sure that cooperation remains balanced. Like checks and balances are important inside countries; checks and balances matter between countries.
The new contest for Eurasia: Read my essay about great power politics in Eurasia. China has the potential to become an empire of an unprecedented scale. Balancing efforts must involve a whole-of-Eurasia approach, encompassing the heartland of Mackinder, the Rimland of Spykman, and the blue waters of Mahan.