Robert Kaplan's journey to the Balkans, the Middle East and the Caucasus is the realist antidote to Friedman's optimistic account of globalization. It is not that what Friedman writes is inaccurate; it is, however, that there are regions in the world where history, culture, and nationalism - not economic growth and free trade - are the key driving forces.
Kaplan explored the edges of what Huntington called clashing civilizations or, in some cases, simply crumbling remnants of once great empires. In these countries, oil is exported and capitalism has spread, but they have not led to the creation of liberal democracies. They have instead strengthened the rule of the local mafia or the iron grip of old-fashioned dictators with personality cults. At a geopolitical level, these developments have only emboldened Russia to assert its authority over what it considers its near abroad.
Russia, lumped together with the BRIC countries experiencing phenomenal economic growth, is being integrated in the global economy. It is unclear, however, if that has increased geopolitical stability.
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