Robert D. Kaplan's book, "Earning the Rockies: How Geography Shapes America's Role in the World," highlights the decline of small and medium-sized states in regions such as Africa and the Middle East. This collapse is indicative of a broader trend towards instability, which may extend to larger nations like Russia and China, whose political and territorial structures are crucial for the stability of Eurasia.

Kaplan suggests that the potential deterioration of these significant states is closely linked to global economic challenges, particularly enduring slow growth. This situation raises concerns about the impacts of quasi-anarchy in major powers, ultimately influencing the geopolitical landscape extensively.