In "The Revenge Of Geography," Robert D. Kaplan argues that the geopolitical struggles of the 20th century, particularly the two World Wars and the Cold War, centered around control over critical geographic regions. The conflicts were fundamentally about Germany's attempts to assert dominance over the Heartland of Eurasia and the Soviet Union's influence in Eastern Europe. This struggle for territorial supremacy shaped the political landscape of the time.

Kaplan emphasizes that geography plays a crucial role in understanding historical and future conflicts. He suggests that the political ambitions of nations are heavily influenced by their geographic locations, impacting their strategies and interactions with other countries. This perspective offers insight into ongoing global tensions and the patterns of historical warfare driven by geography.