In his book "The Revenge of Geography," Robert D. Kaplan discusses the pressures faced by smaller nations surrounded by larger adversaries. He argues that countries like Israel must navigate their geopolitical situation with a delicate balance, either choosing to adopt a passive stance or taking more aggressive actions to ensure their survival. This dichotomy is largely influenced by their geographic positioning.

Kaplan emphasizes that national security for these small states is fundamentally linked to their geographic context. A small nation's ability to thrive often depends on its strategies in response to the hostile elements that surround it, ultimately shaping its foreign policy and survival tactics in a challenging landscape.