In this book, Kaplan makes the case for classical realism as an approach to the Greater Middle East. Just as Western attempts at democracy promotion across the Middle East have failed, a new form of economic imperialism is emerging today as China's ambitions fall squarely within the region as the key link between Europe and East Asia. As in the past, the Greater Middle East will be a register of future great power struggles across the globe. And like in the past, thousands of years of imperial rule will continue to cast a long shadow on politics as it is practiced today. Kaplan weaves together classic texts, immersive travel writing, and a great variety of voices from every country, compelling the reader to look closely at the realities on the ground and to prioritize these facts over ideals on paper.