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How Geography Explains Our World, with Tim Marshall

How Geography Explains Our World, with Tim Marshall

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About This Event

Bestselling author Tim Marshall will deliver a talk at Union Chapel on Thursday 10 September, drawing on his acclaimed *Prisoners of Geography* series to illuminate how physical landscapes shape the course of global politics. The evening, running from 7pm, delves into the profound influence of mountains, rivers, and borders on both historical and contemporary conflicts. Marshall, a former foreign correspondent, brings a journalist’s sharp perspective to the geopolitical forces that underpin international relations, offering audiences a grounded understanding of why certain regions remain flashpoints. His analysis moves beyond headlines to reveal the enduring power of terrain in determining strategic advantage and national interests. Tickets are priced from £19.99 to £59.99, depending on seating choice, ensuring a range of options for attendees. This event promises a compelling blend of current affairs, history, and geography, presented with the clarity and insight that have made Marshall a trusted voice in geopolitical commentary.

Tim Marshall Bestselling author of Prisoners of Geography, The Power of Geography and The Future of Geography.

Tim Marshall is one of the world’s most successful authors on foreign affairs. He’s the writer who put the ‘geo’ into geopolitics with his multi-million selling books Prisoners of Geography and The Power of Geography.

Marshall’s principal argument is that without geography we cannot understand the world. Geography explains why Donald Trump wants to control Greenland. Greenland is of strategic military importance given it sits in the Arctic Ocean along the shortest route for Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles or submarines to reach the United States. It is also a land mass rich in rare earth metals like lithium and tungsten which will be key in building artificial intelligence and military hardware in the coming years.

Geography also explains why China would find it highly difficult to invade Taiwan. The Taiwan Strait is about 130 km wide at its narrowest point, which is roughly three times the distance from Dover to Calais. Any invading force would face inhospitable coastlines, unpredictable monsoons and muddy, tidal beaches. Beijing might decide in time that these are risks worth taking. But these basic and immutable facts of natural terrain still matter hugely in international affairs.

Join Marshall as he comes to Intelligence Squared stage to celebrate the release of a new 10 year anniversary edition of Prisoners of Geography updated with new chapters on Russia's war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and The United States and China's battle for global supremacy.

Join us and ask Tim your questions in the Q&A about how geography will underpin the conflicts of the future.

If you are require an access seats, please choose ‘concession’ and email us at info@intelligencesquared.com with your access needs so we can seat you accordingly

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Frequently asked questions

How Geography Explains Our World, with Tim Marshall takes place on Thursday, 10 September 2026 at 19:00.

How Geography Explains Our World, with Tim Marshall is held at Union Chapel London in London (19b Compton Terrace, London, N1 2UN).

Tickets for How Geography Explains Our World, with Tim Marshall range from £19.99 to £59.99. Live prices and availability are shown on Eventbrite.

Tickets for How Geography Explains Our World, with Tim Marshall can be booked via Eventbrite using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.

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