Why the West rules. So far

How the West gained its dominance and what threatens it

The region of the world we now call the West achieved global dominance in the 19th century thanks to the Industrial Revolution, a dominance that continues to this day. However, now, at the beginning of the 21st century, fears are beginning to spread that the rising economic power of China and India spells the end of the West as a global superpower. Are these fears justified? And why did the nations of the West rise to such a dominant position in the first place? In his influential book, British historian and archaeologist Ian Morris focuses on historical patterns over thousands of years and provides a fascinating answer to both of these questions.

The key to the West's dominance was not culture, racial differences, or the exceptional achievements of individuals. The crucial factor was the role of geography, which determined how local people were able to cope with resource shortages, disease, migration, and climate change in their daily lives. According to Morris, the interplay between geographical factors and human ingenuity continues, and as a result, the world will keep changing, which will also affect the superpower status of developed countries. The book is a fundamental contribution to the history of our civilisation and an excellent starting point for understanding the current geopolitical situation.