Wherever you have weakening states and turmoil, you will have a fertile petri dish for terrorism.
Robert D. KaplanRead
The first thing to recognize not just about Afghanistan but about any poor undeveloped country is that as big as it looks on the map, it's much bigger when you're there.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the often-overlooked complexities and vastness of a country's experience compared to its representation on a map.
Robert D. Kaplan's quote reflects on the depth and richness of experiences and realities that exist within a country, particularly those that are impoverished or underdeveloped. While a map may depict Afghanistan or any other country in simple, two-dimensional terms, the lived experiences, cultural intricacies, and myriad challenges present a far more expansive and profound reality that cannot be fully grasped without direct engagement and understanding.
Themes
AfghanistanCountriesMapRealityExperienceUnderdeveloped
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on global politics, this quote can illustrate the importance of on-the-ground understanding.
More from Robert D. Kaplan
All quotes →What does the earth look like in the places where people commit atrocities? Is there a bad smell, a genius loci, something about the landscape that might incriminate?
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