Published in 1944, the book appeared just as the outcome of WWII was becoming clear, but before the structure of the post-war world was established. Spykman wrote in direct opposition to the prevailing American sentiment of isolationism. Many Americans believed that the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans provided a "moat" of security, allowing the U.S. to retreat from global affairs after the war. Spykman, a Dutch-American geostrategist at Yale University, argued that modern air power and the potential rise of a hostile Eurasian hegemon made isolation impossible. He died of cancer in 1943, before the book was published.
Before we dive into the geography, let’s address the practical query. Copies of The Geography of the Peace are notoriously difficult to find in physical bookstores. First published by Harcourt, Brace and Company, it has cycled in and out of the public domain depending on the jurisdiction. However, due to its specialized nature, print runs were limited. nicholas j spykman the geography of the peace pdf