Why distance matters: putting the ‘Geo’ back into politics

Abstract

A common assumption in the West is that distance and space are no longer key considerations in strategy and politics. ‘Over there’, the argument goes, can quickly and dangerously become ‘over here’. Yet, as Patrick Porter contends, this is a dangerous fallacy that distorts Western strategy. A proper consideration of the role of distance should not lead to disengagement or isolation, but rather to a more selective and considered – and thus more flexible – foreign and security policy.