Whether or not you agree with Robert Kaplan’s politcal opinions and worldview, which are undoubtedly controversial, a couple points are hard to argue.
He’s highly influential, not only through his prolific writing, which includes a dozen books and twenty years worth of features and op-eds in everything from the NY Times to The Washington Post to military journals to The Atlantic Monthly, where he serves as correspondent, but also through the role he has played as advisor to the US government and military.
He’s a great writer, always conveying a wealth of information in a way that is both literary in style and readable. He does a great job of combining on-the-ground reporting, history, politics, travel writing, and literary references with his own forward-thinking analysis.
That said, you can decide for yourself what you think of Kaplan’s opinions. Click here for an archive of his articles for The Atlantic Monthly. His most recent book is Hog Pilots, Blue Water Grunts. I would strongly recommend one of his earlier books, Balkan Ghosts, an in depth look at the tumultuous Balkans.
Leave your comments here to let us know what you think of today’s interview and any of Kaplan’s writing that you may have read.
-Justin
