Beginning with a survey of geopolitics and its practitioners, Cohen explains geopolitical terms, structure, and theory. He traces the developmental process that guides the geopolitical restructuring of the world's different realms and regions, its major and regional powers, and the global networks that link them, thus creating a map of dynamic equilibrium. The author illustrates why the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa are "Shatterbelts" while South America's role as a separate region within the Maritime realm is reinforced by Brazil's dominance as a regional power.

The author argues that the era of a world dominated, and precariously balanced, first by the American and Soviet superpowers and then by the United States alone, has run its course. The international system is now divided and better balanced by a number of major powers, each of which dominates its geopolitical region. He posits that whether certain areas become Gateways or Shatterbelts is the key question influencing global stability. For example, American influence within the Middle East is rapidly declining both because of the push of the Arab Spring and the pull of U.S. self-sufficiency in oil and natural gas. The United States is likely to give way to Russia, China, India and Japan as the main external players in the Middle East Shatterbelt. Cohen analyzes especially the current forces favoring accommodation, including the economic benefits of globalization, the common battle against terrorism, and the need to contain Iran and Venezuela, as well as to stabilize certain key failed states.

Geopolitics considers the entire hierarchy of geopolitical units—subnational, national states, and quasi states; geopolitical regions; and geostrategic realms. By emphasizing the interaction between geographical settings and changing ideological and economic forces, Cohen has succeeded in creating a new global geopolitical map.

从对地缘政治学及其实践者的调查开始，科恩解释了地缘政治术语、结构和理论。他追溯了指导世界不同领域和地区的地缘政治重组的发展过程，其主要和区域大国，以及连接它们的全球网络，从而创造了一个动态平衡的地图。作者说明了为什么中东和撒哈拉以南非洲是 "破碎带"，而南美洲作为海洋领域内的一个独立区域的作用则因巴西作为一个区域大国的主导地位而得到加强。

作者认为，一个先由美苏超级大国、后由美国单独主导的世界，以及不稳定的平衡的时代，已经走到了尽头。现在，国际体系被一些大国分割，并由它们各自主导其地缘政治区域，从而达到更好的平衡。他认为，某些地区是成为门户还是破碎带是影响全球稳定的关键问题。例如，由于阿拉伯之春的推动和美国石油和天然气自给自足的拉动，美国在中东的影响力正在迅速下降。美国可能会让位于俄罗斯、中国、印度和日本，成为中东破碎带的主要外部参与者。科恩特别分析了当前有利于迁就的力量，包括全球化的经济利益、打击恐怖主义的共同斗争、遏制伊朗和委内瑞拉的需要，以及稳定某些关键的失败国家。

地缘政治学考虑了地缘政治单位的整个层次--次国家、民族国家和准国家；地缘政治区域；和地缘战略领域。通过强调地理环境与不断变化的意识形态和经济力量之间的互动，科恩成功地创建了一个新的全球地缘政治地图。