The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization

In the 2022 nonfiction work The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization, Peter Zeihan argues that the world is in transition from globalization to de-globalization. Declining populations and the withdrawal of US security from global transport are driving this transition, which benefits the US but has dire consequences for most countries. Zeihan is a globalization expert and geopolitical consultant, and he holds a postgraduate degree in Asian studies. The book, which is written for nonexperts, explores several themes, including The Causes and Consequences of De-globalization, Demographic and Geographic Challenges, and The Dominant Role of the US.

This guide references the 2022 hardcover edition.

Content Warning: The book’s analysis of potential future challenges and geopolitical scenarios is intense and could evoke feelings of uncertainty. In addition, the author’s perspective and predictions could be viewed through various lenses, potentially raising concerns about bias or oversimplification.

Summary

The period of globalization, which peaked between 1980 and 2015, was a historical anomaly. During the Cold War between the US and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) following World War II, the US protected global shipping (to prevent interception) and opened its markets to imports.