The Increasing Significance of Geographic Conditions in the Growth of Nation-States

This evening I invite you to lay aside your highly specialized interests in the various fields of geographical research and think of the influence which the various environmental factors have had upon the location and development of nation-states, and particularly upon the location and development of those nation-states which are today recognized to be the great world powers. In the end I hope to present what appeals to me to be logically a wonderful opportunity and a great responsibility which geographers have for service in a field in which there has been terrifying retrogression during the last decade.