Enjoyable list. The first 3 are fun but a bit suss. Actual geographers have spent 100 years debunking and refuting the simple physical geographical determinism that Tim Marshall, Thomas Friedman and Robert Kaplan describe. The reality of course is way more complex as you recognise with the Botswana v's DRC example. Another comparison are the different paths taken by Argentina v's Australia. Both resource rich, very different outcomes. Culture, history, individuals, politics, chance, all interact all play a part.
Enjoyable list. The first 3 are fun but a bit suss. Actual geographers have spent 100 years debunking and refuting the simple physical geographical determinism that Tim Marshall, Thomas Friedman and Robert Kaplan describe. The reality of course is way more complex as you recognise with the Botswana v's DRC example. Another comparison are the different paths taken by Argentina v's Australia. Both resource rich, very different outcomes. Culture, history, individuals, politics, chance, all interact all play a part.