We at Aperture Strategy have long been admirers of Robert Kaplan’s emphasis on strategy and historical context and we have much enjoyed his latest work, ‘The Tragic Mind’ which is our ‘book of the month’ for January 2024. This is an important book not least because of its contrast with the approach Kaplan takes in a previous book, ‘Warrior Politics: Why Leadership Demands a Pagan Ethos’. Anyone who was uncomfortable previously with overtones of hubris, strategic pragmatism, the primacy of national interests, and the virtue of strength may be somewhat comforted by his treatment of ‘fear, fate, and the burden of power’. Kaplan analyses the current strategic environment (the rise of China, the conflicts in the Middle East, and the challenges of globalisation) through the lens of classical Greek playwrights, Shakespeare, and other literary greats. The book offers both a framework for understanding the complexities of the modern world and advice to strategists who seek reductionist and immediate solutions. In ‘The Tragic Mind’ humility and wisdom have taken the place of pragmatism and moral ambiguity. Those who have met Kaplan before (whether they have agreed with his perspectives or not) will not be surprised that it’s an erudite and thought-provoking read!
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