The End of the World is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan

Meeting at the usual place, upstairs at the Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, on Thursday 27 August 2026, at 7.00pm, we will be discussing The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalisation (2022) by Peter Zeihan.

This book is highly relevant in the shadow of the blockage of the Strait of Homuz and the interruption to the world's energy supplies. The book argues that the globalization in trade was only possible after World War 2 because the US Navy guaranteed the free flow of international shipping. Now that the USA is unwilling or unable to keep the supply chains open, there will be an inevitable fall-back to regional trade blocs. Some countries have the resources to look after themselves (the USA has the best geography, energy, food and demographics) while other countries are more import-dependent and vulnerable (China, Germany). Australia would muddle through, as it is largely energy and food self-sufficient, but would be vulnerable to the international supply of manufactured goods and medicines.

The format of the meeting is that we speak about the book in a fairly structured way for about 50 mins, with one person speaking at a time, and where everyone gets to have a say. Dissenting opinions are given a lot of space. The meeting then formally ends, where almost everyone stays back in smaller informal groups to speak more about the book, or anything else!

The top floor of the Shakespeare has small semi-private rooms conducive to discussion. The book is easily available. Contact our friend Anna or dalemills (at) cantab.net for a free pdf.