The Grand Chessboard – Zbigniew Brzezinski

Brief Description of the Book

The Grand Chessboard is a classic geopolitics text that explains global power politics through the control of Eurasia. Writing in the post–Cold War moment, Brzezinski argues that the United States’ global primacy depends on preventing the emergence of a rival hegemon in Eurasia—the world’s central landmass containing most of the population, resources, and economic output. The book analyses Europe, Russia, China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific to show how alliances, balances, and strategic positioning shape world order.
For exams, the book is highly useful for GS-2 International Relations and Essay to explain US grand strategy, NATO expansion, Russia–Ukraine, China’s rise, Central Asia’s importance, and balance-of-power logic.

The following extracts may be used in OPSC answer writing:

“Eurasia is the chessboard on which the struggle for global primacy continues to be played.”→ GS-2 IR / Essay: Centrality of Eurasia in global geopolitics; US, Russia, China competition

“Whoever controls Eurasia controls two of the world’s three most advanced and economically productive regions.”→ GS-2 IR: Strategic value of Eurasia; rationale behind great-power engagement there

“America is now the only global superpower.”→ GS-2 IR / Essay: Unipolar moment after Cold War; limits and responsibilities of hegemony

“The most dangerous scenario would be a grand coalition of China, Russia, and perhaps Iran.”→ GS-2 IR: Alliance politics; balancing behaviour; contemporary strategic alignments

“Geopolitics remains a vital dimension of international politics.”→ GS-2 IR / Essay: Geography and power; enduring relevance beyond ideology

“Without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be a Eurasian empire.”→ GS-2 IR: Russia–Ukraine conflict; strategic depth and imperial reach
(Use analytically to explain stakes.)

“Central Asia is the geopolitical pivot of Eurasia.”→ GS-2 IR: Energy routes, connectivity, Great Power competition in Central Asia

“America must use its power to promote a cooperative international framework.”→ GS-2 IR / Essay: Hegemonic responsibility; order-building vs domination

“The management of Eurasia is the core of global politics.”→ GS-2 IR: Focus of foreign policies; alliances, bases, and influence networks

“A pluralistic Eurasia is the best safeguard against the emergence of a hostile hegemon.”→ GS-2 IR / Essay: Balance of power, multipolarity, coalition-building

“Geostrategy is the management of geopolitical interests.”→ GS-2 IR: Strategy formulation; interests vs ideals in foreign policy