During the post-Cold War period, and despite the development of organisations such as the European Union, international boundaries have become more, rather than less, important. Over 70 per cent of conflicts - ranging from local tensions such as those over Abu Musa, to elements of the macro-political agenda involving the transboundary flows of drugs, arms and terrorism - can be related in some way to boundaries. There is no evidence that globalisation will threaten the existence of the state, and for many reasons - from effective governance to psychological well-being - boundaries are vital to the state. Indeed, it might be said that a state which cannot identify and control its boundaries enjoys less than full sovereignty.

This unique atlas provides a map and site-specific text for each state in the world, including descriptions of all land and maritime boundaries. A geopolitical assessment is made for each boundary, and boundary-related vulnerability of individual states is examined.