The Fractured Age

As someone following US politics closely, I found this a sharp, timely take on how global economics is being reshaped by rising geopolitical tensions. Shearing shows how the post-Cold War global order-especially the free-trade assumptions we’ve taken for granted-is fracturing into rival blocs, with the US, China, and others pulling the strings.What stood out was how clearly he links policy decisions (like tariffs or tech bans) to bigger shifts in global power. Some parts are a bit dense, but overall it’s smart, well-argued, and full of insight-especially on how countries like India and Brazil could shape the next phase of global influence.

Book Review: The Fractured Age: How the Return of Geopolitics Will Splinter the Global Economy by Neil ShearingA Provocative Lens on a World Coming Apart at the SeamsNeil Shearing’s The Fractured Age is a timely, incisive examination of how resurgent geopolitics is dismantling the fragile architecture of global economic interdependence. With the precision of an economist and the narrative flair of a seasoned geopolitical analyst, Shearing maps the fault lines-from trade wars to resource nationalism-that threaten to fracture the world into competing blocs. This is not just a forecast of doom but a masterclass in connecting dots across history, policy, and human ambition.Key Strengths-Analytical Depth: Shearing avoids simplistic doomscrolling, offering nuanced case studies (e.g., semiconductor rivalries, energy weaponization) that reveal how economic tools have become geopolitical cudgels.-Accessible Complexity: Despite its dense subject matter, the prose remains engaging, balancing data with vivid analogies (e.g., comparing supply chains to “glass rivers” - strong until shattered).-Prescient Warnings: The book’s 2025 publication feels eerily prophetic, especially its analysis of how middle powers like India and Brazil might exploit great-power tensions.Potential Considerations-Density: Some sections demand rereading to grasp layered arguments-less a flaw than a reflection of the material’s complexity.-Solutions Lightness: While diagnosing fractures brilliantly, the book offers fewer concrete pathways to repair them, leaving readers craving actionable optimism.Score Breakdown (Out of 5)-Research: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5⁄5) - Meticulously sourced, with a global scope.-Clarity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4⁄5) - Complex ideas distilled, if not always effortlessly.-Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5⁄5) - Fresh angles on familiar crises.-Urgency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5⁄5) - Reads like a dispatch from the near future.Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5⁄5) - Like a geopolitical MRI-revealing every hairline crack in the system.Ideal Audience-Policy wonks and economics students seeking a global perspective.-Business leaders navigating volatile trade landscapes.-Anyone unsettled by headlines about deglobalization.GratitudeThank you to NetGalley and Neil Shearing for the advance review copy. The Fractured Age is the rare book that clarifies chaos without trivializing it.Final VerdictShearing’s work is essential reading for understanding the 21st century’s defining tension: a world economically bound but politically divided. While its weighty analysis may daunt casual readers, its insights linger like the aftershocks of an earthquake-undeniable and transformative.Note: This review reflects the ARC edition; minor changes may appear in the final publication.

Neil is a recognised expert on the global economy and travels regularly to meet clients and policymakers around the world. He writes for the Financial Times and appears regularly on Bloomberg TV, CNBC, BBC News and the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4. His weekly note is read by thousands of people every Monday.

Previously Shearing has advised HM Treasury and the UK Chancellor and is an Associate Fellow in the Global Economy Programme at Chatham House.