Wide Wild World: Divergent Hues of A Chaotic Globe

The world today resists easy explanation. Borders harden even as economies intertwine. Technology connects societies while deepening divides. Power shifts quietly in some places and erupts violently in others. In Wide Wild World: Divergent Hues of a Chaotic Globe, global politics is not presented as a fixed system, but as a living canvas - layered, textured, and constantly in motion. Spanning regions as diverse as Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific, this book captures contemporary geopolitical moments as they unfold: border disputes reignited by history, trade corridors shaped by climate and competition, youth movements challenging entrenched power, and global supply chains disrupted by conflict and coercion. Each chapter is rooted in context and careful research, yet written with narrative clarity that makes complex issues accessible without oversimplification. Rather than offering predictions or ideological prescriptions, Wide Wild World invites readers to pause, observe, and interpret. The book weaves together political theory, strategic realities, and human stories to illuminate how global order is continuously negotiated - sometimes through institutions and diplomacy, sometimes through protest, pressure, and force. Patterns emerge, but certainty remains elusive. This is not a book for those seeking quick answers. It is for readers who understand that global affairs demand patience, perspective, and intellectual humility. For students, educators, policy observers, and curious global citizens alike, Wide Wild World offers a way of seeing - one that values nuance over noise, inquiry over impulse, and understanding over haste. The canvas remains unfinished. The invitation is to keep looking.

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Commodore (Dr) Johnson Odakkal (Retd) is a maritime scholar, educator, and thought leader whose work bridges strategy, geopolitics, and human inquiry. A veteran of the Indian Navy with nearly four decades of service in the maritime domain, he has held leadership roles in naval operations, education, and strategic planning, including as Director at the Government of India and Head of Research at the Maritime History Society, Mumbai.

Dr Johnson Odakkal is the author of Timeless Wake: The Legacy of the Royal Indian Navy in World War II and numerous essays on maritime strategy, geopolitics, and cultural history. As Founder and CEO of Johnson Odakkal Initiatives, he mentors young professionals in knowledge, growth, and leadership.

Holding a PhD in Civics and Politics from the University of Mumbai, he serves as Guest Faculty and Research Supervisor in Maritime and Global Studies at several premier institutions. He has also helped design and teach IBDP Global Politics, Theory of Knowledge, and CAIE Global Perspectives at Aditya Birla World Academy, integrating global insights into international curricula and fostering critical thinking. Beyond the classroom, he has contributed to India's National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2023) by co-developing social science textbooks and pioneering educational initiatives to empower young minds and educators.

His lifelong engagement with teaching and public discourse continues through Global Canvas, the initiative that inspired this book.