Financial Times says the Iran war shows geography still shapes life

In short: A Financial Times column says the Iran war is a reminder that the physical world, not just digital technology, still shapes what happens next.

What's going on

The Financial Times argues that it is easy to believe the modern world is mostly run by screens, software, and online services. But the column says the Iran war highlights something older and more basic, geography.

Geography means where countries are, what borders they share, and which places control key routes. You can think of it like the layout of roads and bridges in a city. Even if you have the best navigation app, you still have to use the roads that exist.

The column’s point is that real-world facts like distance, terrain, and chokepoints can set limits that technology cannot simply remove. Digital tools can help people communicate, trade, and plan faster. But ships, oil, food, and military forces still move through physical places, and those places can be blocked or attacked.

What to watch

If the conflict grows or spreads, the effects may show up in everyday areas like energy prices, shipping delays, and government decisions about security. The bigger lesson is that AI and other digital systems operate inside the physical world. When physical routes and resources are under stress, technology can help manage the problem, but it cannot wish it away.

Source: Financial Times