A main preoccupation within Political Geography has been conflict between nation states. Conflating the notions of 'nation' and 'state', research has tended to focus upon disputes between 'actually existing' sovereign states over territory, borders, ideologies, and resources. In the face of current world events such a focus is surely still of crucial importance. As I write (August 2002), Afghanistan continues to struggle to recover from the 'war on terror' waged by the United States and its allies. Meanwhile, the world holds its breath as George Bush promises to continue this war until there is a 'regime' change in Iraq. All of this is, of course, taking place against the backdrop of the ongoing and bloody feud between Israel and Palestinian resistance movements. Elsewhere, the face off between the India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, simmers on; Russia and Chechynan rebel groups continue to clash; the uneasy peace in Northern Ireland stumbles along on a knife edge; and Nepal and Tibet persist in promoting their claims to sovereignty in spite of dire threats from China. One could go on.