Geography
Shatterbelts and Buffer Zones in Geopolitics
Quick fact
Many current NATO members, like Poland and the Baltics, were once part of a 'shatterbelt' between the Soviet Union and Western Europe, repeatedly invaded and partitioned.
Why this is interesting
Ever wonder why some countries seem to be in constant turmoil, torn between powerful neighbors? The answer often lies in their position on a geopolitical fault line.