Strategic Survey is the annual review of world affairs from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. It is an invaluable tool for interpreting world-wide strategic developments. It includes a series of detailed maps highlighting topics and trends.

Two events dominated 2008-09: the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, and the financial and economic crisis. The global recession overshadowed the ambitious efforts of the new US administration to set a fresh tone in international affairs. Strategic Survey 2009: The Annual Review of World Affairs examines in detail the effects of the two biggest developments, as well as other important events such as the deepening confrontations over the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programmes, and worsening violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan.