This world map is the frontispiece of Volume I of The Times Atlas. It employs the "Atlantis" Projection, a transverse oblique homographic equal-area arrangement designed by John Bartholomew. This unique projection centralizes the geopolitical focus on Europe, Asia, and North America, while distorting peripheral regions like Antarctica, effectively highlighting Cold War power dynamics.
The map uses a vivid color-coding system to classify nations into distinct geopolitical alignments. Purple is used for Western alliances, particularly NATO and SEATO members. Orange represents communist states aligned with the Warsaw Pact, led by the USSR. Yellow highlights Arab-Muslim lands, reflecting regional unity and strategic importance. Gray is reserved for "Other Lands," which include neutral or unaffiliated territories. This classification underscores the ideological and political divisions of the mid-20th century.
The alliances emphasized on the map include the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO, established April 1949), the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO, established September 1954), the Baghdad Pact (signed February 1955), and the Warsaw Pact (established May 1955). These groupings illustrate the militarized bipolar world order of the Cold War, as Western democracies sought to counter the expansion of communist influence. The inclusion of Arab-Muslim lands highlights the strategic significance of the Middle East during this period.
This map serves as a snapshot of global power structures at the height of Cold War tensions. It reflects the ideological divide between Western democracies and the communist bloc, as well as the emergence of regional alliances in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The highlighted alliances emphasize the role of collective security arrangements in maintaining or challenging the global balance of power.