George Friedman

George Friedman is a highly respected author and geopolitical expert, renowned for his insights on international affairs. Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1949, Friedman and his family escaped the communist regime and immigrated to the United States. Growing up in New York, he developed an interest in political science, eventually earning a B.A. from the City College of New York and a Ph.D. in government from Cornell University.

As a Holocaust survivor's son, Friedman's family story inspired him to become a leading voice in geopolitical forecasting and strategy. He is the founder and chairman of Geopolitical Futures, an online publication that provides analysis and predictions about the international system. Friedman's expertise has led him to regularly brief military organizations and consult for Fortune 100 executives.

Friedman is a bestselling author, with his book "The Next 100 Years" being particularly notable for its prescient geopolitical predictions. His other popular books include "Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe," "The Next Decade," "America's Secret War," "The Future of War," and "The Intelligence Edge." These works have been translated into over 20 languages, further establishing Friedman's reputation as a leading geopolitical thinker.

In addition to his work as an author and geopolitical strategist, Friedman has also appeared regularly in major media as an expert on international affairs, foreign policy, and intelligence. Prior to founding Geopolitical Futures, Friedman was the CEO and then chairman of Stratfor, a geopolitical intelligence consulting firm he established in 1996. Despite leaving Stratfor in 2015, Friedman's influence in the field of geopolitics remains significant, and his insights continue to shape the way we understand the world.