Peter Henry Zeihan (/ˈzaɪ.ən/; born January 18, 1973) is an American researcher and writer with a decade-long background as a geopolitical intelligence analyst with Stratfor,[1][2][3] whose books and other content focus on geopolitics and globalism.[4][5] He is the author of The Absent Superpower (2017), Disunited Nations (2020), and The End of the World Is Just the Beginning (2022).
Peter Zeihan | |
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 Peter Zeihan in October 2022 | |
| Born | January 18, 1973 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupations |
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| Website | zeihan |
Early life and education
editZeihan was born in 1973,[6] and grew up as the adopted son of educators Jerald and Agnes Zeihan in Marshalltown, Iowa. He graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1992.[1] In 1995, he earned a BS in political science at Northeast Missouri State University and in 1997 a postgraduate diploma in Asian studies at the University of Otago in New Zealand.[7]
Career
editAfter completing his education, Zeihan worked for the American embassy in Australia and at Susan Eisenhower's think tank, the Center for Political and Strategic Studies; he said he found his experiences discouraging.[citation needed]
Stratfor
editIn 2000, he began working as an analyst for Austin, Texas-based geopolitical intelligence firm Stratfor.[1][2][3] Zeihan spent 12 years at Stratfor, eventually rising to vice-president.[3]
He left Stratfor in 2012, founding a consulting firm Zeihan on Geopolitics that same year. His client list reportedly grew to include energy companies, financial institutions, business associations, agricultural interests, universities, and governmental bodies.[8]
Writings
editThis section needs expansion with: a more developed treatment of the critical responses to his books, the reviewers of which are simply listed without presentation of content from those sources. You can help by adding to it. (November 2024) |
While still at Stratfor, Zeihan co-authored his first book, A Crucible of Nations, with Lauren Goodrich in 2011.[citation needed]
In 2014 he released The Accidental Superpower, which focuses on the advantages topographical and geographical features (rivers, oceans, mountains, etc.) provide in a state's ability to compete with other countries economically, industrially, and militarily. Using maps, Zeihan discusses the critical importance of navigable rivers, access to oceans, and reliable road and rail networks.[2] The Accidental Superpower also uses demographic calculations of national populations to forecast how different countries will maintain an edge in the geopolitical future.[9] The book was reviewed by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Kirkus Reviews.[2][10][11]
Zeihan subsequently published three more books: The Absent Superpower (2017), Disunited Nations (2020), and The End of the World Is Just the Beginning (2022). Writing for The Independent Review, Robert Gmeiner of Methodist University praised The End of the World Is Just the Beginning saying "Realism and competence are hallmarks of Zeihan's book."[12]
Publications
edit- Goodrich, Lauren; Zeihan, Peter (2011). A Crucilble of Nations: The Geopolitics of the Caucasus. Austin, TX: Stratfor Global Intellience. ISBN 9781461109426. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- The Accidental Superpower: The Next Generation of American Preeminence and the Coming Global Disaster. Twelve. February 23, 2016 [2014]. ISBN 9781455583683.
- The Absent Superpower: The Shale Revolution and a World without America. January 1, 2017. ISBN 9780998505206.
- Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World. Harper Business. March 3, 2020. ISBN 9780062913685.
- The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization. Harper Business. June 14, 2022. ISBN 9780063230477.
See also
edit- George Friedman, founder of Stratfor
References
edit- ^ a b c Maharry, Robert (May 10, 2022). "Marshalltown native prepares to publish fourth book on geopolitics, demography". Times Republican. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Denning, Liam (December 3, 2014). "The Coming Hobbesian World." Review of The Accidental Superpower, by Peter Zeihan. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c Immerwahr, Daniel (November 10, 2022). "Are we really prisoners of geography?". The Guardian. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Pen and Sword: Disunited Nations, with Peter Zeihan (podcast)". Stratfor. April 2, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ Whittemore, Nathaniel (April 1, 2020). "How Coronavirus Is Accelerating the End of Globalism, Feat. Peter Zeihan". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ "Executive Profile – Zeihan on Geopolitics – Peter Zeihan – Customer Intelligence". www.boardroominsiders.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ^ "Peter Zeihan".
- ^ "Peter Zeihan – Geopolitics Speaker & Strategist". National Speakers Bureau. July 20, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Ikenberry, G. John (February 16, 2015). "The Accidental Superpower: The Next Generation of American Preeminence and the Coming Global Disorder". Foreign Affairs. No. March/April 2015. ISSN 0015-7120. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Zakaria, Fareed. "America's prospects are promising indeed". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ The Accidental Superpower by Peter Zeihan. Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ "The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization By Peter Zeihan". The Independent Review. 27 (4).