George Friedman facts for kids
George Friedman (born February 1, 1949) is an American writer, political scientist, and futurologist who was born in Hungary. He is known for writing about geopolitics, which is the study of how geography and politics affect countries and their relationships. He started a company called Geopolitical Futures and before that, he was in charge of another company called Stratfor.
Quick facts for kids
George Friedman
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Friedman in 2017
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Friedman György
February 1, 1949 Budapest, Hungary
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | City College of New York (B.A. in political science) |
| Alma mater | Cornell University (Ph.D. in government) |
| Occupation | Political scientist |
| Known for | Founder and chairman of Geopolitical Futures (since 2015) and Stratfor (1996–2015) |
| Spouse(s) | Meredith Friedman (née LeBard) |
| Children | 4 |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Dickinson College |
| Thesis | The Political Philosophy of the Frankfurt School (1977) |
Contents
About George Friedman
His Early Life and School
George Friedman was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1949. His parents were Jewish and survived the Holocaust, a terrible time in history. His family later moved to the United States. Friedman has said that his family's story is a classic example of refugees building a new life in America.
He grew up in New York City. Friedman studied at the City College of New York, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He then went on to get his Ph.D. in government from Cornell University.
His Work and Ideas
For almost 20 years, George Friedman taught political science at Dickinson College. He also wrote books about world events. After the Soviet Union broke apart, he thought about what might happen next. He even wrote a book with his wife in 1991 called The Coming War with Japan, though the war he predicted did not happen.
Starting Stratfor and Geopolitical Futures
In 1996, Friedman started a company called Stratfor. This company was like a private intelligence group that tried to predict future world events. He was the boss and chief intelligence officer there. Stratfor's main office is in Austin, Texas. He left Stratfor in 2015.
Later that same year, he started a new company called Geopolitical Futures. This company also focuses on understanding and predicting how countries will interact in the future.
Friedman is known for his predictions about world events. The New York Times magazine once joked that being around George Friedman was like having a Magic 8 Ball, because people often asked him what he thought would happen next.
Books and Predictions
In his book The Next Decade, Friedman wrote about how the United States would need to create a balance of power in different parts of the world during the 2010s. He suggested that America would need to encourage different countries to balance each other out. For example, he mentioned how Iraq used to balance Iran, and how Japan now balances China. Friedman believes that the U.S. needs to learn how to manage its power as a global leader.
Friedman's most recent book, The Storm Before the Calm: America's Discord, the Coming Crisis of the 2020s, and the Triumph Beyond, was published in 2020.
Family Life
George Friedman is married to Meredith Friedman (née LeBard). They have four children and live in Austin, Texas. He and his wife have written several books together, including The Coming War with Japan.
See also
In Spanish: George Friedman para niños
