George Friedman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Friedman
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Friedman in 2017
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| Born |
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) |
George Friedman (born February 1, 1949) is an American expert on world events and how countries interact. He was born in Hungary. He is known for studying geopolitics, which is about how geography and power affect countries. He also writes books about what might happen in the future.
Friedman started a company called Geopolitical Futures, where he is the chairman. Before that, he was the chairman of another company called Stratfor.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Friedman was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1949. His parents were Jewish and survived the Holocaust. His family later moved to the United States. Friedman has said that his family's story is a common one for refugees who build a new life in America.
He grew up in New York City. He went to the City College of New York and earned a degree in political science. Later, he received his Ph.D. in government from Cornell University.
Career and Global Predictions
George Friedman taught political science at Dickinson College for almost 20 years. He is known for trying to predict future world events.
In 1991, he wrote a book with his wife called The Coming War with Japan. This book explored the idea of a conflict between Japan and the U.S.
In 1996, Friedman started Stratfor. This company focused on intelligence and forecasting. He was the CEO and Chief Intelligence Officer there. Stratfor's main office is in Austin, Texas. He left Stratfor in 2015 and then started his new company, Geopolitical Futures, in the same year.
The New York Times magazine once wrote that being around George Friedman was like having a "Magic 8 Ball" because of his reputation for predicting world events.
Books on the Future
George Friedman has written several books where he shares his ideas about what the future might look like for different countries and the world.
The Next 100 Years (2009)
In his book The Next 100 Years, George Friedman looks far into the future. He believes the United States will stay a very powerful country. He predicted a short "Second Cold War" with Russia in the 2010s. He also thought that both Russia and China might break apart in the 2020s because of problems inside their countries.
Friedman suggested that China could face big problems due to its fast economic growth. He thought there would be tension between rich coastal areas and poorer inland regions. He believed that China's government might struggle to keep control, possibly leading to parts of the country becoming more independent.
He also predicted that new powerful countries like Turkey, Poland, and Japan would rise. He even imagined a big war around 2050, where Turkey and Japan might attack the U.S. and its friends. In this imagined future, the U.S. would win, leading to new technology and economic growth. The book also talks about changes in population, like more people moving to the U.S., and later, robots doing more jobs.
The Next Decade (2010)
In The Next Decade, George Friedman discussed how the United States, as a major world power, needs to manage global affairs carefully. He argued that the U.S. should act as a balancer, helping to keep peace among other powerful countries, rather than getting directly involved everywhere.
He continued to be unsure about China's long-term strength. He thought China had internal problems like big differences between rich and poor areas. He suggested that the U.S. should support other countries like Japan and India to balance China's growing influence.
Friedman also thought Russia might regain some power in Eastern Europe for a while. He saw Turkey, Poland, and Japan as important rising powers that would shape the future.
The Storm Before the Calm (2020)
In The Storm Before the Calm, George Friedman talks about two cycles in American history. He believes these cycles are coming together in the 2020s, causing a time of big changes and disagreements in the United States. He points to conflicts between different social classes and cultural groups. He also notes that people trust experts and leaders less.
Friedman compares this time to past crises in America, like the Civil War. He believes that even though the country is going through a difficult period, it's part of a pattern where America reinvents itself. He predicts that by the early 2030s, new ways of governing and new economic ideas will emerge, bringing stability back to the U.S. and strengthening its role in the world.
He also discusses China's future. He predicts that China will eventually face internal problems and break apart because of ongoing differences between its rich coastal areas and poor inland regions. He sees China as a country trying hard to stay united, but he believes its internal issues will stop it from becoming a rival to the United States as a global power.
Personal Life
George Friedman is married to Meredith Friedman. They have four children. The family lives in Austin, Texas. George and Meredith Friedman have written books together, including The Coming War with Japan.
See also
In Spanish: George Friedman para niños
