HomeRegional Directory

Regional Directory

The Strategic Context of the Paris Attacks

Nov. 16. 2015 The terrorist attacks in Paris indicate a new level of sophistication in Islamic State’s planning and coordination.

Net Assessment of the Middle East and North Africa

Dec. 2, 2015 Modern Middle Eastern states were largely formed by the British and French starting at the conclusion of World War I. The region today is struggling with a deep divide between declining secular regimes and emerging Islamist non-state actors.

Regional Assessment: Central Asia

Central Asia is a crossroads: the region that lies between the Chinese, Russian, Indian, Turkic, and Persian civilizations attracted generations of both traders and invaders.

Net Assessment of South Asia

Dec. 2, 2015 South Asia is home to almost a quarter of the world’s population. The region’s geopolitical reality is dominated by a complex series of power dynamics, centered on the relationship between Pakistan and India.

Net Assessment of the European Peninsula

Dec. 2, 2015 Europe is coming to a turning point. The European Union has been slowly fragmenting, strained under the pressure of the financial and refugee crises. Countries will soon have to decide between maintaining their own sovereignty and building a strong, powerful union to solve these pivotal issues.

The World in 2016

Dec. 2, 2015 We look ahead at the major geopolitical developments the world can expect to see in 2016. These include fragmentation in the European Union, as a result of the continuing refugee and financial crises, and a reluctant confrontation between Turkey and the Islamic State.

Net Assessment of East Asia

Dec. 2, 2015 East Asia is the world’s most dynamic region economically, but this was not always the case. It was plagued with political instability for much of the 20th century and is now facing an economic downturn in China, which will have significant consequences for the whole region.

Net Assessment of Russia

Dec. 2, 2015 Russia is facing a number of challenges, most notably increasing Western influence along its western periphery and declining prices for oil and gas, which are key sources of revenue for the Kremlin. How the country deals with these issues will determine its future path.

Net Assessment of Latin America

Dec. 2, 2015 Latin America’s geopolitical reality has been heavily shaped by its colonial history. Following the colonial era, the region saw a wave of military dictatorships emerge, which have been superseded by democratic governments in more recent years.

Net Assessment of Sub-Saharan Africa

Dec. 2, 2015 While the continent in some ways is still struggling to overcome the effects of its colonial past, some sub-Saharan African countries have produced high growth rates in recent years and may become the sorely needed future leaders for the region.

The World in 2016: A Summary of Our Forecast

Dec. 2, 2015 We look ahead at the major geopolitical developments the world can expect to see in 2016. These include fragmentation in the European Union, as a result of the continuing refugee and financial crises, and a reluctant confrontation between Turkey and the Islamic State.

Here is a summary of some of our key predictions for the year ahead.

Latest Posts

Get Geopolitical Futures FREE newsletter

Understanding Our Geopolitical Model

Sign up now and receive our special report Understanding our Geopolitical Model

Get weekly analysis from New York Times bestselling author George Friedman and our global team of analysts, plus special offers.

Subscribe Now


The Geopolitics of the American President

FREE with an annual subscription to Geopolitical Futures.

Subscribe Now