Understanding Geopolitical News and Information Sources

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The Need For Geopolitical News Sources

Understanding The Intelligence Gathering Process

Geopolitical analysts need accurate and up-to-date information in order to make accurate conclusions and forecasts. Thankfully, weā€™ve curated a broad range of sources our analysts can consult when trying to understand developing geopolitical situations. Official government statements, for example, can provide valuable insights into a country’s intentions and priorities. Geopolitical news sources like the BBC translation services and a strong multi-lingual team can also be helpful, offering on-the-ground information and analysis from local experts. Social media can also be a valuable source of information, giving insight into public opinion and helping to identify early signs of unrest. In short, geopolitical analysts use every resource to formulate deep and meaningful analysis and forecasting work.

A great deal of research is involved, including the history of a region or a specific conflict. Things like war and famine don’t happen in a historical bottle after all; and are often foreseeable when paying attention to the right information . By researching the history of a conflict, they can identify patterns and relationships that help accurately put into context a current situation. In truth, the heart of geopolitics lies in understanding the complex parameters surrounding these situations from a political, military, economic, and social standpoint. Through the targeted and model-driven research, we can start to build the frame through which circumstances, relevant needs/imperatives and driving forces, and resulting actions can be best understood.


Where Geopolitical Analysts Source Information

How Analysts Build Their Forecasts

Geopolitical analysts are always trying to stay one step ahead of the curve. They need to be able to identify potential risks and opportunities on the horizon so that their subscribers can make informed decisions. But where do they get their geopolitical news sources? How do they analyze the information? Analysts typically start with a baseline understanding of the region that they are closely monitoring . At Geopolitical Futures, our team is composed of analysts who are specialized in a specific region, which means they come with an understanding of regional history and politics that enables/guides their research.

When they are looking into a specific subject or event, analysts will usually begin by consulting with secondary sources of information such as news reports, think tank research, and academic papers. They will supplement data from primary sources such as government documents, company filings, and satellite imagery. By starting with secondary sources and then supplementing this with data from primary sources, they are able to build up a comprehensive picture of the current situation. If needed, they may also consult their network of colleagues/peers, other experts and individuals that they have connections to who may be able to offer unique, first-person insights into the situation. Once they have a good understanding of things and have accumulated the necessary information and data, they use their analytical skills to make forecasts about how the geopolitical landscape will change in the future.


The Benefits of Dynamic Geopolitical News Sources

What We Can Learn from the Process

Geopolitical analysts strike a balance of having deep regional knowledge and a global viewpoint. That often means they have both a deep working knowledge of a region’s economic, sociological, political, and military circumstances and the ability to see how these elements fit into a larger global narrative. Even so, there is a great deal that we can learn from the work of analysts and the processes that they go through. Geopolitical resources like Geopolitical Futures can provide reliable and up-to-date information about the world and the ongoing situations. In addition, Geopolitical analysts can help us to understand the implications of current events and make informed decisions about the future. By studying Geopolitics from the perspective of an analyst, we can gain a better understanding of the world around us and the factors that influence international relations.

Geopolitical Futures
Geopolitical Futures (GPF) was founded in 2015 by George Friedman, international strategist and author of The Storm Before the Calm and The Next 100 Years. GPF is non-ideological, analyzes the world and forecasts the future using geopolitics: political, economic, military and geographic dimensions at the foundation of a nation.