Ian bremmer

• The G-Zero World: Navigating Global Disorder – Ian Bremmer’s signature keynote on the leaderless state of international affairs and what it means for all of us. In this talk, he explains why we are in a “G-Zero” era with no single country or alliance in charge, and how this power vacuum is fueling geopolitical and economic volatility. From supply chain shocks to regional wars, Bremmer shows businesses how to adapt strategy in a world where uncertainty is the new normal and why agile, independent leadership matters more than ever.
• Top Risks of 2026 – What Your Organization Must Watch – Each year, Bremmer and Eurasia Group publish their influential Top Risks report. In this constantly updated briefing, he walks the audience through the biggest political and geo-economic risks on the horizon right now. Whether it’s escalating US–China tensions, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, energy market turmoil, or unexpected election outcomes, he unpacks each risk in plain language and offers concrete insights into the likelihood and potential impact. This is a pragmatic roadmap for CEOs, investors, and policymakers to anticipate and manage the coming year’s global risks.
• US vs. China: The Epic Rivalry Reshaping the World – Bremmer provides a deep dive into the most important geopolitical contest of our time: the US-China relationship. He explores trade wars, tech competition (from AI to 5G), ideological clashes, and the battle for influence across Asia and beyond. Crucially, he discusses what this rivalry means for companies and countries caught in between. Can decoupling be avoided? How will supply chains and innovation evolve? Bremmer’s analysis offers a balanced look at both superpowers’ perspectives and the prospects for either confrontation or coexistence.
• The Geopolitics of Technology: AI, Cyber and the New Cold War – In this forward-looking talk, Bremmer tackles the intersection of technology and global politics – a space he’s uniquely qualified to address (as head of the GZERO AI initiative and UN AI advisor). He discusses how artificial intelligence, big data, and cyber capabilities are becoming the new arms race among nations and even corporations. What happens when tech giants have the power once reserved for governments? What new risks emerge from cyber warfare or AI-driven propaganda? More importantly, how should businesses protect themselves and how can democracies set rules of the road? Bremmer maps out this brave new world and leaves listeners with strategies to innovate securely.
• Globalization 2.0: From “Us vs Them” to a New World Order – Drawing from his book Us vs Them, Bremmer examines the backlash against globalization – populism, nationalism, and the erosion of trust in institutions – and where we go from here. He discusses the rise of anti-establishment movements in the West, the north-south divide in economic opportunity, and the challenges to multinational cooperation (be it WTO trade frameworks or climate accords). Yet, Bremmer’s message is not doom and gloom; he highlights ways we can forge a more sustainable globalization. This includes redefining social contracts, investing in those left behind by technological change, and fostering leadership that prioritizes inclusive growth. It’s a timely topic for any audience grappling with political polarization or the future of international business.

speaker Bio: 

Ian Bremmer is a political scientist and entrepreneur who has built a career out of making sense of a chaotic world for the people running it. He is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, “the leading geopolitical risk advisory firm” trusted by businesses and governments worldwide. In the late 1990s, Bremmer essentially invented the field of political risk analysis for Wall Street, starting Eurasia Group with just $25,000 and a bold idea: that leaders needed better insight into how politics, instability, and culture impact global markets. Today, with offices on four continents, Eurasia Group is the go-to source for CEOs and heads of state seeking to understand everything from Chinese economic policy to Middle East tensions. Bremmer’s mission has always been to provide “clearheaded insights” in an arena often dominated by noise. He’s known for his frank, no-blame assessments and the ability to boil down complex events into what matters for decision-makers.

A prolific author and commentator, Bremmer has written 11 books on global affairs – including Every Nation for Itself: What Happens When No One Leads the World and Us vs Them: The Failure of Globalism, both of which became New York Times bestsellers. These works introduced broader audiences to his ideas like the “G-Zero world” – a world with no single country in charge, which Bremmer argues is the reality of the 21st century international order. He founded GZERO Media (cheekily named after that concept) to engage the public in conversations about global issues. In fact, Bremmer hosts GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, an award-winning weekly show on U.S. public television, where he interviews world leaders and distills international news with a dose of humor and insight. It’s not uncommon to see him explaining the war in Ukraine or climate negotiations not only with statistics and maps, but even using satire – including puppets of global figures – to drive a point home. This creative approach keeps his analysis accessible and memorable, proving that even at the highest levels, communication is key.

Bremmer occupies a unique vantage point at the nexus of policy and business. He serves as Foreign Affairs columnist and editor-at-large for Time magazine, where his essays guide millions of readers on issues like tech competition between the U.S. and China or the state of democracy. He’s also a frequent guest on major news networks – from CNN and MSNBC to FOX and the BBC – and notably, he’s welcomed by all sides of the political spectrum. In an age of polarization, Bremmer prides himself on being an “independent voice” on global issues, one who criticizes or praises world leaders based on actions and outcomes rather than ideology. This even-handed credibility led to his appointment as the Rapporteur (lead drafter) for the United Nations High-Level Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence in 2018, where he helped international experts navigate the geopolitical implications of AI. It’s one example of how Bremmer’s expertise now extends beyond traditional politics into the forces tech and economics that are reshaping global power structures.

When Ian Bremmer steps on stage, audiences know they’re in for a whirlwind tour of the globe. He typically starts by mapping out the current geopolitical landscape – the key players, hotspots, and trends that are driving risk in the world today. With an encyclopedic recall of facts and an analyst’s eye, he might explain the latest developments in China’s leadership politics, the behind-the-scenes of OPEC negotiations, or what to expect in the next U.S. elections – all in one fluid narrative that connects the dots. Bremmer has a knack for coining pithy terms and frameworks that help people remember the big picture. For instance, he’ll casually reference a coming era of “technopolarity” (where tech companies rival countries in influence) or describe Europe, not as a union, but as a “collection of 27 kitchens sharing one refrigerator” to illustrate its coordination challenges. These memorable insights both inform and entertain. He’s also known to pepper his talk with real-world examples from companies he’s advised: e.g., how a manufacturing CEO should think about supply chain risk in an unstable Turkey, or how social media regulation in Brussels could affect a Silicon Valley firm’s strategy.

Audiences consistently praise Bremmer’s pragmatism. He doesn’t just list problems – he offers potential paths forward. After outlining a thorny issue like decoupling with China, he might suggest concrete steps for Western firms to diversify sourcing or for policymakers to manage alliance pressure. He is also adept at the Q&A format: give him any question on any country, and he’ll have not just an answer, but an engaging mini-story or historical anecdote that adds color. For example, ask about Latin America and you might hear about his recent meeting with a finance minister there, or a quick comparison of today’s politics with the 1980s debt crisis. This on-the-fly depth comes from decades of immersion in global affairs.

What truly stands out is Bremmer’s passion for education. He believes that understanding geopolitics shouldn’t be limited to experts in Washington or corporate boardrooms. That’s why he often says his goal is to bring a “political science lens” to everyone – be it through his teaching (he’s taught at Columbia University and was a Senior Fellow at Harvard) or his media outreach. On stage, this translates into a style that is highly relatable. He doesn’t talk at the audience; he talks to them, in plain language, occasionally tossing in humor, pop culture references, or personal experiences. One moment he might recount a meeting with a foreign president, the next he’s joking about the World Cup or a hit Netflix show that sheds light on a country’s culture. It’s all part of Bremmer’s approach to break down the barrier between “foreign affairs” and our daily lives.

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