NSB Logo Peter Zeihan Peter Zeihan

Peter Zeihan

Speaker

Denver, Colorado, USA

Geopolitical Strategist

Geopolitical Strategist Peter Zeihan is a global energy, demographic and security expert. Zeihan’s worldview marries the realities of geography and populations to a deep understanding of how global politics impact markets and economic trends, helping industry leaders navigate today’s complex mix of geopolitical risks and opportunities. 

Keynote Speeches

The Accidental Superpower: The Coming Hurdles & Opportunities

The world is changing fast. Demographic shifts are turning everything we know about the global economy on its ear, while shale energy is undoing decades of dependencies. The immutable rules of geography are breaking down our longstanding global free trade system. And it is all happening at the same time. What will this new world look like, exactly? With a mix of analysis and wit, Zeihan maps out the future from any number of viewpoints — government, corporate, financial, domestic and foreign — so audiences can make plans for a now more understandable future.

The Trump Doctrine

Presidents come and go, but geography doesn’t change. Gain understanding of the world the incoming Trump administration is inheriting, and get a glimpse into how the new White House will grapple with crises imminent, opportunities golden and everything in between.

The End of Europe

Five recessions in nine years. A litany of debt debacles. Ossified institutions incapable of change. Rising populism. Refugee floods. Russians growling at the border. And that’s the good news. Despite a decade of crisis none of Europe’s problems have had their root causes addressed, and now time is simply up. Everything that makes modern, wealthy, cosmopolitan, democratic Europe possible is breaking apart, and the Europeans are about to lose far more than “merely” a decade. Discover what makes Europe tick, what is tearing it down, and most of all, what is next.

A World Without China

Three pillars support modern China’s success: global trade, internal political unity, and easy money. With those three pillars, China has managed to shake 2000 years of war and occupation and remake itself as one of the world’s most powerful countries. Yet none of these three pillars can stand without American assistance, and that cooperation is ending. China’s “inevitable” rise isn’t simply over, it is about to go into screeching, unrelenting, dismembering reverse. But that’s hardly the end of history. When a country falls — particularly the world’s top manufacturing power — the ripples affect countries and industries near and far. Learn who benefits and who loses in a world without China. 

Amber Waves Of (American) Grain: The Future of Global Agriculture

Modern agricultural patterns are the result of three largely unrelated factors: low-risk global trade, insatiable Asian demand, and unlimited cheap credit. Within the next five years, all three of these trends will not just evaporate, but invert. When that happens, the only thing that will hurt more than the gradual loss of demand will be the sudden collapse of supply. However, none of this impacts the American producer – it therefore will be the United States that will reap the benefits of its productivity and stability for decades to come.

The Alberta Question

As the global system evolves no country is better positioned than Canada. Very soon Canada’s choices will be about how to take advantage of opportunities, rather than how to avoid complications. But in this very silver lining is a very dark cloud. The same evolutions that will allow Canada unprecedented opportunities for wealth and respect also hold the possibility of damaging the Canadian state. This time the dangers do not originate from the United States, but from within Canada itself. And they could very well prove mortal.

View more of Peter’s presentations here.

Audience reviews:

  • He was the top rated presenter on all occasions. Based on his performance and the reception by our members, we have added him to the faculty of our executive development program. He is a dynamic and engaging speaker with a unique perspective and insight into global economics and geopolitical issues.

    - Association of Agricultural Production Executives, The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers
  • Peter’s brilliance is matched with his dynamic, high-energy style. He earned high reviews across the board with our most exclusive signature events for top clients.

    - JP Morgan Asset Management
  • Fabulous. Peter brought a young, energetic approach to a tough subject. One of our top 5 speakers of all time.

    - Society of International Business Fellows
  • The top-rated presenter. We have added Peter to the faculty of our executive development program.

    - Association of Agricultural Production Executives
  • Anyone looking to better understand global geopolitics and its effect on capital markets should have regular de-briefings with Peter.

    - Rimrock Capital
  • We had a great response from our group. They thought Peter was a fabulous speaker and very knowledgeable. He really tailored his presentation to the industry which is something you don’t always get. We honestly could not have been more pleased with the session. - National Potato Council
  • Peter’s delivery was so engaging that all track of time was lost as the group was completely engrossed in the information being presented.

    - Earle M. Jorgensen Company
  • Peter was extremely well received by our clients and associates and held their attention with his brilliant insight into current topics around the world, political, social and geographic. His knowledge of the subject matter and clever wit was both informative and entertaining. We strongly recommend Peter.

    - Raymond James & Associates

Speaker Biography

Peter Zeihan is a geopolitical strategist, which is a fancy way of saying he helps people understand how the world works. Peter combines an expert understanding of demography, economics, energy, politics, technology, and security to help clients best prepare for an uncertain future.

Over the course of his career, Peter has worked for the US State Department in Australia, the DC think tank community, and helped develop the analytical models for Stratfor, one of the world’s premier private intelligence companies. Peter founded his own firm — Zeihan on Geopolitics — in 2012 in order to provide a select group of clients with direct, custom analytical products. Today those clients represent a vast array of sectors including energy majors, financial institutions, business associations, agricultural interests, universities and the U.S. military.

With a keen eye toward what will drive tomorrow’s headlines, his irreverent approach transforms topics that are normally dense and heavy into accessible, relevant takeaways for audiences of all types.

Peter is a critically-acclaimed author whose first two books — The Accidental Superpower and The Absent Superpower — have been recommended by Mitt Romney, Fareed Zakaria and Ian Bremmer. His latest third title, Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World became available in March 2020.

Peter’s fourth book, The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization, becomes available in June 2022.