David Patrikarakos

David Patrikarakos is an award-winning journalist and author of five books, including Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State, War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century and State of War: Uncovering the Global Arms Trade. His latest book, Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics, provides a comprehensive look at how the physical characteristics of a region or country can shape the history, politics, and economy of that place.

Patrikarakos was born in Hong Kong to a Greek Cypriot and an Iranian mother. He studied international relations at the University of Bristol, England, and then moved to the United States to study broadcast journalism at Boston University. Upon completing his studies, he worked as a reporter for the London Sunday Times and the BBC World Service, covering stories in East Africa, the Middle East, and Afghanistan.

Patrikarakos set his sites on a bigger mission in 2010 when he wrote his first book, Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State which aimed to explain the complexities surrounding this nation's controversial nuclear program. The book unveiled the inner workings of Iran's nuclear ambitions and attempted to provide a more in-depth look at the politics and motivations behind such a program. The book was praised by both academics and the public, earning Patrikarakos numerous literary awards and distinctions.

In 2013, Patrikarakos authored War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century, a book that documented the impacts of social media on global conflicts, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. The author draws from his own reporting experiences to highlight the role of new technologies in the move to leverage international politics.

After the success of his previous books, Patrikarakos asked himself the question: How much impact do a country’s physical boundaries have on its foreign policy? To find the answer, Patrikarakos wrote his most recent book, Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics. The book explores how countries' political actions stem from their boundaries, and offers insightful explanations of many geopolitical events, from the Cold War between the United States and the USSR to Norway's muted response to Russian military activity in the Arctic region.

Patrikarakos's work brings a fresh perspective to global politics and allows readers to not only understand the events of history, but consider how the physical characteristics of a place or region can shape its history, politics, and economy. His deep understanding of geopolitics and military issues is both extensive and insightful, providing readers with a comprehensive look at the situations facing us today. He has been featured in numerous prestigious publications, including The Economist, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, and has appeared on The Daily Show and BBC World News to discuss his work.

In addition to his writing and reporting, Patrikarakos is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and regularly contributes to publications such as Foreign Policy, The Atlantic and The New Statesman. He has also consulted with various think tanks and international organizations. His work has been recognized with a number of prestigious awards, including a British National Press Award and the Harvard-Litzenberg Award for Excellence in Journalism.

David Patrikarakos is an award-winning journalist and acclaimed author whose books offer an invaluable insight into the driving forces of global politics. His thoughtful, engaging writing style has shed light on the complexities of the international political landscape, and his latest book, Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics, has been praised for its fresh perspective and in-depth look at how physical geography can shape politics. WithPatrikarakos's intuitive understanding of the world's geopolitical issues, he provides readers with lively, entertaining, and well-rounded insight into the global affairs of our time.