At 60 years old, Fareed Zakaria, host of “GPS (Global Public Square)” on CNN, sees himself as an educator in international relations. He views journalism as a form of public education.
In a digital studio with plasma screen walls, Zakaria engages in discussions on global issues with scholars, U.S. presidents, and occasional celebrities in a civil manner.
Zakaria considers himself an optimist and strives to maintain a non-partisan stance in a time when news anchors often take sides. He prefers to base his analysis on facts and history rather than personal bias.
When asked about his discomfort with partisanship, Zakaria acknowledges his views but emphasizes that his analysis is grounded in factual information and historical context.
Zakaria reflects on his journey from being right-of-center in college to left-of-center in modern times. Born in Mumbai to a politician father and journalist mother, he initially came to America for education but eventually fell in love with the country.
Zakaria pursued a Ph.D. in political science at Harvard and developed a passion for cooking by watching Jacques Pépin on public television. He held editorial roles at Foreign Affairs magazine and Newsweek before becoming a prominent TV host.
While initially supporting the Iraq War, Zakaria later regretted his stance, recognizing it as a mistake that led to significant consequences for the U.S.
In his book “Age of Revolutions,” Zakaria explores societal responses to change and the challenges of navigating through an era of rapid transformation.
Zakaria expresses concern about the current state of America and the challenges posed by rapid societal changes without established regulatory mechanisms. Despite his worries, he remains optimistic about finding solutions to navigate through this tumultuous period.
For more information, read an excerpt from “Age of Revolutions” by Fareed Zakaria.
Story produced by Mary Raffalli. Editor: Robert Kaplan.
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