Zbigniew Brzezinski

Zbigniew Brzezinski (March 28, 1928 – May 26, 2017) was a prominent American political scientist and foreign policy advisor who served as National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981. Brzezinski was known for his influential role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War and his deep understanding of geopolitics.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, Brzezinski moved to the United States in 1958 and became a U.S. citizen. He was an academic, serving as a professor at Harvard and later at Columbia University, and a key intellectual figure in international relations. His major areas of expertise included Eastern Europe, Soviet relations, and global security.

Brzezinski was instrumental in guiding U.S. foreign policy during the Carter administration, particularly in regard to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Iran hostage crisis, and U.S.-China relations. His book, The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives (1997), became a key work in geopolitics, offering insights into U.S. power and its role in global strategy.

Brzezinski's legacy is often marked by his strategic foresight and his role in the policies that led to the eventual end of the Cold War. He was also known for his advocacy of democracy, human rights, and his often critical stance toward Russian expansionism.