Born in Mumbai in 1964, Fareed Zakaria has established a career as a prominent American journalist, political scientist, and essayist. Over several decades, he has transitioned from academia to the editorial rooms of influential publications, bridging the divide between rigorous international policy analysis and the broader consumption of weekly news media in the United States.
Academic Foundation
Before his emergence in journalism, Zakaria completed a foundational education at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. He later moved to the United States to attend Yale University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1986. During his undergraduate years, he presided over the Yale Political Union and served as editor-in-chief of the Yale Political Monthly. He proceeded to Harvard University, where he earned a PhD in government in 1993, focusing his doctoral studies under prominent theorists such as Samuel P. Huntington, Stanley Hoffmann, and Robert Keohane.
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Zakaria directed an American foreign policy research project at Harvard before assuming the role of managing editor at Foreign Affairs in 1992 at age 28. His professional trajectory continued as he became editor of Newsweek International in 2000, eventually moving to Time in 2010 to serve as editor-at-large. Throughout his career, he has maintained a frequent presence in major publications, including The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and The New Republic. He currently serves as a weekly columnist for The Washington Post.
Broadcasting and Analysis
Transitioning into television, Zakaria provided news analysis for ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos between 2002 and 2007. He subsequently hosted Foreign Exchange on PBS from 2005 to 2008. Since June 2008, he has hosted the weekly program Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN. In addition to his broadcasting work, he has authored several non-fiction books, including From Wealth to Power, The Future of Freedom, The Post-American World, and In Defense of a Liberal Education, with multiple titles achieving New York Times bestseller status.
Professional Controversy
In August 2012, Time and CNN suspended Zakaria for one week following an allegation regarding the attribution of a gun control column. Both organizations conducted reviews of his work and subsequently reinstated him after determining the incident was unintentional. Further allegations surfaced in 2014, prompting investigations by Newsweek and other outlets into his historical archives. These reviews identified instances of improper citation, leading to the addition of notices on several archived articles, though publishers maintained that these errors did not constitute formal plagiarism.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Mumbai
- Education: Yale University, Harvard University
- Field of Study: Political science, international relations
- Current Primary Role: Journalist, editor-in-chief
- Notable Recognition: Padma Bhushan (2010)
- Notable Recognition: Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2017)
- Citizenship: United States
Questions readers ask
What subjects does Fareed Zakaria cover in his writing?
His work focuses primarily on political science, international relations, and contemporary American foreign policy.
Has Zakaria received formal recognition for his contributions?
Yes, he has received various honors, including the Padma Bhushan in 2010, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2017, and honorary doctorates from Harvard, Brown, and the University of Miami.
Achievements
- Ellis Island Medal of Honor — 2017
- Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class
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