Listen To The Article
The realm of French geopolitics and journalism mourns the loss of a monumental figure, Alexandre Adler, who passed away this Tuesday at the age of 72 at the European Georges-Pompidou Hospital in Paris. Adler, a distinguished historian and journalist, a recognized expert in international relations, the former USSR and the Middle East, leaves a profound void in the realms of literature and geopolitics.
A Life Devoted to Geopolitics
Alexandre Adler, with his profound erudition, boundless curiosity and insightful acumen, left an indelible mark on the field of geopolitics. He embarked on his journalistic career in 1982, covering Soviet affairs for the newspaper Libération. A decade later, he joined the editorial team of Courrier International, where he successively served as editor-in-chief and editorial director for ten years.
It was during this tenure that he established himself as a revered voice in geopolitics, predicting pivotal events like the fall of the USSR. His work was honored with numerous awards, including the 2003 Political Book Award for his bestseller J’ai vu finir le monde ancien (I Have Seen the End of the Old World), a work dedicated to the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
This scholar, a graduate of the École Normale Supérieure and a qualified history teacher, also worked for esteemed press outlets such as Le Monde, Le Figaro and Le Point, as he regularly contributed to France Culture. Before his death, he was working on an “almost completed geopolitical treatise,” which bore testimony to his enduring passion for his field.
Beyond print journalism, Adler also left his imprint on the audiovisual world. He was a columnist for Europe 1 and RTL, and hosted the program Les Mercredis de l’Histoire (The Wednesdays of History) on Arte for nearly a decade. He is also the author of a series of historical chronicles of the 20th century, Histoire de comprendre (Just to Understand).
An Extraordinary Journey
Adler was born into a family with deep roots and a rich cultural and historical heritage. His maternal family, of German and Russian Jewish origin, evaded Nazi persecution by residing in Turkey since the early 20th century. His father, Émeric, survived deportation, while the rest of his paternal family tragically perished.
Adler was a cousin of the former Romanian Prime Minister Petre Roman. He was married to Blandine Kriegel, a renowned philosopher and historian, daughter of Maurice Kriegel-Valrimont, a resistance fighter and communist leader. A Freemason, Adler was initiated into the French National Grand Lodge in 1996, before leaving in 2015 for the Grand Lodge of Cultures and Spirituality, where he had reached the 33rd degree.
He was recognized not only for his journalistic career, but also for his significant contributions to French intellectual life. He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 2002 and an Officer of the National Order of Merit in 2007. His thought and work were influenced by a strong historical sensibility, inspired by Fernand Braudel and the longue durée.
The Man of Bold Predictions
Adler was also known for his daring anticipation, which often proved accurate. Drawing inspiration from Fernand Braudel and his interest in the longue durée, Adler frequently ventured into bold forecasts. Among his most significant predictions were the fall of Mikhail Gorbachev, three months before the 1991 coup, and the fall of Slobodan Milošević in Serbia, two months before it occurred.
The historian was a respected voice in the French media landscape. His passing is a substantial loss to the worlds of journalism and geopolitics. Through his erudition and discernment, he illuminated the major transformations of our era. Even though his bold predictions were occasionally subject to controversy, his capacity to anticipate significant geopolitical shifts is indisputable. Adler leaves a rich legacy that will continue to be carried forward by those who, in turn, seek to understand and explain the world.
The cause of his death has yet to be specified.
With AFP