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Pascal Boniface

Pascal Boniface

Geopolitical analyst, founder of IRIS, specialist in international relations and the geopolitics of sport

Pascal Boniface est l’un des grands analystes géopolitiques français. Fondateur et directeur de l’IRIS, auteur et commentateur reconnu, il décrypte depuis plus de trente ans les conflits, les rapports de force et les nouveaux équilibres mondiaux avec clarté, précision et pédagogie.

Languages
English (US), French / Français
Duration
45 to 90 minutes
Formats
Conference, keynote, panel discussion, debate, interview

Biography

A leading voice in French geopolitics

Pascal Boniface is one of France's most recognized and widely followed geopolitical analysts. Founder and Director of IRIS, the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, he has been analyzing the major shifts of the contemporary world for more than thirty years.

A graduate of Sciences Po Paris and a Doctor of State in public international law, he has become a key voice in international relations in France, combining strategic analysis, pedagogy and public debate.

Founder of IRIS and analyst of global power dynamics

In 1990, Pascal Boniface founded IRIS, which has become one of France's leading think tanks on international affairs, defense, security and strategic balances. He also directs La Revue internationale et stratégique and L'Année stratégique, two reference publications.

His analyses focus on changes in the world order, rivalry between major powers, contemporary conflicts, French foreign policy, nuclear issues, terrorism, Europe and the new balances between the West and the Global South.

A pedagogue of the contemporary world

Author of more than 80 books, Pascal Boniface writes both analytical essays and accessible works for a wider audience. A regular media commentator, he appears frequently on major French and international channels.

His YouTube channel Comprendre le monde has more than 460,000 subscribers, and he is followed by more than 1.3 million people across social media, demonstrating his ability to make complex geopolitical issues understandable.

A pioneer in the geopolitics of sport

Pascal Boniface has also helped shape an original field: the geopolitics of sport. He shows how the Olympic Games, World Cups, major clubs and strategic sports investments have become tools of power, influence and soft power.

A member of the National Ethics Council of the French Football Federation, and geopolitical consultant for the Museum of Olympism and the NGO Peace and Sport, he analyzes sport as a mirror of global power relations and collective identities.

A clear, direct and accessible speaker

Pascal Boniface speaks to companies, institutions, local authorities, universities and professional organizations. His conferences are valued for their clarity, historical depth and ability to connect current events with long-term trends.

Decoding the world to better anticipate its turning points.

— Pascal Boniface
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Conferences

Through his talks, Pascal Boniface provides clear frameworks to understand global disorder, anticipate power dynamics and place current events in a strategic perspective.

01

The changing world order: towards a new distribution of power?

Understanding the end of a Western-dominated world.

The world is not simply going through a series of crises: it is experiencing a structural transformation. The balance inherited from the Cold War is giving way to an unstable, multipolar system shaped by Sino-American rivalry, Russia's repositioning and the rise of emerging powers.

In this talk, Pascal Boniface analyzes ongoing shifts: the relative weakening of the West, the rise of the BRICS, strategic fragmentation, the return of power politics and the growing role of non-state actors.

  • Understand new global power dynamics
  • Identify major geopolitical risks
  • Anticipate impacts for companies and institutions
Ideal for Executives, boards, institutions, strategic conventions
Format Conference or keynote · 45 to 90 min
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02

Does France still matter on the international stage?

Great power, middle power or power of influence?

Is France still a great power? Or is it gradually being marginalized in a world dominated by continental blocs?

Pascal Boniface offers a lucid analysis of France's position: diplomatic assets, a seat on the UN Security Council, nuclear deterrence and global cultural reach, but also European constraints, budgetary limits and strategic dependencies.

He examines the notion of strategic autonomy, the Franco-German relationship, the role of the European Union and France's room for maneuver in relation to the United States, China and emerging powers.

  • Assess the strengths and limits of French power
  • Understand European strategic autonomy
  • Connect diplomacy, economy and sovereignty
Ideal for Institutions, local authorities, French companies, schools, universities
Format Conference or panel discussion · 45 to 75 min
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03

The geopolitics of sport: the new arena for power struggles

When sport becomes an instrument of soft power.

Sport is no longer merely entertainment. It has become a major tool of influence, visibility and sometimes parallel diplomacy.

Through the Olympic Games, World Cups and the investments of countries such as Qatar, China and Russia, Pascal Boniface shows how sport is used to strengthen a national image, capture global attention and shape the international stage.

He also analyzes the identity-building role of sport: its ability to bring people together, reinforce national belonging and embody a form of soft power.

  • Understand sport as a geopolitical tool
  • Decode state influence strategies
  • Connect sport, identity, power and globalization
Ideal for Federations, sports partner companies, institutions, sports events, business schools
Format Conference or keynote · 45 to 75 min
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04

Current crises and conflicts: understanding Ukraine, the Middle East and global tensions

Reading conflicts beyond immediate emotion.

Why do some wars last? Why do mediation attempts fail? Why do military victories not always become political victories?

Pascal Boniface places contemporary conflicts in their historical depth: Ukraine, the Middle East, tensions in the South China Sea, instability in Africa, rivalries between powers and fractures between the West and the Global South.

He shows how perceptions differ across regions and how military, diplomatic, economic and symbolic logics intertwine in today's crises.

  • Understand the dynamics of contemporary conflicts
  • Distinguish between morality, political realism and long-term effects
  • Anticipate the economic and strategic consequences of crises
Ideal for Institutions, international companies, media, universities, current affairs conventions
Format Conference, debate or panel discussion · 45 to 90 min
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05

Terrorism and new threats: security challenges of the 21st century

Understanding the risks reshaping global security.

Terrorism has profoundly transformed security policies, international balances and democratic debates.

Pascal Boniface analyzes the evolution of radicalization, the transformation of terrorist networks and state responses. He highlights the tensions between security, public freedoms, diplomacy and social cohesion.

He also addresses hybrid threats: cyberattacks, disinformation, the instrumentalization of migration flows and new forms of conflict.

  • Understand the evolution of contemporary threats
  • Connect domestic security and international relations
  • Analyze political and strategic responses
Ideal for Public institutions, companies exposed to risk, security stakeholders, schools, local authorities
Format Conference or panel discussion · 45 to 75 min
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For which events?

Pascal Boniface speaks at the key moments where people, performance and impact matter.

  • Seminars and conventions
  • Leadership committees and strategic talks
  • Product launches
  • CSR and climate events
  • Institutions, schools and universities

Possible formats

Formats adaptable to your goals and context.

  • Inspiring talk
  • Impactful keynote
  • Participative workshop
  • Panel
  • Webinar

Why choose them?

A unique experience serving strong, useful messages.

  • Field experience backing the message
  • Authentic and inspiring stories
  • Human, demanding and accessible approach
  • Tailored content aligned with your stakes
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Videos

Watch Pascal Boniface in action: conferences, geopolitical analysis and insights into major international issues.

Looking for more content or a specific clip? Contact us
Why and how football conquered the world: a lesson in geopolitics 20:27
Short format

Why and how football conquered the world: a lesson in geopolitics

Pascal Boniface analyzes football as a powerful instrument of soft power, capable of bringing people together, strengthening national identities and embodying the smile of globalization.

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Between morality and realism 23:27
Short format

Between morality and realism

Pascal Boniface analyzes the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East through the tension between morality, political realism and long-term consequences, calling for a move beyond illusory military victories towards lasting political outcomes.

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Publications

Author of more than 80 books, Pascal Boniface has published numerous works on international relations, French foreign policy, contemporary conflicts, nuclear issues, terrorism, and the geopolitics of sport.

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