Bruce Bueno de Mesquita is a political scientist specializing in game theory and coalitions. Unlike most academics, he's made a business out it. He routinely consults for the government and businesses trying to predict future political events. He's got a new book out -- The Predictioneer's Game -- which I suspect may be the next Freakonomics. Controversial, widely read, simultaneously powerful and a little gimmicky.
I've discovered that BDM is a polarizing figure among game theorists. On the one hand, he's clearly good at what he does, and he's succeeded in bringing some popular attention to it. On the other hand, he sometimes comes off as arrogant, and he makes some really big claims. Lots of people think that one of these days, he's going to be wrong about something big. I get the impression that a jealous few would like to see it happen.
A bunch of fun links to BDM-related material:
* His interview on the Daily Show on Monday of this week. In my opinion, Stewart asks good questions, but lets him off easy on the answers.
* The TED talk where he first (?) made his prediction that Iran will not get the bomb.
* A really good NYTimes article on the topic.
There's one link I couldn't find: video from the History Channel's show "The Next Nostrademus." I'm told it's over the top. Links anyone?
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