The LSDP Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2011 (english version)

Dear readers, here’s our ranking of 2011 global thinkers. Before reading, just some “directions”. In every thinker’s motivation you can also find links to deepen your curiosity, waiting for the ebook/pdf with more extensive profiles. Just as last year, we need your help: if you like our ranking, please help us sharing it on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, and between your contacts and friends. Instead, if you don’t like this ranking, feel free to express your comments and criticism, they are valuable feedback for us. Now here we are: happy global thought to everybody!

 

1) THE ROYAL FAMILY OF QATAR

 

Sovereign dinasty, Qatar

 Energy reserves, Al Jazeera and the successful 2022 World Cup bid: a small country has now acquired a truly global influence.

 

2) HELMUT SCHMIDT, HELMUT KOHL, JACQUES DELORS

 

Grandfathers of Europe, Germany and France

History will judge the euro. But we already know that no European leader (particularly the ones from their countries) acted and thought at the level of their interviews (here, here, and here).

3) THE MAYAN PROPHETS

 

Prophets of doom?

If their calendar proofs right, this could be the last list of global thinkers: please, we would like to continue.

4) TU YOUYOU

 

Researcher, China Academy of Medical Sciences, China

For having obtained the Lasker Award 2011 because she discovered a therapy against malaria that saved million of lives throughout the world.

5) AARON SWARTZ

 

Hacker and founder of Demand Progress, US

For having downloaded 4 million articles from JSTOR from the MIT archive, risking jail and pushing the academic website to move to the public domain the6% of all articles.

6) ANNA HAZARE

 

Activist, India

Because his protests against corruption have dominated the Indian political scene, and they have been able to catch the attention of the young urban middle class.

7) NUTELLA

Chocolate spread, Italy

Because brands, particularly when active on Facebook, are players of today’s global society.

08) CAMILA VALLEJO

 

President of FECH, Chile

Because she is the heroine of worldwide indignados, calling for a decent respect of education.

9) MICHAEL PETTIS

 

Peking University professor and owner of China Financial Markets, US

For his work on international economics (particularly global imbalances) and his forecasts on the decade.

10) GUIDO MANTEGA

 

Finance Minister, Brazil

Because this Brazilian of Sardinian-Genoese roots, after his warning of a “currency war”, has became the spokesman of emerging countries in the international economic forums.

11) ELON MUSK

 

Founder of PayPal, Tesla Motors and Space X, US

Because he is a revolutionary in the market of spaceships and electric cars. 

12) MARIO MONTI

 

Prime minister, Italy

Because in Italy he is now more popular than Chuck Norris as a troubleshooter.

13) EIVIND KOLDING

 

CEO Maersk Line, Denmark

For the commission of the Triple E container ship, and for “The new normal” manifesto, focused on the future innovations of global shipping.

14) GILAD SHALIT PARENTS

 

Activists, Israel

Because they have been able to win a battle against the majority of Israeli public opinion, staying with a tent outside the Prime minister’s house. 

15) JENS STOLTENBERG

 

Prime minister, Norway

For his sober reaction to the Utoya tragedy, that made us think “we are all Norwegians”.

16) TWITTER

 

Social news network, US

For its role in fostering a boundless public opinion.

17) HANS KUNDNANI

 

European Council on Foreign Relations, Germany.

For his articles on Germany’s global role, and in particular “Germany’s contribution to the Arab Spring: selling arms”. 

18) CHARLES D. DAVIDSON

 

CEO Noble Energy, US

Because the discovery of gas resources in Israel would be at the crossroads of Middle East geopolitics.

19) YUSUF al-QARADAWI

 

Imam, Egypt/Qatar

Because he is the spiritual leader of manifestants and believers, young and old Egyptians. Last March, Tahrir Square was also al-Qaradawi Square.

20) CARSON BLOCK

 

Founder of Muddy Waters Research, US

Because his enquiries on fraud committed by Chinese companies quoted in the US reportedly have made John Paulson lose up to 500 million dollars. 

21) SIDDHARTA MUKHERJEE

 

Oncologist and writer, US

For having written “The emperor of all maladies”, the Pulitzer-winning biography of cancer.

22) ZHU MIN

 

Deputy director of IMF, China

 For his promotion, that gets China closer to the top of the international economic institutions.

23) CREDIT WRITEDOWNS

 

Economic and financial website, US

Because it is a key place for gathering information and analyses on the debt crisis.

24) DIRK NOWITZKI

 

NBA player, Germany

For his leadership on Dallas Mavs’ historical ring, and because the perfection of his “fade away” has attracted the attention of several researchers.

    25) XU ZHOU

 

             Multi-role frigate, China

             For having contributed to the evacuation of tens of thousands of Chinese from Libya, marking the Chinese military entrance in the Mediterranean.

             26) ATHENE DONALD

 

             Professor of Physics at Cambridge University, UK

             For her communication of science on her blog and for her article “Where is Physics Barbie?”

             27) NATALIA KALIADA

 

             Exiled actress, Belarus

             Because she fights in the name of the Belarus Free Theater democracy against Lukashenko’s dictatorship

    28) JACOB “KOBY” SCHEUER

 

             Researcher at Tel Aviv University, Israel

             For his studies on nanotechnologies, which have led to developing a new optic gyroscope.

    29) MUSIAD

 

             Organization of entrepreneurs, Turkey

             Because this year, for a moment, Turkey has overtaken China in terms of economic growth, and this organization that reunite small and medium enterprises linked to Erdogan’s party is the symbol of this boom.

    30) DAVID GRAEBER

 

             Anthropologist and intellectual reference of Occupy Wall Street movement, USA

Because he wrote the first global history of debt.

    31) VOLKSWAGEN

 

             Automobile manufacturer, Germany

             For its undisputed dominance in the Chinese car market.

    32) RADOWSLAW SIKORSKI

 

             Foreign Affair Minister, Poland

             Thanks to pragmatism and economic growth, Poland has found his strategic role in Europe, between Germany and Russia.

    33) ANITA BORG INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN AND TECHNOLOGY

 

             Research Foundation, USA

             For the tireless work, aiming to eliminate stereotypes that block women from acquiring a real parity of access in studies and technical professions.

    34) DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

 

             Public Bank, South Africa

             Because it is one of the principal actors in the ascent of South Africa as an emergent power of the global scenario.

    35) DAVID STUCKLER

 

             Sociologist at Cambridge University, USA

             For his studies regarding the impact of economic crises on people’s health.

    36) RAHIMULLAH YUSUFZAI

 

             Editor at The News International, Pakistan

             Because he was the last journalist that has interviewed Osama Bin Laden.

    37) MILA KUNIS & NATALIE PORTMAN

 

             Actress, Ukraine/USA & Israel/USA

             Because the couple of dancers of the Academy Award winner “The Black Swan” is composed by a Russian-speaking and student of Alain Dershowitz at Harvard.

    38) PETER NORVIG

 

             Google Director of Research, USA

             For his bestseller book on Artificial Intelligence, and for his on-line course on AI as well, that has more than one hundred thousands subscribers.

    39) YNGVE SLYNGSTAD

 

             CEO of NBIM, Norway

             While we Europeans are quarreling, he manages in the interest of Norwegian people the 520 billion of the National Pension Fund, that is the biggest single shareholder in the European markets.

    40) WALTER RUSSEL MEAD

 

             Historian and essayist, USA

Time goes by, but his blog remains a primary source of news to understand American politics.

    41) PRATAP BHANU METHA

 

             President of Center for Policy Research, India

             The same for Walter Russel Mead, but in this case for India, and with his op-eds for The Indian Express instead of WRM’s blog.

    42) CATIA BASTIOLI

 

             Scientist and AD of Novamont , Italy

             For the italian leadership in the sector of  bioplastic, as a result of the patent of Mater-Bi.

    43) JAMES K. GALBRAITH

 

             Economist & professor at University of Texas, USA

             Because American and European protests will make even more relevant his works about inequality.

             44) WADAH KHANFAR

 

Former managing director of Al Jazeera, Palestinian Territories

Because he marked the rise of Al Jazeera as one of the most relevant world TV channels.

    45) BRANDIX

 

             Textile & apparel industry, Sri Lanka

             For the story of reconciliation between communities of Sri Lankas, Tamil and Muslims in the facility of Punani, after 25 years of civil war that covered with blood Sri Lanka.

    46) SACHIN & BINNY BINSAL

 

             Founders of Flipkart, india

Because selling books and shipping them within 48 hours in a country lacking of efficient infrastructures as India is a Titanic endeavour, but with Flipkart they have done it.

    47) WILLIAM & MICHAEL ANDREGG

 

             Founders of Halcyon Molecular, USA

             Because they want to cut down costs of human genome sequencing, and aim to transform biology into an information science.

    48) EVGENY MOROZOV

 

             Essayist and researcher, Belarus

             Because in a moment where the Internet and social media are considered democratic and revolutionary instruments, in “The Net Delusion” he has shown how dictatorships love surfing.

    49) ANOUSHEH ANSARI

 

             Engineer, Iran

             Because she was the first private tourist on the International Space Station, and because she financed the Ansari X Prize for the construction of private space vehicles.

    50) IGINIO STRAFFI

 

             Founder of Rainbow, Italy

             Because, thanks to the Winx, great global successes of animation industry are not only American or Japanese, but also Italian.

    51) ANDREW SHENG

 

             President of the Fung Global Institute, Malaysia

             Because he has contributed to the foundation of the first think-tank that tries to bring an Asian perspective on global issues.

    52) ANGRY BIRDS

 

             Videogame, Finland

             While we talk about crisis, sovereign debts, Brics, etc. they conquer the world: The Atlantic has tried to estimate their “impact” on american economy.

    53) CALESTOUS JUMA

 

             Researcher at Harvard Kennedy School, Kenya

             For the direction of the project “Agricultural Innovation in Africa” of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, published in “The New Harvest”.

    54) DITLEV ENGEL

 

             CEO of Vestas, Denmark

             Under his leadership, Vestas has became the biggest manufacturer of wind turbines in the world, and he has managed to enter with success in the Chinese market, which is the biggest market in the world for renewable energies.

    55) CHER WANG

 

             Co-founder and chairwoman of HTC and VIA Technologies, Taiwan

             Because she is the soul of an important Information and Communication Technology group.

    56) FELIX TSCHUDI

 

             CEO of Tschudi group, Norway

             Because his ships, with the melting of Arctic ice, are making reality the “Northeast Passage”.

    57) PETROBRAS

 

             Oil company, Brazil

             For the technological leadership in oil extraction at high depth and for the record of capital founding, making Petrobras a real global giant.

    58) MARAT BISENGALIEV

 

             Violinist & director of the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra, Kazakhstan

             Because Kazakhs that export successfully classical music in Mumbai, well… It’s a nice story of global medley.

    59) YINGLAN TAN

 

             Venture capitalist & innovator, Singapore

             For his book “Chinnovation” and for his activities regarding venture capital in Asia.

60) CHRISTINE LAGARDE

 

France, IMF General Director

Because she managed to get Dominique Strauss Kahn position thanks to a perfect mix between  British professionalism and French charm.

61) JUAN OSBORNE

 

Spain, visual artist

For his ability to draw a face through the use of words.

62) BEYONDBRICS

 

Financial Times collective blog

Because it is an essential source to understand the most relevant social and economical changes in emerging countries. 

63) YVES SMITH (SUSAN WEBBER)

 

US, Founder of The Naked Capitalism

Compared to Paul Krugman’s blog, this one is much better if you want to understand the financial crisis.

 64) MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI

 

India, cricket player

Because he made more than a billion people dream, giving to India an historical victory at the Cricket World Championship.

65) ULRIKE GUEROT

 

European Council on Foreign Relations, Germany

For her articles on Germany and Europe relations.

66) PHILIP N. HOWARD

 

US, Washington University

Because in “The Digital Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy” he analyzed the Arab World’s technological structure.

67) ALBERTO FORCHIELLI

 

Italy, Mandarin Capital Fund Director

Because he is the only European that owns a blog on Caixin, the most important Chinese economic media.

68) ISSANDR EL AMRANI

 

Political analyst and blogger, Morocco

Because on his blog he makes a selection of the Arab press’s best contents.

69) BORIS TADIC

 

President, Serbia

Because during this interview (at minute 3:40) he reminds us that being a politician, particularly a President, is much more than being at the top of the popularity ratings.

70) CHRISTIANIA

 

European Free City, Denmark

Because after 40 years of independence and resistance against property speculations, it converted to the law, but it wants to preserve its urban and social utopia for its inhabitants.

 71) BENEDICTA MARZINOTTO

 

Economist at Bruegel, Italy

For her work on a European “Marshall Plan” for Greece.

 72) DAVID ADJAYE

 

Architect, Tanzania/Ghana

Because he was the winner of the 2011 “Designer of the year” award.

73) ASIMO

 

Humanoid robot created by Honda, Japan

For the improvements in his intelligence.

 74) CHO YANG-HO

 

Pyeongchang 2018 Games bid chief, South Korea

Because South Korea must be proud of being assigned the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

 

75) ANDY MARKOVITS

 

Michigan University Professor, US/Romania/Hungary

Because through his book “Gaming the World“, he gave an academic dignity to sport geopolitics and he enhanced the value of the global popular culture dimension linked to sportive personalities.

76) FEDERICO BUFFA

Sports Commentator, Italy

Because one of the best intellectuals in the above mentioned sportive global culture is Italian.

77) EZRA VOGEL

 

Emeritus professor at Harvard, US

Because he wrote Deng Xiaoping’s most comprehensive biography.

 

78) CHENGDU RESEARCH BASE of GIANT PANDA BREEDING

 

Non-profit organization, China

Because giant pandas matter in global politics, and here’s where they get pampered.

79) JAMES M. DORSEY

 

Contributor at Al Arabiya, US

Because there is no other Arab journalist that is understanding the Arab society changes as he is doing this from a comprehensive perspective.

80) WILLEM BUITER

 

Economist, UK

Because the unforgettable MaverEcon is the man behind the 3G report, which could be 2011’s “Dreaming with BRICs”.

81) FREDERIC MARTEL

 

Essayist and scholar, France

For his constant researches on international media industries.

 

82) MARIA CHIARA CARROZZA

 

Director of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy

For her effort to promote the relevance of robotic sciences.

83) IAN MORRIS

 

Archeologist and Historian, UK

Because he wrote “Why the West Rules (for now)” where he considered the debate on the rise and fall of the West in the very long term.

 

84) BRAVOSOLUTION

 

ICT multinational company, Italy

Because it digitalized the tender procedures for the 2012 London Olympic Games’ supplies.

85) MARC ROCHE

 

Journalist, France

Because in his book, “La Banque“, he talks about the backstage moves of the most powerful bank in the world, Goldman Sachs.

86) JUAN JOSE’ LOZANO & HOLLMAN MORRIS

 

 

Journalist and Media Producer, Colombia

For their documentary, “Impunity”, on the Colombian peace process.

 

    87) AMY FARRAH FOWLER

 

 

             Neuro-biologist, The Bing Bang Theory (TV show)

             Because the actress who plays Dr Sheldon Cooper’s love interest, Mayim Bialik, has truly a Ph.D. in Neuroscience.

 

88) PAUL GRAHAM

 

Founder of Y Combinator, US

Because he founded the most respected start-up incubator in the world: every year gives birth to companies that will be valued a billion dollars, such as Dropbox and Airbnb.

 

    89) PATRICIA ACIOLI, in memoriam

             Judge, Brazil

             For her twenty-years commitment against drug dealers and corrupted policemen in the Sao Goncalo district, paid with her life on August 12.

90) NA LI

 

China, tennis player

For being the first Chinese winner of a Grand Slam tournament.

91)MARIETJE SCHAAKE

 

European MP, Netherlands

For her use of social network in her political activity, for which she has been praised by the WallStreetJournal as Europe’s most wired MP.

92) CEM OZDEMIR

 

Co-Chairman of Grünen, Germany/Turkey

Because, after the recent victories in the elections, the Greens are real competitors for the German leadership.

 

93) MIN JIANG

 

UNC Charlotte-University of Pennsylvania, China

For her studies on Internet in China.

 

94) HERNERT HAINER, FRANZ KOCH, MARK PARKER

 

CEO Adidas, Germany / CEO Puma, Germany / CEO Nike, US

Because the commercial war between the giants of sportswear for the London Olympics in 2012 is still in the making.

95) GENEVIEVE BELL

 

Anthropologist and researcher, Australia

For her studies on making computing more “human”.

.

96) LUCA LUCIANI

 

CEO of TIM Brasil, Italy

He was rightly mocked for his speech to the employers: “Win like Napoleon in Waterloo!” But he has had his revenge in Rio de Janeiro.

97) BAE SYSTEMS

 

Military technologies company, Sweden

History tells us that military technologies often produce widespread innovations. The Adaptiv hiding system would be one of them.

 

98) ALFANAR

Philanthropic organization, UK/Egypt

Because it is an interesting example of social involvement in the Arab world.

99) THE JERSEY SHORE CAST

 

Reality show celebrities, USA

Because Jersey Shore would be a mandatory reference for every future research on the decline of the West made by an alien civilization.

100)BUD SPENCER

 

Actor, Italy

Germans wanted to a tunnel in his name. Europe needs definitely some training in his celebrated b-movie fighting skills.