Author | Geopolitical Strategist |
Chief Analyst, Sibylline

Sam Olsen is a British author, geopolitical strategist and researcher specialising in China–Western relations, the changing international order and the relationship between technology, economic power and geopolitics. His work examines how the world is being reshaped by China's rise, what this means for the future of Western influence and how these transformations will affect the lives of ordinary people.

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He is the author of After the West (Profile Books, May 2027), which explores how China is acquiring the power to reshape the systems through which the modern world operates. Drawing on history and original research, the book examines the forces driving the transformation of the international order and the consequences for economic prosperity, technology, security and individual freedom.

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Research and Current Work

Sam is Chief Analyst at Sibylline, a British geopolitical intelligence and advisory firm, where he leads strategic geopolitical research and advises governments and senior business leaders on China–Western relations, economic security, artificial intelligence and international strategic competition.

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He is also a Simon Industrial Fellow at the University of Manchester, researching how states develop and sustain international influence through economic systems, industrial capacity, technology and global networks.

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His research has developed original approaches to understanding China's structural influence, the changing nature of international power and the strategic choices facing Western countries and other middle powers. He has a particular interest in how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming geopolitics, and regularly advises and lectures on the future of AI.

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Professional Background

Sam has more than 25 years of experience across government, intelligence, technology, academia and international business.

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He has undertaken research and advisory work for various British government departments. Earlier in his career, he served as a Legislative Fellow in the United States Senate, working on Chinese trade policy, and was campaign manager for Rt Hon Theresa May MP, who subsequently became British Prime Minister. He also served as a captain and intelligence officer in the British Army, including operational deployments to Iraq and Kosovo.

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Sam spent more than a decade living and working in Asia, including China, Hong Kong and Singapore. During this period, he was Managing Director at Kroll in Hong Kong and co-founded Lamplight Analytics, an early AI-enabled intelligence and analytics company. He subsequently founded and led research organisations specialising in geopolitical competition, Chinese influence and the application of advanced analytical technologies to international affairs.

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Writing, Teaching and Public Engagement

Alongside his books and academic research, Sam publishes States of Play, a newsletter examining the forces transforming the international order. His writing has appeared in publications including The Spectator, Nikkei Asia, South China Morning Post, and The Hill. He regularly appears on television and radio, including the BBC and ITV, providing commentary on geopolitics and international affairs, and has featured on podcasts around the world, including The General and the Journalist and Battle Lines by the Daily Telegraph. 

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He regularly lectures and speaks at universities, government institutions, military establishments and international business conferences. His academic engagements have included the University of Cambridge, the London School of Economics, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

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Sam studied Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Oxford and holds an MSc with Distinction in Energy, Trade and Finance from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass).

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Further Information

After the West | Research & Publications | States of Play | Speaking & Enquiries

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