Geopolitical Risks and Global Business
"When markets fragment and alliances shift, business as usual becomes business at risk."
Dr. Siyana Gurova, Research Associate & Lecturer ZHAW School of Management and Law
Political tensions, trade conflicts, and shifting alliances are fundamentally reshaping the environment for global business. Understanding geopolitical risks is now essential not only for developing strategies but for rethinking entire business models. At the Center for Geopolitics and Competitiveness, we analyze how major geopolitical developments impact companies’ operations, supply chains, and market positions. We support businesses in adapting to a more fragmented and uncertain global economy.
Focus Areas
Our current research and consulting activities focus on the following areas of expertise:
- Geopolitical risks in a fragmented economy (Innosuisse-funded project)
- Swiss Managers Survey
- ZHAW International Business Podium: A series of events that addresses political and economic developments and engages with experts and scholars to discuss current issues.
Revival of the strongman – really?
15.04.2025
In an era of growing geopolitical uncertainty, traditional toughness is no longer enough. Successful leadership in global business now demands situational strength, soft power, and strategic flexibility. This article analyzes why classic ideals of masculinity are losing relevance amid geopolitical risks—and which leadership skills matter today: (link to the article in german)(PDF 80,2 KB)
Switzerland is not a G-20 member - and yet it is involved
24.10.2024
Switzerland is not an official G-20 member – yet it remains actively involved in shaping global economic policy. Dominique Ursprung and Mira Braun detail this unique role in Die Volkswirtschaft: (link to the article in german)
Trans Pacific Partnership CPTPP
21.09.2023
Momentum around the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is growing, with six countries seeking membership—while Switzerland remains on the sidelines. Dominique Ursprung explains why CPTPP is becoming increasingly important for Switzerland in Die Volkswirtschaft: Waiting Line at the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Zone. (Article in German)
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Zoller-Rydzek, Benedikt; Lassmann, Andrea,
2019.
Decomposing the margins of transfer pricing.
In:
1st Workshop of the Swiss Network on Public Economics, Zürich, 13 December 2019.
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Makov, Tamar; Meylan, Grégoire; Powell, Jon T.; Shepon, Alon,
2019.
Better than bottled water? : energy and climate change impacts of on-the-go drinking water stations.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling.
143, pp. 320-328.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.11.010
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2019.
The Economists’ Voice.
16(1).
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1515/ev-2019-0021
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Egger, Peter; Strecker, Nora; Zoller-Rydzek, Benedikt,
2019.
Grossunternehmen : tiefere Steuersätze dank höherer Verhandlungsmacht.
Ökonomenstimme.
Available from: https://oekonomenstimme.org/articles/1459
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Felbermayr, Gabriel; Zoller-Rydzek, Benedikt,
2019.
Der US-Chinesische Handelskonflikt : wer trägt die Kosten?.
Ökonomenstimme.
Available from: https://oekonomenstimme.org/articles/1409
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Keller, Florian; Egli, Yannic,
2019.
3D-Druck im Schweizer Mittelstand : aktueller Stand und Szenarien für die Zukunft.
In:
Digitalisierung in der Praxis : so schaffen KMU den Weg in die Zukunft.
Wiesbaden:
Springer.
pp. 197-208.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-26137-5_13
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Duygan, Mert; Stauffacher, Michael; Meylan, Grégoire,
2019.
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions.
33, pp. 13-29.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2019.02.002
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Dela Cruz, Jeremy; Graf, Christian Olivier; Wolter, Anika,
2019.
Assessing the impact of “more-flexible” learning as part of a study program.
Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung.
14(3), pp. 157-177.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.3217/zfhe-14-03/10
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Fernandes, Luca; Duma, Fabio,
2019.
In:
2019 Global Fashion Management Conference at Paris, Paris, France, 11-14 July 2019.
Global Alliance of Marketing & Management Associations.
pp. 515-521.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.15444/GFMC2019.05.06.03
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2019.
In:
2019 Global Fashion Management Conference at Paris, Paris, France, 11-14 July 2019.
Global Alliance of Marketing & Management Associations.
pp. 554-564.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.15444/GFMC2019.05.08.02