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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Hartwell, Christopher A.; Korovkin, Vladimir,
2024.
Strategizing on the riverbank : state-owned enterprises, paradoxes, and the success of Sberbank.
Business History.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2024.2382965
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Keil, Thomas; Syrigos, Evangelos; Kostopoulos, Konstantinos C.; Meissner, Felix D.; Audia, Pino G.,
2024.
(In)consistent performance feedback and the locus of search.
Journal of Management.
50(7), pp. 2927-2954.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063231185519
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Pugnetti, Carlo; Björck, Albena; Schönauer, Reto; Casián, Carlos,
2024.
Towards diagnosing and mitigating behavioral cyber risks.
Risks.
12(7), pp. 116.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12070116
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Steller, Nicole; Björck, Albena,
2024.
Extending strategifying by cultural coupling : purposefying led by chief purpose officers[paper].
In:
Academy of Management Proceedings.
84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM), Chicago, USA, 9-13 August 2024.
Academy of Management.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2024.13671abstract
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Tushman, Michael L.; Volberda, Henk W.; Di Minin, Alberto; Bushe, Gervase R.; Björck, Albena; Pregmark, Johanna E.; Gionfriddo, Gianluca; Fredberg, Tobias,
2024.
Purpose-driven strategic renewal, open innovation & generative change : models, governance, practice[paper].
In:
Academy of Management Proceedings.
84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM), Chicago, USA, 9-13 August 2024.
Academy of Management.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2024.12103symposium
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Hartwell, Christopher; Ursprung, Dominique,
2024.
Diplomacy and MNE strategy : how international relations can influence international business.
Multinational Business Review.
32(2), pp. 226-240.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1108/MBR-12-2023-0199
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2024.
Marrying crisis preparation and strategic planning.
In:
Diers-Lawson, Audra; Schwarz, Andreas; Meissner, Florian; Ravazzani, Silvia, eds.,
Risk and crisis communication in Europe : towards integrating theory and practice in unstable and turbulent times.
New York:
Routledge.
pp. 28-37.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003375296-4
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Björck, Albena; Farner, Fabienne,
2024.
In:
Diers-Lawson, Audra; Schwarz, Andreas; Meissner, Florian; Ravazzani, Silvia, eds.,
Risk and crisis communication in Europe : towards integrating theory and practice in unstable and turbulent times.
New York:
Routledge.
pp. 223-240.
Routledge Research in Communication Studies.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003375296-16
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Wojtczuk‐Turek, Agnieszka; Turek, Dariusz; Edgar, Fiona; Klein, Howard J.; Bosak, Janine; Okay‐Somerville, Belgin; Fu, Na; Raeder, Sabine; Jurek, Paweł; Lupina-Wegener, Anna; Dvorakova, Zuzana; Gutiérrez‐Crocco, Francisca; Kekkonen, Aleksandra; Leiva, Pedro I.; Mynaříková, Lenka; Sánchez‐Apellániz, Mercedes; Shafique, Imran; Al‐Romeedy, Bassam Samir; Wee, Serena; Dunlop, Patrick; Stinglhamber, Florence; Caesens, Gaëtane; Caldana, Adriana; Sticca, Marina Greghi; Vasilev, Valentin; Lauzier, Martin; Desjardins, Guillaume; Zhang, Gangfeng; Tan, Le; Galvez‐Sierra, Lady Brigitte; Rentería Pérez, Erico; Goić, Srećko; Tadić, Ivana; Charvátová, Dagmar; Botek, Marek; Jensen, Dorthe Høj; Rojas, Dayamy Lima; Pazmay Ramos, Segundo Gonzalo; Masso, Piret; Järlström, Maria; Gillet, Nicolas; Huyghebaert‐Zouaghi, Tiphaine; Robakidze, Maia; Martskvishvili, Khatuna; Dorrough, Angela R.; Jekel, Marc; Häffner, Carolin; Sevincer, A. Timur; Kekesi, Elias Kodjo; Agyemang, Collins Badu; Apospori, Eleni; Jose, Jerin; Salendu, Alice; Etikariena, Arum; Susianto, Harry; Sjabadhyni, Bertina; Malayeri, Shera; Seydi, Masoumeh; Kinahan, Mary; Lisak, Alon; Mariani, Marco Giovanni; Salvati, Marco; Moscatelli, Silvia; Crapolicchio, Eleonora; Manzi, Claudia; Shimazu, Akihito; Ikeda, Hiroshi; Žukauskienė, Rita; Kaniušonytė, Goda; Catania, Gottfried; Lauri, Mary Anne; Madero Gómez, Sergio Manuel; Fernando, Denise; Veth, Klaske; Dhakal, Sandesh; Podgorodnichenko, Nataliya; Lawal, Abiodun; Duhović Hafstad, Marius; Reategui, Ana; Morales Tristán, Oswaldo; Edralin, Divina M.; Schmitz, Susana; Neto, Joana; Neto, Félix; Popov, Boris; Đorđević, Jasna Milošević; Mihić, Vladimir; Kalistova, Anna; Piterová, Ivana; Mayer, Claude‐Hélène; Molina, María José Charlo; Ranasinghe, Ruwan; Nakchedi‐Ooft, Tesora; Sobhie, Rosita; Matteo, Mösli; Chavanovanich, Jennifer; Petchthip, Narumol; Karabati, Serdar; Akbaş, Gülçin; Turkoglu, Beril; Shkoda, Tetiana; Savych, Oleksandr; Mosanya, Magdalena; de León, Pablo Pérez; Labarthe‐Carrara, Javier; Phelps, Ceri; Sullivan, Katie; Hutchings, Paul; Danilewicz, Dariusz; Łabędzki, Rafał; Karamustafa‐Köse, Güldem,
2024.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management.
31(5), pp. 4910-4932.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2815
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Hartwell, Christopher; Zadorozhna, Olha,
2024.
The connections that bind : political connectivity in the face of geopolitical disruption.
Journal of International Management.
30(3), pp. 101141.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2024.101141