From Blind Spots to Insights: Enhancing Geopolitical Radar to Guide Global Business
World Economic Forum White Paper January 2025
In a rapidly changing, multipolar world, successful companies are adopting a systematic approach to geopolitical risks. This forward-looking perspective not only mitigates emerging threats, it also reveals new market opportunities. A new report, lead-authored by Simon Evenett sheds light on building a “geopolitical radar” to confidently navigate—and seize—opportunities in today’s complex global landscape beyond.
In our increasingly multipolar world, geopolitical factors shape every facet of global business. Companies that fail to systematically monitor these evolving forces risk being caught off guard and missing out on valuable market opportunities. The new report, From Blind Spots to Insights: Enhancing Geopolitical Radar to Guide Global Business, produced by the World Economic Forum, the IMD, and the Boston Consulting Group under the lead-authorship of Simon Evenett, challenges organisations to develop a forward-looking “geopolitical radar” rather than relying on reactive, backward-looking analyses.
Drawing from in-depth interviews with multinational firms, the report reveals how top-tier enterprises have upgraded their geopolitical surveillance to move beyond compliance-driven, short-term fixes. Instead, they are proactively assessing potential risks, understanding the underlying drivers of government action, and identifying new ways to deploy scenario planning and external expertise. Equipped with more refined “radar” and “sonar,” these companies are seizing fresh business opportunities that arise from evolving global dynamics—while mitigating emerging threats in their supply chains, markets, and regulatory environments.
Building and maintaining a robust geopolitical radar is not just about risk management. As this report shows, it opens up a range of commercial benefits by enabling companies to invest more confidently, plan strategic expansions, and form innovative partnerships. Download the full white paper to discover how international businesses are transforming their approach to geopolitics and learn actionable insights for your own organization.