The Importance of Analytical Frameworks in the Assessment of Geopolitical Risk

Assessing geopolitical risk can appear overwhelming and unmanageable at times. The issues range from broad global patterns of competition, such as the evolving U.S.-China relations, down to local socio-political evolutions that can change regulatory environments in key resource-producing countries. Navigating geopolitical risk and opportunity is a growing field, and increasingly important for businesses and internationally-engaged organizations, not just governments and the military. Thinking in frameworks allows geopolitical analysts to contextualize day-to-day information volatility and identify systemic versus cyclical changes, providing a more stable way of looking at an uncertain future. In this episode of the Applied Geopolitics podcast, Rodger Baker speaks with geopolitical strategist Matt Gertken about methods for assessing geopolitical risk. Matt Gertken is BCA Research’s Chief Strategist, Geopolitical Strategy and US Political Strategy. He oversees the firm’s coverage of market-relevant policy developments across the world. Prior to joining BCA in 2015, Matt worked as a Senior Analyst at Stratfor and in various academic and publishing roles. Matt holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. RANE is a global risk intelligence company that delivers risk and security professionals access to critical insights, analysis and support to ensure business continuity and resilience for our clients. For more information about RANE's risk management solutions, visit www.ranenetwork.com.