Publications

Typically, short-term changes in geopolitical risk are monitored by high-frequency, news-based indices, which usually revert to the mean after some time. We complement those measures by developing new structural geopolitical risk (SGR) and economic fragmentation (SEF) country-specific indices since the 1960s.

On the 70th anniversary of China, violent protests took place in Hong Kong. Meanwhile hope has increased for US-China trade talks. US House announced that would officially launch an impeachment inquiry against Trump. In UK, the Brexit agenda has intensified. Drone attacks against Saudi oil facilities have increased risks.

Massive protests have taken place in Hong Kong due to the extradition bill. Tensions between U.S. and China increased. Boris Johnson has been appointed as the new PM of UK. Iran related disputes are still alive. TANAP pipeline project that will carry natural gas to Europe via Turkey has been ended.

In June, the dispute between Iran and the United States faced with risky attempts including downing a U.S. drone. European political agenda will be worth monitoring even in the next month due to busy political calendar especially in the U.K. and in Italy. U.S. and China are seeking ways to reinstate trade talks.

Tensions surrounding the North Korean nuclear test program remained in the spotlight becoming one of the main US foreign policy concerns. The US announced its support for the Syrian Kurdish in the fight against ISIS. The campaign to seize Raqqa is accelerating. Recent peace talks in Syria as well as the “de-escalation zone” agreement reduced conflict intensity in May.

Tensions continued between North Korea and US over the nuclear test programme and the US increased its missile defence system in the area. China will continue to maintain the statuo quo while the tone of the US escalated but softened thereafter. In the Middle East, the advances of the coalition forces continue against ISIS. The US supported the YPG's advance in Raqqa.

While ISIS lost ground in Syria and Iraq, Al-Qaeda resumed its offensive operations. Meanwhile, tensions between Russia and Ukraine stabilized after last month’s sharp conflict escalation. Geopolitical tensions in China could intensify as uncertainties regarding the US policy stance in the region remained and North Korea remains testing.

Fighting in Eastern Ukraine erupted again, just a day after that the first phone call between Trump and Putin since the US president's inauguration. It was the worst escalation since early 2015. The new US administration's policy stance towards the conflict is still undefined and increases concerns and uncertainties about the conflict evolution and the Russian role on it.