Issue Geopolitical tensions, rule of law collapse and war at the core of the risk network

Summary

The report analysed the causal links between risks drawn by respondents as a network. Rule of law collapse, large-scale war and geopolitical tensions emerged as the nodes with the most connections at its centre. Respondents regard these three risks as important in their own right and also as key causes and key results of other risks. For that reason the report judges them decisive for managing the risk landscape as a whole. If preparedness for them is weak, the effects can spread through the wider system. A network map showing only the strongest 5 per cent of connections likewise places political risks at the heart of the 2026 network.