As Volatility Surges, Businesses Must Develop "Geopolitical Reactivity"

A new concept from Mr. Geopolitics

May 22, 2025

∙ Paid

It is a wild time for the world of geopolitics, to put it mildly.

Not only has the unpredictable and unimaginable become the default status quo, but the sheer frequency of “shocks” and “crises” is shaking even the best-laid plans. The recent conflict between India and Pakistan, for example, almost sparking a full-blown war, reflects how new fires can appear out of nowhere.

In this new climate, businesses are fighting to compete, to survive, and ultimately, to defend themselves from a spectrum of new disruptions. But, as they maneuver, many firms are responding quickly, potentially impulsively.

They are trying to sidestep the geopolitics or quickly adapt. A short time ago, when geopolitics functioned differently (i.e. more generational, more systematic), this approach would have worked. The ground was not changing much regardless of what happened on the world stage.

But now, quick reactions to geopolitics need to be tempered, or they could lead to detrimental effects. Organizations must behave differently, starting with developing a new muscle.