ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Economy

Unhappy New Year -- 10 geopolitical risks in 2016

| China
 (placeholder image)
A girl holds a child at a refugee camp for the internally displaced in Jrzinaz area, Syria on Oct. 13, 2015.   © Reuters

The world is staring at turbulence in 2016. Rising populism, great-power revanchism, the continued specter of terrorism, disputes over "cyber-sovereignty," intensified regional turmoil, and dramatic shifts in the global economy presage unsettled times. Against this uncertain backdrop, here are 10 of the most notable geopolitical risks in the year ahead:

     1) The combination of the middle-class economic squeeze and Islamic extremism at home risks fueling the populist politics of xenophobia and anger surging across Europe and the United States. This could continue to weaken establishment politicians and empower those on the far left and far right, making both American and European foreign policies more unpredictable and diverting leaders from engagement abroad in favor of damage-control domestically. It could encourage greater insularity that would allow regional crises to fester.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more