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Geopolitics, AI and economic strain top business risks

GlobeScan’s 2026 corporate affairs research shows geopolitical instability has become the single most dominant short-term risk shaping business outlook, regardless of sector. Corporate affairs practitioners across consumer markets, food, agriculture, beverages, extractives, finance, ICT, media and civil society agree that geopolitical volatility outweighs all other threats, reflecting heightened concerns around conflict, trade fragmentation and political uncertainty.  

At the same time, the risk landscape is far from uniform. While AI and technology rank among the leading short-term risks for corporate affairs practitioners in financial and professional services, ICT, media and NGOs, they do not appear as top concerns in food, agriculture and beverages. Climate change is a more prominent risk in these sectors, reflecting their direct exposure to environmental and regulatory impacts. Supply chain issues also continue to pose meaningful risk for several sectors — particularly consumer-facing, food and extractive industries — underscoring ongoing concerns about resilience and disruption.

What does this mean?

Today’s risk landscape is defined by a shared sense of geopolitical instability layered with highly sector-specific vulnerabilities. While global tensions frame the outlook for all businesses, climate exposure, supply chain fragility and technological disruption are felt unevenly across industries. This places corporate affairs practitioners at the heart of risk sense-making. The function’s value increasingly lies in helping organizations interpret complex and sometimes competing risk signals, aligning internally on priorities and engaging externally with clarity and credibility. Businesses that reflect sector-specific risk realities in their positioning and decision-making are better placed to navigate volatility, maintain trust and strengthen long-term resilience.

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