Geopolitics and geoeconomics: understanding the present to shape the future

11 February 2026

In a world marked by profound geopolitical and economic transformations, the Geopolitics and Geoeconomics seminar series – held by professors Alec Ross and Giorgio Prodi within the Professional Masters at Bologna Business School – offered participants a strategic lens through which to interpret the global context in which today’s businesses operate.

Two sessions, on January 27 and February 3, explored the forces shaping global power: from the shifting balance between the United States and China to the impact of emerging technologies, from supply chain vulnerabilities to the growing competition over strategic resources, particularly rare earth elements.

 

A rapidly evolving landscape

The seminar began with a critical reflection on post-Cold War narratives: the idea of a “flat” world, free from systemic conflict and governed solely by market logic, has been clearly disproven. Geopolitical instability, declining trust in liberal democracies, and the rise of new spheres of influence are reshaping the rules of the game.

At the same time, technological innovation is generating a new geography of power, where digital platforms, data, semiconductors and artificial intelligence are key drivers of competitiveness and sovereignty. A significant focus was also placed on the geopolitics of critical minerals – resources essential to the digital and green economy – whose supply chains are now heavily concentrated.

 

The student perspective

For Angelo Bolis, participant in the Professional Master in Business Management – Food and Wine, the seminar represented an opportunity to grasp the scale of these shifts:

“We are facing a global transformation unlike anything seen since World War II. In this context, it is vital that companies understand how geopolitics is now deeply influenced by technological progress, and act accordingly in shaping their strategic decisions.”

Through real-world case studies, open discussions, and classroom interaction, the seminar reinforced an awareness of how topics such as artificial intelligence, great-power competition, and resource management are redefining the global economy:

“The added value? A multicultural environment and the opportunity to engage directly with faculty. It was a key learning moment for those of us preparing to operate in increasingly interconnected markets.”

 

Shaping informed decision makers

The Geopolitics and Geoeconomics seminar series is part of the cross-cutting educational offering of the Professional Masters at Bologna Business School, integrating management expertise with systemic thinking. In a time when business decisions can no longer be made in isolation from the global context, this interpretive capacity is an essential skill for the leaders of tomorrow.