Welcome

by Christophe Meurier, Global Head of Financial Solutions Willis Towers Watson

Introduction

Winter 2021

Welcome to the Winter 2021 edition of the Political Risk Index, produced in collaboration with Oxford Analytica. We have gathered contributions from across the world to support clients in their management of political risk and also bring attention to new trends in global politics. In the introductory essay to this edition, we highlight how new communications and media technologies are transforming politics in the emerging world.

Despite the fact that COVID-19 has now been at the forefront of our news for almost two years, we are still witnessing novel impacts of the pandemic as new variants develop and infection rates begin to rise again in some countries. This edition of the index highlights the partial recovery and how some countries are still in the midst of dealing with the repercussions caused by the virus. We have all been in the same storm but not necessarily the same boats.

Christophe Meurier

Chief Executive Officer,
Financial Solutions
Willis Towers Watson

Another major development is the recent COP26 which set the stage for the world’s leading politicians to meet and discuss their programs for combatting climate change in front of a global audience. The vast attention gained, and the discussions had, will undoubtedly play a pivotal future role as we continue to address the climate crisis with more urgency than ever before. (For a review of some of the considerable challenges faced, see our recent report on Political Risk in the Renewables Sector.)

Once again, thank you for taking the time to read this Political Risk Index, I hope that you find it both interesting and valuable.

Yours sincerely,