“Everything flows, nothing remains still” - Heraclitus (c. 535–475 BCE), ancient Greek Philosopher
About the Newsletter
Stable rules no longer shape our world. In the international political economy, the forces shaping strategy, leadership, capital allocation, and long-term outcomes are being reshaped by shifting geopolitical power, evolving economic systems, and structural change across global markets.
In this environment, discontinuity is the defining feature. The challenge is not access to more information, but the ability to identify meaningful signals, recognise patterns, and exercise judgment across interconnected systems of power and change.
Each week, this newsletter examines the forces driving change in markets, industries, and institutions, and what they mean for business leaders, investors, and professionals navigating uncertainty.
It is designed to be concise, rigorous, and useful for decision-making.
Membership includes a growing collection of insights, frameworks, and analytical models to understand and navigate today’s international political economy.
Join as a free subscriber for essential insights.
Become a paid member for full access to deeper analysis, briefings, structured frameworks, curated reading, and the complete archive.
Examples of Articles & Podcasts
Rising Tides, Disruptive Undertows. This is an article about why geopolitical fluency is now a core leadership competency, and those who understand and anticipate the tides of trade, conflict, and institutional behaviour will outperform.
The Decline of Economic Globalisation. This article discusses how the international order faces a critical juncture. The old model of unchallenged economic globalisation is giving way to a more fragmented landscape. It discusses some of the threats and opportunities that this entails.
The Rise of Geoeconomics. This podcast discusses how states increasingly use supply chains, sanctions, finance, and technology as strategic tools to pursue national interests. We are now living in the age of geoeconomics, and it’s reshaping the rules of global business. If you’re thinking about strategy, risk, or transformation, you must understand this shift.
Horizon: Geopolitics Drives Industrial Policy. Here’s an example of how these forces and signals play out in real time. In this edition of Horizon, how the Middle East energy shock is reshaping EU industrial policy, subsidies, and strategic autonomy.
The Brutal Realities of Power Politics. This is an article written just after President Trump returned to the White House. It argues that the war in Ukraine has reached a decisive turning point because U.S. policy has shifted, but Europe is not yet capable of replacing American security guarantees. Hard power still rules the day, and Europe must confront whether it can secure itself in a world where U.S. commitment is no longer assured.
About Kevin
I’m a political economist trained in international relations, focusing on how geopolitics, markets, and economic systems interact to shape strategy, leadership, and long-term outcomes.
I take a politics-first approach grounded in international relations, political economy, history, and systems thinking. I’m particularly interested in the structural forces that shape how the world works: why systems evolve the way they do, how power is distributed, and how economic and political decisions translate into real-world outcomes.
A key focus for me is Europe and its evolving position within the international political economy, alongside broader shifts in global markets and the geopolitical order.
That focus is also what I’m most passionate about. I completed my undergraduate and postgraduate training in International Relations at the University of London (LSE and Queen Mary), with a focus on geopolitics, foreign policy, economics, and international political economy. My professional background is in financial services consultancy, where I observed first-hand how political shifts, economic shocks, and market dynamics reshape organisations, careers, and investment decisions. I also trained in journalism, and I use a combination of data, research tools, and insights from practitioners and specialists to connect on-the-ground developments with broader systemic change.
I write for readers interested in understanding how power, economics, and geopolitics shape the systems that structure the world. Get in touch
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