Political and geopolitical risk
Geopolitical risk consulting: what to expect and how to choose
What geopolitical and political risk consultants deliver, how to judge quality, and the questions to ask before you hire one.
Guide
Political and geopolitical riskLast updated
3 minute read
By Zed Three analysts
Short answer
Geopolitical risk consulting firms help companies understand how political events abroad affect their people, assets, suppliers and markets. Typical work includes country risk assessments, scenario analysis, monitoring and briefings, due diligence on markets and partners, and crisis support. The best advice is specific to your exposure and gives clear likelihoods and actions.
Last updated
What you should get
A view tied to your locations, routes and counterparties, not a generic country report. Clear judgments with likelihood ranges and time frames. Specific triggers and actions, and a monitoring rhythm that matches how fast your exposure changes.
Questions to ask
Is the firm independent, and does it work for any government? Can it show a sample report? How does it express uncertainty? How quickly can it brief you in a crisis? Which regions and sectors do its analysts cover?
Where Zed Three fits
Zed Three is a private, independent risk intelligence company based in Canada. It publishes weekly threat scores for 176 countries and the free Chokepoint briefing, and builds custom threat and risk reports for companies in shipping, energy, commodities, manufacturing and finance.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between political risk and geopolitical risk consulting?
Political risk work usually focuses on one country's politics and government; geopolitical work covers conflicts, sanctions, trade and chokepoints between states. Most firms do both.
Do I need a consultant or a subscription?
Many companies start with a monitoring product and add custom reports for priority exposures.
Can I see a sample before committing?
Yes. Zed Three offers a free custom sample threat report.
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