On December 4, 2025, the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU held a roundtable noscriptd “Commodity Trading in a Fragmented Global Economy: Secondary Sanctions and Reinsurance.”

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Karin Kneissl, head of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU.

The meeting brought together scholars from St Petersburg University, St Petersburg Mining University, Pacific National University, and the Renmin University of China.

The participants discussed how growing geopolitical tensions — especially the EU’s secondary sanctions on China — are reshaping the environment of global commodity trading and reinsurance.
The conversation highlighted:
• the impact of shifting regulatory expectations on strategic decision-making;
• the mounting uncertainty facing commodity markets;
• the critical role of reinsurance in maintaining market continuity;
• the broader consequences of economic fragmentation for global trade.

The exchange underscored how geopolitical pressure and institutional adaptation are redefining today’s trading landscape.

#Geopolitics #GlobalTrade #CommodityTrading #Sanctions #Reinsurance #GORKI

This afternoon we gathered for our end-of-year event “Saying Goodbye to Year 2025 and Hello to 2026. Hoping for More Boring Geopolitics,” and it left a strong impression on everyone who attended. It was an engaging and informative meeting that brought together colleagues, students, and friends to reflect on a turbulent year in global affairs.

We listened to a keynote talk by Dr. Tatiana Romanova, Professor at the School of International Relations of St Petersburg University and a leading expert in global politics. Her insights shed light on the key geopolitical shifts of 2025 and the challenges that lie ahead, reminding us how valuable calm, predictability, and dialogue have become in today’s world.

Participants shared their thoughts on international trends and their hopes for a steadier 2026. Above all, in today’s world, the most important thing is to be flexible and to keep moving forward.

On December 8, 2025, the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU held a business breakfast noscriptd “The Big Tech and the Next Economic Crisis. How Powerful Is the Tech Power?”

The discussion took place at the Kelch Mansion and brought together members of the Centre’s growing intellectual community.

Participants examined how the technological sector — once primarily a source of innovation — has evolved into a systemic force shaping global economic dynamics. A small group of major digital corporations now operates at a scale that allows them not only to influence markets, but also to shape the infrastructures on which modern economies rely.

The conversation highlighted:
• the expanding macroeconomic influence of leading technology companies;
• the potential vulnerabilities created by concentrated technological power;
• the implications of digital dependence for economic stability;
• the role of regulatory recalibration in addressing emerging risks.

In the concluding discussion, participants noted several important points:
• the structural tension between the need for systemic monopolisation in AI services and the simultaneous pressure on companies to rethink their organisational models;
• the imperative for states to adapt and compete, concentrating financial resources on strategic priorities rather than dispersing them;
• the systemic risks associated with Big Tech, as the failure or bankruptcy of major technology companies could trigger severe global disruption;
• the strategic importance of building a sovereign digital environment, particularly in the Russian context;
• the fact that English functions as the global language of technology, creating additional barriers for non-English-speaking countries and reinforcing asymmetries in the digital sphere.

The exchange underscored the need to reassess how Big Tech affects global economic resilience and what this means for the contours of a possible future crisis.

#BigTech #Economy #EconomicCrisis #DigitalPower #GlobalTrends #GORKI