The Five Forces Defining Our Future

First, the pandemic brought unseen challenges, disrupted our exchanges and constrained our mobility, forcing families and employees into isolation – either by one’s choice or against one’s wishes. Even if global trade was not affected as much as it has been first feared, bottlenecks paralyzed several industries: from semiconductors and car manufacturers to antibiotics – sending prices of few but strategic components and services through the roof. Governments and global companies responded, and the search for self-reliance or, as we called it in Europe – strategic autonomy – has become the new paradigm, first out of necessity, then out of choice. Globalization has been tainted with regional flavor; “just-in-time” being increasingly complemented with “just-in-case”.