The world has changed rapidly since the start of the Mistra Geopolitics programme in January
2017. Conflicts, a global pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and political shifts in countries
of all sizes have shaken the international system.
These events highlight both the volatility of world affairs and the fragility
of global systems such as food, water, energy and global governance. Thus, they
may open new avenues for how states cooperate and compete.
Discover insights from the Mistra Geopolitics final report phase II 2025, featuring forewords by
Lena Ek, Chair of the Board, and Björn-Ola Linnér, Programme Director.
When the research programme Mistra Geopolitics started eight years ago, the aim was to combine different sides of sustainability and geopolitics. At the time, this framing was new and challenging. Such interdisciplinary work, conducted by PhDs, professors, experts, organizations, companies and governments whose experiences would formulate not only the big questions of our time, but also the answers needed, was met with some scepticism.
Considering the growing climate crisis and its impact on nature, climate, societies and economies, the Mistra Geopolitics team realized that time was of the utmost essence. Therefore, two-time schedules were introduced – one for the long-term projects, and another for urgently needed reports to guide decision-makers and global negotiators in their work. This proved to be wise, as the chain of global events continued to spiral ever faster.
Together, geopolitics and sustainability have proven to be important in topics such as transboundary risks, food security and the weaponization of food, mineral governance, sustainable oceans, decarbonization, artificial intelligence (AI) scenarios, and many more interesting and important findings.
Outreach, communication, and engagement, another cornerstone of Mistra Geopolitics, has also moved the programme’s aim forward. Discussions, debates and meetings with experts from different fields and different parts of the world have been essential, to both the research and its uptake. The board members generously contributed with personal contacts both in governments and global organizations such as UN agencies, the OECD, the EU, the International Court of Justice, and others.
Through eight years, the extended professional family of Mistra Geopolitics has supported each other, produced excellent research results that have echoed around the world, and delivered advice to decision-makers on all levels. The foundation of democracy is knowledge and an open and respectful debate. My hope is that all who have participated in Mistra Geopolitics or interacted with this programme will continue this good work on other platforms in the future and that you will benefit from the knowledge and working methods from Mistra Geopolitics. I wish you all good luck!
It has been a joy and a privilege to serve as the Chair of the Board during these eight years.
As geopolitical tensions rise and sustainability crises deepen, the kind of integrative, forward-thinking research exemplified by Mistra Geopolitics is more vital than ever. The programme was launched to critically explore the interactions between geopolitics, security, and global environmental change – recognizing that in a world of intensifying uncertainty, research must not only diagnose risks but also identify transformative opportunities through innovation and collaboration.
Over the past eight years, Mistra Geopolitics has advanced understanding of how geopolitical dynamics and sustainability transformations are deeply intertwined. As nations grapple with transboundary challenges – climate change, resource scarcity, and technological shifts – geopolitical forces increasingly shape the possibilities for sustainability. At the same time, sustainability efforts – such as decarbonization, circular economy initiatives, and global climate governance – reconfigure geopolitical landscapes, influencing power relations, trade, and peacebuilding.
With its focus on enhancing foresight capacity, the programme has fostered collaboration across disciplines and sectors, generating knowledge that helps societies navigate more resilient and sustainable pathways. It has contributed to the emergence of the geopolitics of sustainability as a vibrant interdisciplinary field, offering conceptual and methodological innovations that bridge critical gaps in research and practice. In the report, we highlight 10 key highlights that effectively capture the central objectives of the research programme.
In a time marked by war, compounding crises, and deepening geopolitical tensions, research programmes like Mistra Geopolitics are more important than ever. They offer critical yet constructive analyses, foster dialogue, and build the knowledge and institutional capacity needed to navigate a turbulent world. By bridging disciplinary, sectoral, and national boundaries, Mistra Geopolitics has demonstrated the merits of integrative and anticipatory research for informed policy and sustainable peace.
Mistra Geopolitics researchers look at future hotspots. Henrik Carlsen, Co-Director of Mistra Geopolitics and Senior Research Fellow at SEI explains that one surprising hotspot is the Nordics.
Victoria Wibeck and Björn-Ola Linnér at Linköping University and Björn Nykvist at SEI, are among the top 25 scholars in Sweden on sustainable development, according to the global Scholar GPS ranking for 2024.
Research published by Mistra Geopolitics and Niklas Bremberg, Associate Professor at Stockholm University, highlights EU climate diplomacy and the geopolitics of the Anthropocene.
