This proliferation of crises has contributed to a “return” of geopolitics, or, in other words, to power rivalries that may sound the death-knell for the kind of globalization that ignores territorial boundaries. For some, this “return” is embodied by three countries – China, Russia and Iran – and takes the form of an open challenge to the international order established at the end of the Cold War. For others, this “return” is nothing of the sort, but simply the continuation of traditional rivalries between great powers. In this regard, China and India, which are accused of “revisionism” but are integrated into the global economy, have not taken up an aggressive stance of challenging the world order, but a defensive stance, which consists of protecting their sovereignty and regional influence.

Whichever interpretation they favor, decision-makers in the public and private sectors now largely agree on the fact that the international environment has seriously and rapidly deteriorated since the financial crisis of 2008.

This paper is the product of a partnership between the Institut de l’Entreprise and Ifri.

This paper is also available in French: http://www.ifri.org/fr/publications/publications-ifri/articles-ifri/retour-risque-geopolitique-triangle-strategique-russie