Introduction for the special issue geopolitical risks and transnational corporations: the case of the Ukrainian Crisis

Abstract This special issue aims at further understanding of geopolitical risks facing multinational corporations in the context of the Russia–Ukraine war. In the Introduction, we first provide an overview of the contributions of each article in this Special Issue. Secondly, we offer a definition of a geopolitical risk, as “an international risk provoked by geography-related acts” and explain the underlying causes of these risks as associated with evolving geopolitical structures. Thirdly, we assess the price to pay for failing to anticipate geopolitical risks, using the Ukrainian Crisis as a Case in Point. In conclusion, we propose that it is essential to increase the focus on the “geo” components of “geopolitics,” to better understand the true meanings of geopolitical risks.