Mapping Geopolitical Megatrends with Parag Khanna

In this episode, Parag Khanna, founder and CEO of AlphaGeo and a leading geopolitical thinker, joins S2G managing partner Sanjeev Krishnan for an expansive conversation about the structural forces reshaping our world. Drawing on decades of research and first-hand experience, Parag explores how geopolitics is not an aberrational disruption but a constant, foundational reality shaping markets, supply chains, and investment strategies. Sanjeev and Parag discuss why regionalization is accelerating while globalization is far from dead, and how shifting demographics, climate volatility, and affordable housing are becoming defining challenges for companies and governments. They dive into how values are becoming more horizontal across generations, the rise of technocratic governance, and the imperative of mobility of goods, resources, and people as a driver of resilience. This episode arms business leaders with a timely and clear-eyed geopolitical analysis to help them navigate complexity and position themselves for long-term adaptation.

Key takeaways:

1. Geopolitics Is Structural, Not Cyclical: Parag emphasizes that geopolitical shifts aren’t temporary shocks. They are enduring forces that shape supply chains, capital flows, and business strategy. Leaders should integrate geopolitics into core planning, not treat it as a side risk.

2. Regionalism Is Rising, Globalization Is Evolving: According to Parag, the world is organizing into regional trade blocs, but digital services and cross-border alliances ensure globalization continues in new forms. Success will depend on balancing both.

3. Horizontal Values Are Driving Global Culture: Studies are showing that younger generations increasingly derive values from peers rather than inherited traditions, emphasizing connectivity, sustainability, and mobility.

4. Technocratic Leadership Is Gaining Ground:  Parag notes that around the world, voters are showing a growing preference for leaders who prioritize efficiency, modernization, and evidence-based governance, an important signal for investors assessing policy environments.

5. Physical Mobility Is Essential to Economic Mobility: Parag underscores that enabling physical and social mobility is key to long-term economic opportunity, whether through climate-resilient geographies, affordable housing models, or circular cities. 

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