Those who need to interpret international developments in relation to their business operations have to move increasingly fast – such as during the first few months of 2026, when the implications of geopolitics for global supply chains and markets were felt within days. With geopolitics at its heart, Clingendael brings together policymakers, politicians, businesses, social partners and academics in a vibrant exchange of ideas, making it an essential source of knowledge for RSM’s MBA candidates.
Academic Director of the Executive MBA (EMBA), Prof. Erik Roelofsen said: “Clingendael draws on its extensive expertise and practical experience to help our students understand and navigate the geopolitical risks and opportunities. Clingendael faculty members bring analytical rigor and a real-world perspective that enables students to study these issues in a structured way and to reflect on current geopolitical developments as they unfold during the course”. The course is closely connected to current geopolitical developments, so that discussions in class reflect the latest forces shaping the global business environment. When participants return to work, they approach strategic questions with a clearer understanding of the geopolitical context in which their organisations operate.
A fundamental reshaping
Dr Louise van Schaik is Head of Unit for EU & Global Affairs at the Clingendael Institute and is one of the lecturers of the geopolitics course in RSM’s Executive MBA. She explains: “Geopolitics are fundamentally reshaping how companies operate internationally, through new technologies and innovations, reconfiguring supply chains, rapidly evolving infrastructure needs and shifting relations between states, markets and societies. Businesses that understand the geopolitical dynamics underpinning these changes are better equipped to anticipate risks, seize strategic opportunities and make resilient long-term decisions that account for economic statecraft, power asymmetries and competition over critical resources such as energy, data and minerals.”
Geopolitical awareness is becoming an integral part of strategic thinking. Companies expanding into new markets, building resilient supply chains or investing in emerging technologies must consider how global political and economic relationships shape the conditions in which they operate.
“A better understanding of geopolitics may also lead to a more resilient, effective energy transition in the long run,” says another Clingendael lecturer, Hannah Lentschig, Research Fellow for energy geopolitics, security and transitions. “Apart from risk management, it can allow decision-makers to recognise where geopolitical change creates opportunities for innovation, new partnerships and strategic, forward-looking investments.”
Louise van Schaik concludes: “Geopolitics cannot be ignored in the boardroom, regardless of company size. EMBA participants are the decision-makers who must navigate an increasingly complex and volatile international environment where geopolitical developments directly affect strategy, operations and people.
“Teaching geopolitics to MBA candidates is therefore about providing them with the tools to understand how global power dynamics, from energy and technology to cyber security and disinformation, shape business decisions, and how companies can respond proactively rather than reactively.”
Independent and with academic rigor
RSM had two criteria for selecting a partner to teach geopolitics in the Executive MBA – independence and with strong academic rigor rather than simply covering the news. The resulting partnership with Clingendael has produced an elective with expert teachers.
The curriculum was co-created by Academic Director Prof. Erik Roelofsen, Associate Director Alina van Duijn and geopolitics experts at Clingendael, Louise van Schaik, Hannah Lentschig, Maaike Okano-Heijmans, Raoul Bunskoek, Kaspar Pucek and Liam Klein. They combined insights from international relations research with business perspectives. Topics were selected based on the question: what do future leaders need to understand in order to navigate a world where political, economic and technological developments are increasingly interconnected?
Course materials come from a range of sources, including Clingendael’s research, the Harvard Business Review, and academic journals such as Business Ethics Quarterly, as well as publications from the World Economic Forum.
Influence and risks
These learning materials lead EMBA students through key geopolitical concepts and their impact on global business and economic strategies. Students analyse the influence of international institutions, trade agreements, and political risks on corporate decision-making while they identify emerging geopolitical trends and assess their potential business implications as they integrate them into strategic business planning.
They practice analysing scenarios to better anticipate and manage geopolitical uncertainties, and work on communicating them effectively to stakeholders.
Encouraging students to empathise with diverse geopolitical perspectives enhances cross-cultural leadership and diplomacy skills. Part of the course addresses the ethical responsibilities of businesses in geopolitically sensitive environments, and students are asked to question assumptions about global power structures and their impact on business strategies.
Navigating the geopolitical scenario
Last year’s cohort pioneered the first geopolitics course at RSM. In their feedback, they named geopolitics as ‘one of the most important tools that we, as leaders, need in order to navigate our world; geopolitics has a huge impact on our businesses and our lives’. After studying the course, students said the subject is important for business planning, and had challenged many of their assumptions about the current geopolitical scenario. They now appreciated that geopolitics is nuanced and they need to consider the perspectives from all sides, especially in the current political scenario.
To find out more about the RSM Executive MBA and its curriculum containing increasingly important competences for business leaders, visit the website or register for the RSM Open Evening on Thursday 9 April in Rotterdam.
