The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 describes the current moment as an “Age of Competition”, a period marked by rising geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, technological disruption and deepening social divides
Share
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 describes the current moment as an “Age of Competition”, a period marked by rising geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, technological disruption and deepening social divides. Based on insights from over 1,300 global leaders and experts, the report does not predict a single future but presents a range of possible trajectories. What is clear, however, is that the world is becoming more fragmented, more uncertain and more interconnected in its risks.
The data itself is striking. Fifty percent of experts surveyed expect the global outlook to be “turbulent or stormy” over the next two years, rising to 57% over the next decade. Only 1% of respondents believe the world will experience a calm outlook. This growing pessimism reflects a reality many countries, including India, are already navigating. Overlapping crises rather than isolated shocks.
At the top of the short-term global risk landscape is geoeconomic confrontation, identified by 18% of respondents as the most likely trigger of a global crisis in 2026. This refers to the increasing use of trade restrictions, sanctions, export controls and supply-chain weaponisation as tools of geopolitical power. State-based armed conflict, selected by 14% of respondents, remains a close second.
Together, these risks signal a world where cooperation is giving way to competition. Multilateral institutions are under strain, trust between nations is weakening, and economic relationships are increasingly shaped by national security considerations rather than shared prosperity.
For India, this evolving global order presents both challenges and opportunities. As one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and a key geopolitical actor, India is deeply exposed to global supply chains, trade flows and geopolitical shifts. The report’s findings align with India’s current balancing act of maintaining strategic autonomy while navigating a fragmented global economy.
The report also notes a sharp rise in economic risks, including concerns around economic downturns, inflation and asset bubbles, particularly in countries facing high debt and volatile markets. While India’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain relatively resilient, global instability inevitably affects domestic prices, employment prospects and investment flows.
One of the most significant long-term insights from the report is the centrality of inequality, identified as the most interconnected global risk over the next decade. Inequality does not exist in isolation; it amplifies societal polarisation, weakens trust in institutions and fuels political instability.
In India, where economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty but disparities remain stark, this insight is particularly relevant. Regional inequalities, rural–urban divides and uneven access to opportunities continue to shape social outcomes. The report warns that when citizens feel excluded from economic progress, the social contract between governments and people begins to erode.
For the Northeast and states like Nagaland, this risk is magnified by geography and historical marginalisation. Limited infrastructure, connectivity challenges and fewer economic opportunities can make global shocks feel more severe at the local level. At the same time, the region’s young population represents a powerful opportunity if investments in education, skills and entrepreneurship are prioritised.
The report highlights technology as one of the most transformative and destabilising forces of the coming decade. Misinformation and disinformation rank among the top five short-term global risks, while cyber insecurity also features prominently.
Perhaps most notably, adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence show the largest increase in perceived risk between the short-term and long-term outlooks, rising into the top five global risks over the next 10 years. While AI holds enormous potential for productivity, healthcare and education, the report cautions that weak governance could lead to job displacement, surveillance concerns and erosion of trust.
For India, which is rapidly digitising public services and embracing AI-driven solutions, this presents a dual responsibility: to innovate while safeguarding inclusion, privacy and employment. For Nagaland and the wider Northeast, closing the digital literacy gap becomes essential not only to access opportunities, but also to protect communities from misinformation and online harm.
One of the more concerning findings of the report is the short-term deprioritisation of environmental risks, even as they dominate the long-term outlook. Over the next decade, extreme weather events rank as the number one global risk, followed closely by biodiversity loss and critical changes to Earth systems. Overall, five of the top ten long-term global risks are environmental.
India is already experiencing the consequences of climate instability from heatwaves and floods to water stress and agricultural disruption. The Northeast, with its fragile ecosystems and rich biodiversity, is particularly vulnerable. Landslides, erratic rainfall and infrastructure stress are not future scenarios; they are present realities.
The report’s message is clear: while political and economic crises may command immediate attention, climate risks continue to escalate in the background, compounding other vulnerabilities.
Why Local Resilience Matters
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the Global Risks Report 2026 is that global solutions alone are no longer sufficient. As multilateral cooperation weakens, resilience must increasingly be built at the national, regional and community levels.
For India, this means investing in inclusive growth, strengthening institutions and ensuring that technological and economic transitions do not leave large sections of society behind. For Nagaland and the Northeast, it means recognising that local action in education, digital literacy, youth leadership, climate adaptation and community trust is not peripheral to global resilience, but central to it.
The report reminds us that the future is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the choices we make today, whether competition continues to replace cooperation, or whether new forms of collaboration emerge from the ground up.
In an age of global risk, the strength of our response may ultimately depend not just on international summits, but on how well our communities are prepared to adapt, innovate and include.
Thungchibemo N Ezung,
Curator, Kohima Hub, Global Shapers Community, World Economic Forum.