Tired of the relentless doomsday narratives whenever geopolitics is discussed? Then Mark Brolin is probably your guy. Unlike most others in his field, he finds it unlikely that the world is on the geopolitical brink. He does, however, observe that humans have a habit—we thrive on existential threats. Every era... Read more
Tired of the relentless doomsday narratives whenever geopolitics is discussed? Then Mark Brolin is probably your guy. Unlike most others in his field, he finds it unlikely that the world is on the geopolitical brink.
He does, however, observe that humans have a habit—we thrive on existential threats. Every era has its own doomsday narrative: Y2K, the ozone layer, oil depletion (or excess), nuclear war, the demographic bomb, China, nationalism, de-globalisation, AI stealing jobs—the list goes on. Every decade, a new “existential crisis” dominates the conversation. Today’s crisis of choice? Russia. A classic in the apocalypse genre, making yet another comeback. While Ukraine has every reason for concern, its fight to break free from Moscow is actually proof of Russia’s weakness, not its strength.
Yet, the panic narrative persists. Why? Because fear sells. Politicians, media outlets, budget seekers, and many other influencers have a vested interest in keeping the world in a permanent state of emergency. The logic is simple: crisis means control. Every ideology, every movement, and every fundraising campaign is incentivised to argue that unless you vote for X, support Y, or donate to Z, everything you hold dear will be doomed. Those seeking influence are always ready with claims of a “special case right now.”
The misanthropes in politics have likely existed since we stopped being apes. But, Mark asks, isn’t it long overdue to take things to a higher level? Is it not also somewhat apelike, he continues, to always expect the worst—despite the fact that countless past doomsday predictions have never fully materialised, and yet, here we are?
Known for his ability to cut through politicised or biased “noise,” Mark Brolin delivers straightforward, factual insights with practical relevance. His pragmatic, can-do approach is rooted in a diverse professional background, including roles at the Swedish Foreign Ministry, Nasdaq, and Cantor Fitzgerald. The tragic events of September 11, where he lost 650 colleagues, profoundly influenced his shift from corporate development to geopolitics and geoeconomics.
In his latest book, Healing Broken Democracies: All You Need to Know About Populism, Brolin explains why he believes the current global transition period will ultimately yield more positive outcomes than today’s prevailing doom-and-gloom sentiment suggests. This work, produced in collaboration with renowned international thought leaders, reflects his commitment to forward-looking analysis that balances short-term risks—often emphasised by mainstream media—with long-term opportunities. The ability to integrate both perspectives often determines whether an organisation functions merely as a risk management department bent on survival or as a company with the mindset and agility to seize opportunities, expand, and thrive.
Mark Brolin stands out as the only voice in the field of geopolitics offering realist optimism in the same way Hans Rosling uniquely championed realist optimism in socioeconomics.