The Threat Factor
Several major companies produce political risk maps, a quick summary of where hazardous business, travel and political environments are found.
Marsh and Aon produce political risk maps that tell a story over a continuum of regions that are having or historically have experienced serious threats of economic and bodily harm.
Highest on Aon’s 2013 risk map, in the extreme risk category, are Libya, Sudan, the Congo, Central African Republic, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Russia and the Philippines were added to Aon’s list of high-risk political violence states earlier this year, though they haven’t had destabilizing activity to date.
High-risk status covers strikes, riots, civil commotion, sabotage, terrorism, war, rebellion, insurrection, coups d’etat, etc. Some nations that suffer from systemic challenges, such as Mexico, South Africa, Tunisia and Greece, didn’t make it into the high-risk category.