Anil Gupta: globalisation is not that simple

There is a clear Cold War between the US and China, but it differs from the Cold War between the US and the USSR, and it's «a lot more dangerous». The alert is raised by Anil Gupta, a renowned expert in globalisation, emerging markets and innovation, who guarantees that China is not a «pygmy» in economic terms, like the Soviet power was in comparison to the American «giant».

Analysing what he believes is «the biggest geopolitical issue at the moment», the expert argues that «China is a technological, industrial, economic and military power», adding that the relationship with the US «is actually not getting better.»

Apart from the clash between superpowers, Anil Gupta says that «the growth of emerging markets» has also fuelled geopolitical tensions.

In 2000, there were 20 emerging economies, but that figure has since more than doubled. And the growth of these economies is expected to remain stable in the coming years, he points out. This means that the emerging markets – in China and in India, but also in Indonesia, Brazil and Nigeria – are becoming «not only economically important but also politically important».

Classified by Thinkers50 as «one of the most influential management thinkers in the world», Anil Gupta refers to the risk associated with supply chains, which the pandemic brought to the fore. The medical equipment used in the USA is a case in point. In the last 20 years, the bulk of the gloves used in the US came from China. If there is a conflict with China, «does the US want to be dependent on such a simple item?».

Technology is another of the positive aspects that globalisation brings to technology. In this interview, Gupta says that «artificial Intelligence is the most powerful technology that humanity has ever invented».

But he leaves a reminder of the associated long-term risks. «In 50 years’ time, will AI treat humans the way we treat ants?».