This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the field of political risk consulting, from its theoretical foundations to practical applications and current global challenges. Specifically, the course seeks to: Critically analyze the main theoretical approaches developed by scholars and practitioners in the field of political and economic risk analysis at the international level. Develop practical skills to identify, assess, and communicate political, security, and financial risks affecting both state and non-state actors across diverse geographic and sectoral contexts. Examine and interpret tools, methodologies, and reports produced by consulting firms, governments, and multilateral organizations in the field of risk analysis. Apply the knowledge acquired to real-world case studies that reflect key contemporary challenges in the political economy of risk, including energy security, geopolitical shifts, and the impact of climate change. Foster critical reflection on the ethical, political, and social implications of risk analysis, with particular attention to how its outcomes affect different actors and sectors unequally. Equip students with the analytical and applied competencies necessary to pursue professional roles in the field of risk consulting, both in the public and private sectors.

K1: Acquire the knowledge, techniques and terminology specific to the field of economics, politics and international relations. K3: To know basic humanistic contents, oral and written expression, following ethical principles and completing a multidisciplinary training profile. K4: Acquire knowledge of the economic, legal, political and social reality from a comparative perspective. K6: To understand the structure of markets and the impact of public intervention on them. K7: To know and understand the main models of political, economic and social organization of States and the processes of change in contemporary societies and politics. K8: To understand the differentiating elements of international problems according to the degree of development of a country. S3: Plan and organize team work making the right decisions based on available information and gathering data in digital environments. S4: Use information interpreting relevant data avoiding plagiarism, and in accordance with the academic and professional conventions of the area of study, being able to assess the reliability and quality of such information. S5: Apply knowledge to identify with rigor, precision and scientific objectivity the social processes and possible solutions. S6: Be able to apply the scientific method to the social, political and economic questions posed by the globalized society. S7: Be able to identify, access and manage sources of information relevant to comparative analysis in the field of politics, economics and international relations. S10: Ability to gather and interpret relevant data and knowledge for the elaboration and defense of arguments on topics in their area of study. S11: Ability to discern which quantitative or qualitative research technique is the appropriate one to apply depending on the phenomenon being analyzed. C1: To know how to analyze, elaborate and defend individually a problem of interdisciplinary field of the Degree applying the knowledge, skills, tools and strategies acquired or developed in it. C3: Ability to establish good interpersonal communication and to work in multidisciplinary and international teams. C4: Be able to engage in lifelong autonomous learning, enabling them to adapt to new situations.

Contents and use of country reports elaborated by private and public institutions. Structuring and conceptual framework of country reports: national and international context, actors and agents, strategy and objectives. Measurement and analysis of development and evaluation. Analysis of economic and political institutions and country risk: political institutions, political system, and political risk; security and public order; criminality and personal violence, institutional and police corruption, terrorism, guerrillas, etc.; economic structure, political economy and macroeconomic risks; banking and financial structure, monetary policy; financial and exchange risk. Social and demographic variables and their incidence on political and economic stability. International interactions, development, conflicts and crisis. Writing a country report.

Lectures: In the lectures we will discuss the readings and the critical evidence needed to test the main theories. Reduced lectures: Each week we will have presentations, debates based on the readings and discussions of the essays. Students will have to participate actively in class.