Who Wins When Globalization Retreats? A Look at the Countries Quietly Benefiting from Fragmentation

BIPSS Research Assistant Farhana Rashid argued in this commentary that globalization is not collapsing but being reshaped by geopolitical fragmentation, creating new opportunities for strategically positioned countries. Nations such as Vietnam, India, Mexico, Indonesia, and several Gulf and Central European states are benefiting by attracting investment, strengthening manufacturing, leveraging critical resources, and maintaining balanced relations among competing powers. She also highlighted Bangladesh’s potential to capitalize on supply-chain diversification if it addresses structural challenges and expands beyond its garment sector. Ultimately, the emerging global order rewards strategic autonomy, economic resilience, and the ability to adapt to shifting geopolitical realities.