The Fractured Age: How the Return of Geopolitics Will Splinter the Global Economy

by Neil Shearing

THE LEADING FORECAST ON THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF US TRADE TARIFFS

'An exceptionally sensible, clear-headed and original thinker' The Financial Times
'A very timely book on the new, fractured world'***** The Sunday Times
'The best book on the future of the global economy'***** The International Economy

The tectonic plates of the global order are shifting, creating new pressures that will strain long-standing financial structures.

BUT WHERE WILL THE WORLD'S NEW ECONOMIC FAULT LINES EMERGE?
AND HOW DISRUPTIVE WILL THEY BE?

In a clear and far-reaching reckoning, The Fractured Age lays bare the threats and opportunities that will shape the world economy over the coming decade. It charts the emergence of geopolitical blocs in a world undergoing profound change - blocs whose relative size and economic diversity will be pivotal in reordering everything from goods trade and investment flows to technology transfers and access to critical minerals.

As the world enters another period of seismic upheaval and a new global order emerges, understanding which economies will benefit, and which will bear the costs, will be critical for effective decision-making throughout boardrooms and the halls of government.

As Chief Economist of one of the world's leading providers of independent macroeconomic and market research, Neil Shearing lays out a stark vision of the peaks and rifts that will unfold, and how they will fundamentally reshape the global economy in this fractured age.

As seen on Bloomberg, BBC News, CNN, Channel 4 News and in The Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and The Guardian

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction, Politics, Business

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

So global trade will continue for most stuff, except high security things such as semiconductors, quantum computing, telecommunication infrastructure, AI stuff, EVs, pharmaceuticals, smart goods, and rare earth. There will be 2 blocs: US and China. The US bloc will be more powerful because it is richer and more diverse economically. The China bloc consists of China and resource rich countries (aka third world) so less powerful. Furthermore, the US dollar will still be the global financial currency for decades to come so US will have the power to cut the China block off anytime. Any further fracturing will be worse off for the China bloc. However, no restoring will be possible; only friend-shoring.

My thoughts: Whew. Let’s just look at the recent example of China using just one choke point (rare earth) to force America to compromise on its tariffs. Or the Nexperia saga when the HQ can have the office but no stuff under their control and eventually cease to be of significance. Will the US bloc really caught up with the rare earth in 15 years? Even if that happens, Xi still has the Trump card for 15 years in any negotiations. Sure US can cut China off from world trade. But that would be like firing the nuclear bomb at China.

[Epistafi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is definitely for people who operate within the global market, although I am almost sure such a person would find a lot of things from the book familiar. Considering freshness of analysis, it is still a good book to see the worldwide history of globalization and understand where we're going.

After this book I feel more at ease, seeing how the world was changing for 100 of years, and I’m somehow less worried that the world economy will collapse right away. If it collapses, we will see signs

This book is also my first book focused on economy and geopolitics, and I'm now invested to learn more

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: The Fractured Age: How the Return of Geopolitics Will Splinter the Global Economy by Neil Shearing

A Provocative Lens on a World Coming Apart at the Seams
Neil Shearing’s The Fractured Age is a timely, incisive examination of how resurgent geopolitics is dismantling the fragile architecture of global economic interdependence. With the precision of an economist and the narrative flair of a seasoned geopolitical analyst, Shearing maps the fault lines—from trade wars to resource nationalism—that threaten to fracture the world into competing blocs. This is not just a forecast of doom but a masterclass in connecting dots across history, policy, and human ambition.

Key Strengths
-Analytical Depth: Shearing avoids simplistic doomscrolling, offering nuanced case studies (e.g., semiconductor rivalries, energy weaponization) that reveal how economic tools have become geopolitical cudgels.
-Accessible Complexity: Despite its dense subject matter, the prose remains engaging, balancing data with vivid analogies (e.g., comparing supply chains to “glass rivers” — strong until shattered).
-Prescient Warnings: The book’s 2025 publication feels eerily prophetic, especially its analysis of how middle powers like India and Brazil might exploit great-power tensions.

Potential Considerations
-Density: Some sections demand rereading to grasp layered arguments—less a flaw than a reflection of the material’s complexity.
-Solutions Lightness: While diagnosing fractures brilliantly, the book offers fewer concrete pathways to repair them, leaving readers craving actionable optimism.

Score Breakdown (Out of 5)
-Research: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – Meticulously sourced, with a global scope.
-Clarity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Complex ideas distilled, if not always effortlessly.
-Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) – Fresh angles on familiar crises.
-Urgency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – Reads like a dispatch from the near future.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) – Like a geopolitical MRI—revealing every hairline crack in the system.

Ideal Audience
-Policy wonks and economics students seeking a global perspective.
-Business leaders navigating volatile trade landscapes.
-Anyone unsettled by headlines about deglobalization.

Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Neil Shearing for the advance review copy. The Fractured Age is the rare book that clarifies chaos without trivializing it.

Final Verdict
Shearing’s work is essential reading for understanding the 21st century’s defining tension: a world economically bound but politically divided. While its weighty analysis may daunt casual readers, its insights linger like the aftershocks of an earthquake—undeniable and transformative.

Note: This review reflects the ARC edition; minor changes may appear in the final publication.

[Hanna Bexley · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two quotes are a great example of who will benefit from reading this book:

Firms across the globe must assess their vulnerability to splits… they must adapt, diversifying supply chains, forging new partnerships, and shifting production where necessary in order to reduce exposure to geopolitical tensions. Flexibility and foresight will be essential. Those companies that act pre-emptively to build resilience will thrive, while those that cling to outdated models risk decline in this increasingly uncertain environment.
For investors, fracturing will demand a shift in strategy. Counties - and sectors within countries - that once promised strong returns now carry significant risks.

Investors must realign their portfolios, moving away from areas vulnerable to fracture and towards regions and industries that are better positioned to weather, and even thrive in, a world of greater geo-economic competition. The ability to identify risks and pivot quickly will be crucial…. Investors must not fall foul of seemingly simple and straightforward theories about the financial consequences of fracturing.

Although it is also great for overall education and understanding the bigger picture we live in right now.

It seems to me that the author a bit too optimistic in his prognosis, arguing that US will not lean into the isolation from its European and Asian allies and policymakers will pursue the best interest for everyone's good. Or I'm just too pessimistic. :) Let's hope for the latter.
However, the argument of how fracturing will go on in the book is not simplistic, but provided with deeper analysis of the history, current state and future possibilities of world economy, including an educated understanding of the geopolitical state of today's world.

For me, personally, there was not enough analysis on EU and other European countries along with Asia that is not China and Africa. The book mostly focus on US and China block rivalry as two biggest economies.

Thanks to netgalley.com for providing a free copy for my honest review.

[FaithfulReviewer (Jacqueline) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to John Murray Press US | John Murray Business, the author and NetGalley for a DRC in return for an honest review

This was a fascinating and impressively detailed exploration of a world on the brink of transformation. Neil Shearing delivers complex ideas with human emotion, creating a narrative that feels both cerebral and surprisingly moving.

I must confess that the technical aspects were a little dense so my concentration wandered occasionally - but that says more about the depth of the material than any flaw in the writing. Once I re-engaged, I was rewarded with thought-provoking themes and a plot that lingered with me long after I’d finished.

Overall, The Fractured Age is a smart, layered read that will appeal to anyone who enjoys intellectually rich storytelling with a touch of futurist intrigue.

#TheFracturedAge #NetGalley

[Martin Southard · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone following US politics closely, I found this a sharp, timely take on how global economics is being reshaped by rising geopolitical tensions. Shearing shows how the post-Cold War global order—especially the free-trade assumptions we’ve taken for granted—is fracturing into rival blocs, with the US, China, and others pulling the strings.

What stood out was how clearly he links policy decisions (like tariffs or tech bans) to bigger shifts in global power. Some parts are a bit dense, but overall it’s smart, well-argued, and full of insight—especially on how countries like India and Brazil could shape the next phase of global influence.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and contemporary reference to the geopolitical landscape including the first impacts of Trump second term. Insightful, thoughtful and a great source of information and considerations for the future. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Lottie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

an informative look at recent changes in global geopolitics. perfect for international relations buffs

[a copy of this book was provided to me by the published from netgalley. thank you!]

[HO · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s very little interesting analysis in this book if you read news stories and think about the issues. There are a lot of assertions with zero analytical reasoning. But if you don’t read much about these issues, this is probably helpful.

[Steven Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but thoughtful summary of the bifurcation of the global economy into competing blocs. I don’t think it’s particularly controversial, rather it’s a different lens to use rather than the more common globalization / de globalization paradigm.

An easy, enjoyable read.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book that’s clearly written. The right balance of detail, explanation and examples means you don’t need to be an expert Economist to appreciate it.

[Matthew Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the thesis but analysis was shallow

[Richard Marney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile read. Well written and thought provoking about a changing global political, security, trade and finance environment. One thought that kept popping to mind, however, was that, given Trump’s mercurial administration, the content could be revised and revised almost weekly!!’