New research suggests the Middle East and North Africa , and South Africa are political risk hotspots . These risks include governments asserting control over natural resources , regimes being ousted by popular uprisings and the expropriation of foreign investors ' assets . The Philippines , India , Uganda , Ghana , Israel and Malaysia saw the largest decrease in risk . More than half of countries are classified as ' extreme ' or ' high risk ' of limiting political freedoms . Disparity between political freedom and education drives short - term social change .
New research suggests the Middle East and North Africa , and South Africa are political risk hotspots . The Philippines , India , Uganda , Ghana , Israel and Malaysia saw the largest decrease in risk . More than half of countries are classified as ' extreme ' or ' high risk ' of limiting political freedoms . Disparity between political freedom and education drives short - term social change .