Political instability has characterized international relations since 2008 , writes Andrew Hammond . Hammond : " The world is in a state of political and economic uncertainty that threatens to undermine the global economy as we know it... The popular uprisings in emerging economies such as Ukraine and Brazil have been eye-catching , he writes . Hammond : The current `` wave '' of volatility has been driven by a broad range of factors .
Political instability has characterized international relations since 2008 , writes Andrew Hammond . Hammond : The impact of the financial crisis has varied from country to country . The popular uprisings in emerging economies such as Ukraine and Brazil have been eye-catching , he writes . Hammond : The current `` wave '' of volatility has been driven by a broad range of factors .