The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau and ESAE explore how global instability is shaping the future of associations and not-for-profits 

Amid an increasingly volatile global landscape, 88% of associations and not-for-profit organisations believe that geopolitical instability will impact their operations – with 85% stating it already has. These are among the headline findings of new research released today by The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau in collaboration with the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE). 

Conducted amongst 99 association and not-for-profit leaders from across the globe, the research shines a light on how associations are adapting – or struggling to adapt – to mounting global pressures including political instability, the rise of populism, and tightening regulatory and operational environments. 

Adding weight to the results is the seniority of the respondents – 54% describe themselves as Executive / Board / C-level, whilst a further 18% cite their role as association management. 

Unprepared and under pressure 

While 14% of organisations described themselves as not prepared for the ongoing geopolitical impact, a further 72% said they are only somewhat prepared. Just 13% feel they are well prepared. This suggests widespread concern around resilience and agility in the face of fast-moving change. 

“Associations are increasingly navigating a complex geopolitical environment, with instability no longer an external factor but an embedded reality,” said Bas Schot, Head of The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau. “Our research reveals not just concern, but a clear call to action – associations must double down on governance, mission alignment and strategic communication if they are to weather what lies ahead.” 

Populism: influence and implications 

The rise of populist parties and movements also ranks high on the list of concerns: 77% of respondents see it impacting their organisations. Worryingly, 30% ranked their concern as 4 or 5 out of 5 regarding the influence populism could have on the composition and decisions of their boards. 

In response to these risks:

• 81% of respondents are reinforcing their focus on core mission and values.
• 63% are prioritising stronger governance policies.
• 61% are working toward more diverse board representation to balance perspectives. 

Learning from history – but gaps remain

While 83% believe that lessons from past crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the global financial crisis are helping them respond today, 42% say critical knowledge gaps remain.

Commenting on the findings, Ioannis Pallas, Managing Director of ESAE, said:
“This research underlines how geopolitical developments are no longer tangential to association leadership – they are central. Associations must evolve structurally and strategically, not only to stay relevant but to continue being forces of positive change in society. The insights provide a valuable roadmap for that journey.” 

Events and mobility: shifting strategies 

Though just 27% of respondents said political instability has directly disrupted their ability to organise events in Europe, 28% have already moved their events to more politically stable regions – an early sign of what could become a significant trend in event location planning. 

Next steps and upcoming insights 

This research marks the first release of findings from a larger study. A detailed white paper will follow, exploring the research and anecdotal responses in greater depth alongside the interconnected challenges of geopolitics, communications, technology, and association resilience. 

Following successful past collaborations, The Hague and Partners Convention Bureau is also in the process of rolling the research out via Ottawa Tourism and its partners, with the intention of creating a globally rounded set of results to be released at IMEX America.

About the research 

The survey received 103 responses, of which 99 were included in the final analysis. Respondents identified their organisations as follows:

• Association: 68%
• Not-for-profit: 11%
• Professional Society: 9%
• Public Sector: 6%
• Association-focused PCO: 4%
• Federation: 2% 

The geographical breakdown of the 99 included responses are:

• Europe: 78%
• North America: 16%
• Asia: 3%
• Africa: 2%
• Australasia: 1%
• South America: 0%