
Political risk insurance coverage and protection are crucial for businesses operating in high-risk environments. This type of insurance can provide financial recourse in the event of government actions, war, or other politically motivated events that disrupt business operations.
Businesses operating in countries with unstable governments or high levels of corruption, such as those in the article section on "Country Risk Assessment", may benefit from political risk insurance. This type of insurance can help mitigate losses due to expropriation, nationalization, or other government actions.
A key benefit of political risk insurance is that it can provide protection against non-payment of debts, such as those related to projects in countries with high levels of debt risk, as mentioned in the "Debt Risk" section. This can help businesses avoid costly disputes and recover losses.
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What Is Political Risk Insurance?
Political risk insurance provides financial protection to investors, financial institutions, and businesses that face the possibility of losing money because of political events.
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It protects against the possibility that a government will take some action that causes the insured to experience a large financial loss, such as expropriation or political violence.
Political risk insurance can cover a range of possibilities, including the inability to convert local currency and repatriate it, sovereign debt default, and even acts of terrorism and war.
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What Is Insurance?
Insurance is a type of financial protection that helps prevent large financial losses.
It's a way to mitigate risk and ensure that you're not left with a huge bill if something goes wrong.
Insurance can cover a wide range of possibilities, including property damage, accidents, and even natural disasters.
For example, it can protect against the loss of property due to government confiscation, such as expropriation.
Insurance can also provide peace of mind, allowing you to focus on your business or investments without worrying about the potential risks.
It can cover acts of civil unrest or insurrection, which can have a significant impact on your financial situation.
Insurance can even protect against sovereign debt default, which can have far-reaching consequences for businesses and investors.
By having insurance, you can rest assured that you'll be able to recover from a financial loss and continue operating as usual.
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What Is?
Political risk is a reality that businesses face when operating in diverse markets around the world. Interstate conflict, the failure of national governance, and outbreaks of nationalism are all part of the geopolitical landscape.
Stability in a country can break down suddenly, leaving investors and lenders unprepared and out of pocket. This can happen with little warning, making it difficult for businesses to adapt.
Businesses often find themselves unable to operate in markets they once considered predictable. Licenses or contractual rights may be taken away, or assets may be damaged, resulting in financial losses that are not covered by standard insurance policies.
Different types of political risks can be managed and transferred to help businesses feel confident about operating in various markets.
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What It Covers
Political risk insurance is designed to protect businesses from various types of risks associated with operating in foreign territories. It typically covers confiscation, expropriation, and nationalization, as well as deprivation, forced divestiture, selective discrimination, forced abandonment, export embargo, breach of concession, license cancellation/revocation, war, and political violence.
Some of the specific risks covered by political risk insurance include:
- Confiscation of property
- Export embargo
- License cancellation/revocation
- War
- Political violence (including terrorism)
- Business interruption (BI)
- Currency inconvertibility/exchange transfer
In addition to these risks, political risk insurance can also cover consequential financial losses incurred by the insured as a result of political actions affecting their interests. This includes losses related to dividends, shareholder loan payments, intercompany payables, and proceeds of sale.
If a business is unable to convert local currency or repatriate funds out of a territory, political risk insurance can provide cover for the financial loss incurred. This type of insurance is particularly important for businesses with foreign assets and investments, such as permanent investments in overseas territories, mobile assets like contractors' plant and equipment, and financed assets like aircrafts and ships.
Types of Scenarios
A change of government can result in the confiscation of a business' assets, making it crucial to have protection against such risks.
Political violence can lead to the destruction or temporary damage to assets, causing lasting financial consequences.
Sanctions or other restrictions due to political disagreements can disrupt supplies of important materials or put stocks and products out of reach.
Here are some common scenarios where political risk insurance can provide effective protection:
- Cessation of operations where exports are crucial to the business
- Loss of products that are only of realisable value if exported
- A loss of a license could deny a company the right to export its goods
Kidnap and Ransom
Kidnap and ransom is a serious concern for individuals and corporate entities alike. This type of insurance provides cover against kidnap, hijack, and bodily injury.
The risk location for kidnap and ransom insurance is typically the territory where the policyholder resides or has a business establishment.
Individuals can take out this insurance to protect themselves or family members, while corporate entities use it to safeguard employees.
Examples: Expropriation & Discrimination
Expropriation and discrimination are two common political risks that businesses operating abroad face. Governments may act suddenly to deprive companies of their shareholdings in subsidiaries or expropriate their assets for political reasons.
Sovereign states have the right to expropriate property where fair compensation is paid out, but governments don't always accept that they should pay compensation, leaving businesses and investors powerless.
Political risk insurance is designed to protect businesses against the risk of arbitrary government actions, including confiscation, expropriation, and nationalisation. It also covers selective discrimination, forced divestiture, and licence cancellation and breach of contract.
Here are some examples of how political risk insurance can help businesses:
- Confiscation: A government may confiscate a business's assets, leaving it without the means to operate.
- Expropriation: A government may expropriate a business's assets, restricting its ability to exercise its rights.
- Selective discrimination: A government may discriminate against a business, making it harder for it to operate.
- Forced divestiture: A government may force a business to divest its assets, leaving it without the means to operate.
- Licence cancellation: A government may cancel a business's licence to operate, restricting its ability to trade.
- Breach of contract: A government may breach a contract with a business, leaving it without the means to operate.
These risks can have lasting financial consequences, but with the right insurance, businesses can mitigate them.
Violence
Violence can have a devastating impact on businesses and individuals alike. Political violence can manifest itself in various ways, including damage to or destruction of physical assets, and can be a significant risk in certain countries or regions.
Damage to or destruction of physical assets can result in lasting financial consequences for businesses. For example, if a company's assets are destroyed or damaged due to physical violence, it may be forced to abandon its operations or assets in the affected area.
Political violence can also lead to forced abandonment of assets or operations, which can have significant financial implications. This is why it's essential for businesses to consider taking out specialist insurance to mitigate these risks.
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Here are some key points to consider:
In some territories, the location of the insured's residence or business establishment creates a risk location, even if the physical location of the insured property is different. This can result in multiple risk locations, which can affect the regulation and tax implications of the insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sells political risk insurance?
Chubb offers political risk insurance, backed by experienced professionals with in-depth knowledge of industry-specific risks
Sources
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/political-risk-insurance.asp
- https://www.wtwco.com/en-us/solutions/services/political-risk-insurance
- https://www.cfins.com/credit/political-risk-insurance/
- https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/political-risk.html
- https://www.lloyds.com/conducting-business/regulatory-tools/risk-location-guidance/class-of-business/political-risk
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