Resilience in a Post-pandemic World. An Analysis of China's Role and Perspective in Global Supply Chains Disruption.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, the geopolitical tensions and the trade war between USA and China are events that had a significant impact on a global scale, causing major disruptions to economies, societies, and particularly global supply chains. In such a context of turbulence and uncertainty, the stability and resilience of supply chains have become crucial for the continuity of business operations and the security of supply worldwide. China, which serves as the hub of many global supply chains, has played a central role in reflecting and absorbing the impacts resulting from disruptions. To contextualize the research, the growing interconnectivity of global economies has made supply chains a critical element in economic prosperity. However, the complexity of these networks has presented new challenges, and the pandemic has acted as a catalyst, highlighting fragilities and vulnerabilities. Therefore, this master’s thesis aims to examine the Chinese perspective on the stability of global supply chains, focusing on its crucial role in the domestic and international Supply Chain Management scenario. Additionally, this research seeks to evaluate the actual effectiveness of friend-shoring and decoupling, strategies adopted by some countries, such as the United States, to reduce dependence on China and mitigate the instability in global supply chains.