Global Finance at Crossroads - Undisrupted Flow or Global Woe? A qualitative approach to addressing financial fragmentation through understanding of networks and fintech

Sammanfattning

Financial fragmentation has accelerated post the sanctions on Russia as a coalition of nations seekalternatives to Western financial infrastructure. A scenario where two, or several, financial systemsoperate without an intermediary would be disastrous as it calls for increased complexity ofconducting transactions, geopolitical tensions, disruption of trade and regulatory challenges. Thisexploratory thesis uses a qualitative approach to explore how financial fragmentation can beaddressed, and what role fintech might play in applying potential solutions. The study wasconducted through four semi structured interviews, and by utilising a theoretical frameworkconcerning concepts and methods on fintech, network theory and network science, the data wasanalysed by utilising thematic analysis. The empirical results suggest themes of political will,regulation, technology, and collaboration being key variables in addressing financial fragmentation.Findings of this study imply that political will is the most crucial variable to consider as it acts as adriving force for addressing fragmentation, and that fragmentation should be addressed throughconcepts and methods serving from theories on networks as they reveal embedded power dynamics.