Regionalization and continuing globalization scenarios as a result of re-globalization: a matter of ally-familiarity proximity in multiplex financial network

Some aspects of re-globalization were already fragmentary analyzed empirically in globalization and regionalization related research after the global financial crisis. These empirical studies suggest that re-globalization in terms of structural financial network changes did not start recently, but appears to be observed since the global financial crisis and might have been further amplified by pandemic and geopolitical tensions. The subject of re-globalization remains under-explored in current academic research, where existing studies mostly focus on theoretical aspects of re-globalization scenarios. Among possible future scenarios of re-globalization, most likely are discussed to be geographical regionalization mosaic, ally-based bipolar regionalization, and continuing globalization. Our research aims to test empirically if geographical regionalization during the post global financial crisis period has increased, bipolar regionalization has happened, or if globalization is continuing as suggested by re-globalization megatrend. Using dataset of investment flows among 234 countries during the period 2009–2020 we map 5-layer multiplex financial network and find that network appears to be already highly regionalized geographically, also globalization seems to be increasing, thus, regionalization and globalization appear to be not contradictory and mutually exclusive processes. Geographical regionalization did not increase in terms of shifting inter-regional investment to intra-regional territory. The world appears to have become bipolarly ally-regionalized with 2 main communities – US and Europe vs. China dominated blocs. However, Europe's role remains ambiguous, because not all of Europe is clustered with US, but rather its Eastern and Northern regions, while Western Europe clusters with China. Hence, the results of this research suggest friend-shoring rather than nearshoring.