Subscriptions are no longer something that we only encounter on digital domains, streaming platforms or in software updates. In an era defined by territorial sovereignty and military might, the subscription model is slowly creeping into the analog world. A purchase — translated into the real world as treaties or alliances — no longer guarantees access. Instead, sovereign powers are turning to an overexpanding type of individualism. The impact of this political attitude is set to be felt worldwide: from economic repercussions to social and cultural ones.
On July 13, US President Donald Trump reinstated the blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, set to commence “immediately.” Furthermore, in a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump paints the US as a ‘guardian’ of the vital waterway, upon which he also wishes to impose a 20% charge on all cargo shipped. The reason listed is that this charge would pay off the cost of safety and security. The world’s most strategically contested shipping lane, it seems, has become a subscription service for which the bill is coming due.
Even with subscription fatigue setting in among consumers, the world is still moving in the direction of universal monetization of all aspects pertaining to a service, more often than not through microtransactions. Subscription e-commerce alone is projected to reach $859 billion in 2026. From the apps on our phones to the passage of oil tankers through the Persian Gulf, everything is increasingly billed by the month or by the barrel.
Come and share your thoughts this Friday on Global Risk Forum 453 and lend your voice to the discussion. Because in a world where even geography comes with a monthly fee, understanding the subscription of everything has never been more urgent.
- Global Risk Forum 453
- Friday, 17th July at 10:00 BST
- REGISTRATION >>
